Reliability, Availability and Maintainability (RAM) Studies
Pöyry Energy (Calgary)
Independent Expert Support
Introduction
Reliability, Availability and
Maintainability (RAM) Studies are
conducted throughout the oil and gas
industry to provide a quantifiable
assessment of the effectiveness of an
operating asset.
To assure that the right decisions are
made requires appropriate definition
and consistent, rigorous, robust and
auditable processes. Pöyry have such
processes including expert utilisation of
commercial tools and proven
methodologies to assist clients in
making investment decisions at the
conceptual and operating phases of
projects. This leads to maximum return
on investment.
Application to In-Situ Thermal Oil Sands Developments
 OPEX & Lifecycle costs.
 Development concepts.
Concept Selection Tool
By considering the planned and
unplanned downtime of the asset, an
overall predicted availability can be
determined. With the integration of
economic data, the availability can be
assessed on an opportunity cost basis.
This data driven process is highly
valuable in both the design and
operation phases of projects to
determine investment decisions.
Pöyry are experienced in conducting
analytical reviews of process units with
stakeholders. Failure models,
predicted maintenance and regulatory
inspection schedules are developed
and accessed against the
consequences of these activities.
Pöyry consults industry standard
reliability databases and in-house data
to assist in the evaluation of equipment
failure probability and impacts. Pöyry
uses leading commercial simulation
packages to evaluate failure cases to
determine plant availability and
economic impact.
 CAPEX minimisation.
 Resource Planning
Rigorous Process and Methodology
Pöyry uses a structured workshop
approach to generate plant reliability
data. Reliability Block Diagrams are
generated to facilitate plant
assessment and develop appropriate
sensitivities for evaluation. Pöyry
simulates actual plant operation using
a Monte Carlo mathematical model
with a commercial reliability simulation
packages such as AvSim or Raptor.
Added Value
The combination of Pöyry’s systematic
approach and past experience allows
accurate evaluation of plant availability
and identification of improvement
opportunities. Optimising availability
maximises client return on investment.
A clearly defined and auditable trail is
created to justify capital investment in
facility improvement. Risk reduction is
achieved by evaluating equipment
sparing and redundancy.
 Technology Selection.
 Fit for purpose design.
Reliability, Availability and Maintainability Sudies
Details of the RAM Study
Reliability Block Diagram Example
Plant ESD
Shown here is a typical Reliability Block Diagram Major Failure
(RBD) developed prior to a Pöyry RAM workshop.

In the workshop failure modes with occurrence Emulsion / BFW

FWKO FWKO Emulsion /
probabilities, consequences and durations are Exchanger
Solids Planned Diluent Mixers
Planned
developed. From this Pöyry are able to model the Maintenance
Deposition Maintenance
entire facility. The graph below shows output for a
typical SAGD system on an annual production
impact basis.
Diluent
Pipeline

B it um e n S e pa ra t io n

FWKO Planned M aintenance

The analysis generated can be presented on
an impact basis, lost production days or lost
Emulsion/ BFW Exchanger Planned M aintenance revenue, over the project life.

Critical and high impact equipment items and

FWKO Soilds Depost ion Slowdown
Worst
systems can be quickly identified.
Nor mal
Plant Inlet ESD M ajor Failure
Best

0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0

Annual Pr oduct ion Impact (Days)

Clustering Scenarios - Results Summary

92% 40
Pöyry evaluates maintainability by optimising 91% 35
maintenance clustering and opportunistic maintenance 90%
events to maximise availability while balancing the 30
89%
labour resource constraints of the facility. 25
88%

Pöyry can provide a sparing philosophy and complete 87% 20

labour plan for the facility, based on best in class 86% 15
reliability methods. 85%
Overall Availability 10
84%
The collation of all the facility components presents an Peak Labour Demand 5
83%
overall availability, considering the reliability and 82% 0
maintainability of all contributory parts. Unclustered Basic Advanced Optimal

For more information, contact:

Pöyry Energy (Calgary)

Suite 1610, 700 - 6th Avenue S.W, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 0T8
Tel: +1 403 283 3600. Fax: +1 403 532 2595, www.poyry.com, www.iglconsultants.com