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What is RAM?




RAM stands for Reliability, Availability and Maintainability. It is a methodology used to predict asset performance
for a given configuration in terms of reliability, maintainability and availability. Our products go beyond traditional
RAM analysis by adding capabilities related to operations tailored to the Oil and Gas industry which provides as
result utilisation and production efficiency. D! "oftware Advanced RAM tools can also be used as #rocess
Reliability Modelling, #lant $ide #erformance Modelling or simply RAM Modelling.
D! "oftware Advanced RAM tools can be separated into two groups%
- Maros, the choice for &pstream and Midstream analysis
- 'aro, the choice for Downstream and (ogistics analysis
'he analysis is performed by modelling the asset while considering all of the factors that can potentially impact on
production. An overview of the typical aspects covered in an advanced RAM analysis for oil and gas assets is shown
in )igure *.

)igure * + Advanced RAM analysis overview

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SIMULATION
'he most powerful approach to this type of analysis is to use simulation techni,ues. 'his means applying a
structured process to mathematically evaluate the behaviour of a system. A common simulation approach for
reliability modelling is to use an -.vent+Driven/ algorithm based on Monte 0arlo simulation to create life+cycle
scenarios of the system under investigation accounting for its reliability, maintainability, operating policies and
cost1revenue data. 2y simulating a large number of life+cycles, conclusions can be drawn about the characteristics
of the configuration and forecasts made about what the e3pected efficiency will be.
'he main benefit of using simulation is that it is well suited for highly comple3 scenarios, which most oil and gas
assets typically are. )or real life scenarios of this type, analytical solutions become close to impossible. "imulation
also captures the dynamics of a system by allowing highly specialised events to be modelled or system
reconfigurations to ta4e place over time. 'he results allow the wea4 lin4s to be e3posed ,uic4ly and thus aid in
identification of ways to improve the reliability.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF MAROS AND TARO?
Maros and 'aro allow you to predict production efficiency of a process, and provide a foundation for the
optimisation of the process. 2y optimising production efficiency and minimising the costs associated with
production 5maintenance, manning, material etc.6, the most profitable process configuration can be identified and
selected.
INCREASING THE PRODUCTION EFFICIENCY
'hese are several ways in which Maros and 'aro analyses can help to increase production efficiency%
2y identifying areas where changes to e,uipment1unit configuration, procedures, training, operation etc.
can reduce the li4elihood of production downtime.
2y allowing you to ma4e ad7ustments to the process e.g. by introducing redundancy in the process where
it ma4es a larger impact. (oo4ing at e,uipment criticality allows the bottlenec4s of the process to be
identified. 'his also avoids inefficient e3penditure on redundancy where it is not effective.
2y ma4ing it easy to perform sensitivity studies to compare the impact of modifications to the process
with a base case.
2y assessing how and when to boost production and what impact it has on production efficiency.
2y allowing you to optimise production by using the right flaring philosophies.
2y determining the production impact of feed storage and utility systems.
2y allowing you to perform spare e,uipment analysis to minimise downtime due to not having spares
when needed.
2y assessing alternative maintenance strategies to minimise downtime due to mobili8ation constraints.
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)igure 9 + #roduction .fficiency forecasted by a Maros simulation
MINIMISING COSTS
'hese are several ways in which Maros and 'aro analyses can help to minimise costs
2y minimising the contract losses due to production failures. Allowing for production compensation
means that contracts can be satisfied even though there are production losses, which in turn will prevent
associated costs.
2y avoiding e3cessive attention to areas that are non+critical, and instead focus on areas where
improvements and modifications will ma4e a larger impact.
2y performing the analysis at an early stage, the study will allow for enhancement suggestions that would
have been much more e3pensive if carried out at a later stage.
2y allowing you to optimise the spare stoc4 level.
2y allowing you to optimise maintenance resources.
OTHER BENEFITS FROM RUNNING MAROS AND TARO INCLUDE
2y drawing up the full process in Reliability 2loc4 Diagrams and replaying lifecycle simulations, an
increased understanding of the process and the potential failures will be gained.
It can be used to demonstrate compliance with performance targets where applicable.
It allows assessment of economic viability of pro7ects1products.
It allows for evaluation and comparison of different approaches for replacement, rehabilitation1life
e3tension or disposal of aging facilities.

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ASSET LIFECYCLE
It is feasible to perform an advanced RAM study at all stages in the life of an asset. )or e3ample: performed early in
design process, Maros and 'aro allow the assessment of competing development options such as )#"O vs. subsea
development vs. platform, etc. "uch an assessment can rapidly feed into a net present value assessment of each
option. Once the development option has been selected, further cost benefit analysis can be performed e.g.
e3amining the benefit of additional installed capacity, or the penalties of reduced redundancy.
During the operational phase the impact of alternative operational philosophies or maintenance strategies may be
e3amined. )or gas gathering and producing networ4s, the level of ris4 associated with alternative gas sales
agreements and nomination levels can be ,uantified.

)igure ; + #hases of Asset (ifecycle

QUESTIONS ANSWERED
'ypical ,uestions as4ed that Maros and 'aro can help you answer are%
<ow does e,uipment1unit reliability impact production=
$hat happens if I improve e,uipment reliability=
$hat happens if e,uipment performance is worse than e3pected=
"hould I spare e,uipment to increase reliability=
$hat is the impact of preventive, corrective and opportune maintenance strategies=
$hat si8e storage tan4s should I have=
$hat is the impact of unit over+design 5catch+up6 margins=
$hat is the optimum unit configuration in order to ma3imise production1availability=
$ill it be possible to meet the customers demand for products= $hat is the supply efficiency to each
customer=
$hat is the impact of adding new production facilities and decommissioning e3isting facilities=
$hat will the impact of ageing facilities1wells be on achieved performance=

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SUCCESSFUL APPLICATIONS
'hese are some e3amples of asset types where Maros and 'aro have successfully been used in the past%
ew upstream production assets 5offshore and onshore6
Mature upstream production assets 5offshore and onshore6
ormally &nattended Installations
)#"Os
Oil refineries
#etrochemical plants
"ubsea operations
Onshore Oil > Gas #rocessing 'erminals
Gas and (G supply chains
#ower stations






)igure ? + #hotos of typical ob7ects of interest in Advanced RAM analyses