Hydrocarbon Configuration Conflict Resolution Across Control System Updates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydrocarbon control systems face challenges in detecting and resolving configuration conflicts between different parts of the system, leading to potential operational inefficiencies and errors.
Innovation Solution
A method and tool for comparing configurations from different locations within the hydrocarbon control system, using conflict resolution techniques to determine a resolved configuration, and updating the system accordingly, while also notifying users of detected differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If configuration updates are performed manually without automated conflict detection, then system complexity is reduced, but configuration conflicts and operational errors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary comparison of configuration data before applying updates by obtaining configurations from multiple sources, comparing them to detect differences, and resolving conflicts before the update is finalized. This prevents configuration errors from propagating into the operational system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where configuration changes are tracked, compared, and validated. When conflicts are detected between different configuration sources, the system provides feedback through notifications to users and automatically resolves conflicts based on predefined rules, ensuring configuration integrity.
2Measurement precision
If configuration comparison is performed at fine granularity, then detection precision of differences is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The configuration data is segmented into hierarchical levels (project level, well level, equipment level). The comparison process operates at appropriate granularity for each level, allowing efficient detection of differences without requiring exhaustive byte-by-byte comparison of entire configuration sets.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs comparison at the necessary level of granularity rather than always using the finest possible granularity. For most configuration changes, comparing at the element or component level is sufficient and much faster than comparing individual data values, while still detecting meaningful differences.
3Productivity
If automated conflict resolution is implemented, then productivity of configuration management is improved, but risk of incorrect resolution increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary notification mechanism between automated conflict detection and final resolution. When conflicts are detected, the system notifies users and allows manual review or selection of resolution options, preventing premature automated decisions that might be incorrect.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides self-service capabilities where users can review detected conflicts and select resolution options based on their knowledge of the specific situation. The automated system handles the mechanical aspects of comparison and presents resolved configurations, but relies on human judgment for final approval in complex cases.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for determining conflicts in updates of a hydrocarbon control system includes obtaining a first configuration and a second configuration from different locations in the hydrocarbon control system. The method also includes comparing the first configuration and the second configuration to determine if differences are detected. If differences are detected, the method includes operating a display to notify a user that differences are detected, using conflict resolution techniques to automatically determine a resolved configuration, and updating a configuration of the hydrocarbon control system with the resolved configuration. If no differences are detected, the method includes operating the display to notify the user that no differences are detected and updating the configuration of the hydrocarbon control system with the first configuration or the second configuration.