Marine Operations Coordination via Common Operational Picture
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Solution Overview
Problem
In oil and gas marine fields with multiple operators, there is a lack of situational awareness and coordination, leading to inefficiencies and safety risks due to complex logistics, potential conflicts, and threats from marine obstacles and weather conditions.
Innovation Solution
A networked system that shares data between operators, using a planning tool with a graphical user interface to visualize tasks and changes, allowing for coordinated operational planning and real-time monitoring of marine operations, environmental conditions, and threats, facilitating proactive decision-making.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple operators conduct operations independently without centralized coordination, then each operator maintains operational independence and flexibility, but situational awareness deteriorates and safety risks increase due to lack of common operational picture
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges operational data from multiple independent operators into a centralized common operational picture displayed through shared graphical user interfaces. This allows each operator to maintain independence while simultaneously achieving comprehensive situational awareness through the integrated display of all operators' activities, vessels, and environmental conditions in the marine field.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds a new dimension of information sharing by implementing a centralized communication layer that provides spatial and temporal context across all operators. The common operational picture displays operational data in a unified spatial framework with time-based progression, enabling operators to perceive the broader marine environment beyond their immediate local operations.
2Loss of information
If operators share operational data through centralized coordination, then situational awareness and safety improve, but system complexity increases due to integration requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a universal data exchange framework that handles multiple types of operational data (vessel positions, environmental conditions, operational tasks, threats) through a single integrated platform. The common operational picture serves multiple functions simultaneously: displaying real-time positions, monitoring environmental conditions, tracking operational progress, and identifying conflicts, thereby reducing overall system complexity through multi-functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a centralized coordination platform as an intermediary that mediates data exchange between multiple operators. This intermediary layer standardizes data formats, manages information integration, and presents unified visualizations, thereby simplifying the complexity of direct peer-to-peer coordination between numerous operators while maintaining comprehensive situational awareness.
3Productivity
If operational plans are optimized for individual operator efficiency, then productivity increases for each operator, but conflicts and safety risks increase due to lack of coordination
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous feedback mechanisms where the common operational picture monitors all operators' activities and provides real-time alerts when potential conflicts are detected. The system analyzes operational data from all operators, identifies scheduling conflicts or spatial overlaps, and notifies relevant operators, thereby maintaining high productivity while preventing safety incidents through automated conflict detection and resolution guidance.
4Loss of time
If operators respond reactively to conflicts and threats, then response actions are taken when issues arise, but operational disruptions increase due to lack of proactive coordination
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis of operational plans by comparing scheduled activities against the common operational picture before conflicts occur. The system proactively identifies potential scheduling conflicts, spatial overlaps, or environmental constraint violations and notifies operators in advance, enabling them to adjust operations before disruptions occur. This preliminary detection and resolution capability significantly reduces operational disruptions while maintaining ease of operation through automated monitoring.
Data Source
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AI summary
A networked system shares operational information [tasks, positions, times, etc.] between dissimilar operators performing dissimilar operations in a same marine field. The shared information include associations [linkages and conflicts] that allows each operator to optimize its operations and complete tasks in a more efficient manner. As part of this system, a planning tool having a graphical user interface can be used to visualize plans at an operator [and nearby operators]. Changes made to plans by one operator are shared with other operators via the system and illustrated in the interface at the other operators, thereby allowing the other operators to make their own respective operational changes in response.