Oil & Gas and Chemicals

White papers

Chemical

Chemicals_in_China_White_Paper_lowTransform chemical operations through technology in China

Drawing from its own experience in China and abroad, as well as independent sources, ABB explores how Chinese chemical companies can use digitalization to improve results against a backdrop of slower demand growth, excess capacity and greater environmental regulation.

Digital's ability to address internal challenges, such as wide disparities in workforce experience and the need to overcome disjointed communication silos, are also discussed.

In the white paper, ABB also identifies four imperatives critical to optimizing results through digitalization. These include pursuing simplification and standardization wherever possible.

The full white paper can be accessed via the download button on the right.
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Chemicals_Part 2Transform chemical operations through technology
Part 2: Analyzing the industry's digital present and future in greater detail

This second of a two part white paper delves deeper into today’s digital opportunities within the chemical industry with reference to even more case studies and independent sources than presented in its predecessor. It reviews the digital priorities of today’s downstream operators and explores the quantifiable benefits achievable along with sharing four imperatives critical for success.

The white paper discusses how technological advances are enabling chemical manufacturers to bring together the data they have hidden in disparate systems to deliver greater business value than previously possible to address a wide range of issues. For example, it considers the impact of digitalization on integrated batch process optimization, supply chain management, predictive maintenance and project execution.  The importance of digital twins, modular automation and open system architectures are also explored.

The full white paper can be accessed via the download button on the right.
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Chemicals_Part 1Transform chemical operations through technology
Part 1: Using digital to address internal and external challenges

The complex nature of chemical production - with its numerous process variables, volatile costs and prices as well as significant regional differences - makes optimal decision-making particularly difficult. And, as explained in this first of a two-part white paper, the external and internal challenges facing the sector over the next decade are only likely to make things more difficult.

Drawing from a selection of independent sources and providing case studies from mature and emerging markets, this white paper provides chemical executives an overview of how digitalization can help them increase profitability and minimize risk whatever their situation. It discusses the potential of increasingly cost-effective digital technology to facilitate improved monitoring, more integrated operations and remote management to drive greater productivity at reduces costs and risk in the light of market complexity and uncertainty.

The full white paper can be accessed via the download button on the right.
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Energy Future

ABB Microsoft Joint partnershipGetting started with industrial digital transformation

This paper provides decision makers with best practices for real-world industrial implementations. ABB Microsoft joint guide.

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NewEnergyEcosystemInnovation to transform the energy future

According to BP's annual review of world energy published in June 2018, 17% of the world's energy growth in 2017 came from renewables. Further, the energy output of these renewables was equivalent to that of 69 million tons of oil - the annual energy consumption of Sweden and Denmark. This change in the energy ecosystem is slated to pull nearly $70 billion out of the hands of oil and gas companies - so how can you stay competitive?

Download this white paper to learn how investments in digital technologies and solutions can help oil and gas companies stay profitable in this shifting energy ecosystem. Also learn the first steps to building a strategy for going digital to maximize the benefits of each investment.

The full white paper can be accessed via the download button on the right.
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The Digital Wellhead

The wellheadO&G operators are poised to reap the benefits of advances in field devices and back-end analytics

The Internet of Things (IoT) and related technologies are making inroads in just about every sector of the economy and the oil and gas industry is no exception. Larger players in particular are exploring the technology’s potential and some are already finding new ways to extract value from the data flowing from digitized wellheads.

The full white paper can be accessed via the download button on the right.
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Subsea Long step-out system

Subsea Long step outLong step-out systems for subsea pump and compressor applications

Subsea processing, and gas compression in particular, are important advances in the development of fields in deep waters and harsh environments. This white paper explains the principles of applying a long step-out system to subsea pumping and compression applications. It discusses the features and the benefits of the system when applied to new (greenfield) and existing (brownfield) sites. While this paper is targeted primarily at engineering and design staff in oil and gas companies and EPCs, it is also relevant to all buyers and influencers. The aim is to stimulate discussions about future sites that can benefit from this technology.

The white paper discusses the many benefits of long step-out systems including cost efficiency, increased production and flow assurance, minimized risk and environmental impact and extended capacity and lifespan of oil and gas fields.

The full white paper can be accessed via the download button on the right.
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Avoiding the ‘watermelon’ effect

Avoiding the watermelon effect

Are we doing enough in the process industry to prevent the next major accident?

Developing a ‘chronic sense of unease’ towards major accidents is seen as a vital step for companies with hazardous facilities to reach the levels of performance being achieved in truly high reliability organisations. Major accidents at Texas City and Buncefield in 2005 marked a watershed for the global process industry and led to general agreement that senior leadership is vital in developing an effective process safety culture. Fast forward over a decade however and evidence suggests that large losses are still happening at a consistently high rate across the global process industry.

In this white paper ABB Consulting presents the findings from analysis of feedback and data from senior process safety professionals. It introduces the concept of the ‘watermelon’ effect, where metrics appear ‘green’ suggesting that everything is under control, and yet digging below the surface reveals signs of ‘red’ indicating ill-health in the arrangements to prevent major accidents. It also investigates what improved metrics are needed to avoid the ‘watermelon’ effect to ensure senior management receives accurate information on the state of risk controls in the business.

The full white paper can be accessed via the download button on the right.

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The silo factor

The Silo FactorNew study identifies silo working within process industries.

ABB white paper raises concerns over organizational silos increasing the risk of Major Accident Hazards (MAHs).

ABB’s global engineering and consultancy group, today launched a new white paper which raises concerns of an increased risk of MAHs due to significant levels of silo working in the process industries. 

The ‘silo factor’ was the key theme identified in a new study based on 500 recommendations from 16 in-depth process safety risk assessments carried out by ABB in recent years.

According to the white paper, process safety performance within the high hazard industry is being threatened by the silo factor - an inability within process safety management circles to collaborate and be consistent across all departments in an organization.

ABB has identified five common areas of weakness within Process Safety Management (PSM), all in some way a result of silo approaches to PSM:

  1. Inadequate testing of safeguards
  2. Inadequate Process Hazard Analysis (PHA) records
  3. Inadequate safeguards in place when compared to the risk reduction claimed as part of process safety risk assessments
  4. Poor understanding of the worst case major accident hazard scenarios on site
  5. Lack of clarity about the basis of safe operation and a lack of alignment between emergency response plans and the PHA

Paul Alton, who leads the Process Safety team at ABB’s Consulting business, said: 

“We have identified a worrying pattern across the process industries that without urgent attention could be lowering our defenses against major accidents. Having an agreed and consistent approach to process safety management is critical for safe performance. This can only be achieved through integrated and collaborative thinking and processes that encourage a constant focus on MAHs. We want to encourage industry debate that will help to raise awareness of the issue within the high hazard sector with a view to agreeing an industry standard approach to process safety management.”

The full white paper can be accessed via the download button on the top right.
Or view the video - Introduction to The Silo Factor

 
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Next Level oil, gas and chemicals

digital oil gas and chemicals

Next level oil, gas and chemicals: Harnessing the power of digitalization to thrive in challenging and uncertain times

This new white paper explores how existing market dynamics and challenges are forcing a massive change in the oil, gas and chemical (OGC) industries' approach to technology. Quoting from a range of independent sources, this paper argues that the current downturn is not purely a cyclical dip but rather a forewarning of a new status quo to which industry players must adapt, if they are to survive now and longer term. 

ABB identifies four imperatives which OGC executives are encouraged to embrace in order to optimize performance in these unprecedented times and ensure long-term viability:

  • Deploying enterprise-wide digitalization and connectivity
  • Bringing together information and operational technologies
  • Pursuing simplification and standardization wherever feasible
  • Having CEO leadership and sponsorship of a digitally-focused approach

Read this paper to learn about the implications for each segment -- upstream, midstream and downstream -- and see a roadmap for creating a fully digitalized hydrocarbon value chain for both greenfield and brownfield situations. In addition, you'll find case studies which demonstrate the recommendations in practice. 

The full white paper can be accessed via download button on the right.
Download the whitepaper (English version)
Download the whitepaper (Chinese version)


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