How Risk Based Decision Making improves Energy Efficiency in Oil and Gas Industry - Implementing Environmental and Resource Management - page 179

ber of possible alternatives. In such studies the more independent comparison
points available the more likely it is that a clear decision will be possible. Con-
sider for example two alternative approaches judged solely on hazard potential
and financial investment required. If these two approaches are similar then it may
be difficult to decide, based on these parameters, which is more suitable. If, how-
ever, further decision criteria were to be included, such as environmental impact
potential and energy efficiency, then the decision may well become clearer.
Lessons Learned - Case Study 2
This project further justified the use of RBDM approach to improve energy effi-
ciency by improving the reliability and operability of existing systems. By extend-
ing the lifetime of the plant in question, the project allowed for significant energy
savings. What is more, if energy efficiency were to be included as a KPI in the
RBDM then the decision would likely have been made easier. The following con-
clusions can be drawn in favor of RBDM process based on the example above
(due to confidentiality agreements conclusions have been drawn based on aspects
not mentioned in the case-study):
1. The implementation of actions could be justified to the upper management of
the operating company based on a sound assessment.
2. RBDM combines both the likelihood and consequence components to assess
risks for both current and anticipated conditions, with the option of examining
either specific events or an integration of those events over time.
3. It was realised that improvement in supply chain management could also be
achieved by following this assessment framework.
4. The turnaround period was expected to remain unchanged thus giving a direct
benefit in terms of energy efficiency.
5. A single framework addressed the multi-faceted problems and issues involving
process, energy, static and rotating equipments and instrumented systems in an
economic way and within a short time frame.
15.10 Barriers to Successful Application
With the experience of using the RBDM approach in many Oil & Gas and related
Power Generation projects, the author realises that there are barriers to using the
proposed methodology for improving energy efficiency. Some of the main barriers
are listed below:
1. The biggest barrier to the successful application of RBDM is availability of
adequate information. Since RBDM is a data intensive process, availability of
process, economic, environmental and equipment data plays a significant role
in the analyses.
2. It requires involvement of experts from multiple disciplines at the same time
which requires a lot of commitment and motivation from the company.