WHAT IS RAM

A well-designed and properly implemented asset optimisation program can save your projects bottom line thousands and even millions of dollars. RAM modeling assesses a production systems capabilities, whether it be operation or still in design phase. The results from RAM modelling will identify possible causes of production losses and can examine possible system alternatives.

Solution What is RAM Modeling? RAM modelling can simulate the configuration, operation, failure, repair and maintenance of equipment. The inputs to RAM modelling will include the physical components and maintenance schedules in a system and the outputs can determine how productive the system can be over the plant life. RAM studies will generate sufficient data to base decisions for possible systems changes that may increase system efficiency and hence project profits. Our Approach Our reliability engineers will liaise with the client to identify their needs and develop the basis for the RAM model. Once the basis is agreed a model of the system is created and run in Optimise. Analysis of the model generates results and recommendations for improvement of the design or of the operating results. Communication throughout all stages with the client and the reliability engineers is continuous and ensures maximum results. What are the key benefits? The key benefits of RAM modeling includes: - detecting failures in the early part of design; - optimising maintenance schedules; - adequately allocating the spares inventory; - increasing the effectiveness of logistics; and - identifying equipment priorities on failure.

Maros, a RAM tool, is used for assessing upstream asset performance with Maintainability, Availability, Reliability and Operability Simulation. MAROS, which stands for Maintainability, Availability, Reliability, Operability, Simulation, is an advanced RAM tool with extensive features for modelling networks, maintenance, operations and demand scenarios which includes powerful Boolean logic option. Key features of the Maros software

Discrete event driven simulation a very powerful platform Highly intuitive graphical user interface - Asset view, Reliability Block Diagram view, Table views and Symbol view Equipment catalogue - Build your own custom equipment catalogue for future studies Reservoir profiles over variable time periods - access/excel import facility Product demand profiles Compensation mechanisms (boosting, linepacking, storage, third party substitution) Multi-product (track primary, secondary and tertiary products through product ratios, which can vary over time) Tanker export facility (schedule or level in tank basis, berthing restrictions, round-trip delays) Conditional Logic powerful Boolean logic enables most operational scenarios to be modelled Process re-starts & production ramping Flaring analysis (Governmental type restrictions and impacts, i.e., Gulf of Mexico and North Sea) Maintenance and logistics Shift constraints Mobilisation delays Manpower Spares analysis Graphical and Tabular output Production statistics Efficiency statistics Criticality tables (hierarchical) Contract shortfalls analysis (size and frequency) Plant Shutdown analysis (size and frequency) Batch Run - to run multiple studies using each core of the multi core processor, suitable for Sensitivity Analysis

For the design stage the Maros software permits the development and comparison of systems by predicting their life-cycle behaviour pattern. Comparisons can be made of the most elementary concepts in the early stages of a design project when few details are fixed (or known), while at the other extreme complex systems can be optimized to yield maximum cost-efficiency. As the Maros acronym suggests the package encompasses well known 'types' of analyses which have been successfully integrated into a simulation algorithm and offered as a design aid. Application of the Maros software:

Equipment reliability and redundancy Establishing maintenance and intervention strategies System productivity and sales quota fulfilment System operability assessment Operations research

Benefits of the Maros software The Maros software is one of the worlds leading tool for RAM in the upstream Oil and Gas industry.

The Maros software is tailored to accommodate the very specific system configurations and operations present in the industry. Particular operational complexities supported are flaring, multiple products, timevarying reservoir profile and time-varying sales demands. The development team has a long history of working closely with advanced users, mainly the biggest Oil & Gas companies around the world, which ensures basic and advanced needs associated with availability analysis in oil and gas operations are met and supported by Maros

The Maros software is the most usable tool for RAM in the oil and gas industry

The user interface provides flexible ways for defining and manipulating input data to allow the user to focus less on input operations and more on using results to improve the performance of the system The study organisation reflects the real world and provides intuitive management of the system under analysis The results are presented with industry standard terminology and provide information on real world numbers that are easy to understand

The Maros software has great flexibility to handle complex configurations and situations outside the normal scope

The software has several features that allow the users to reflect situations not initially thought about in ways that seriously challenge the most powerful generic reliability simulation models

Maros software - Reliability Block Diagram (RBD) Purpose of the Maros software The Maros software was originally developed for the offshore oil and gas industry where it has been used extensively to design process facilities and transportation systems to exploit hydrocarbon reservoirs. As a general purpose systems design tool it is currently used in a wide range of applications including chemicals, power generation and distribution, manufacturing etc.