Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 117-118). / This thesis presents an approach to applying Systems Architecture methods to the development of large, complex, commercial systems, particularly offshore oil and gas productions systems. The aim of this research was to assist BP in the development of concepts for a multi-billion dollar oil production system, particularly in the unprecedented deep water arctic locations prone to seismic activity, as well as in existing fields that must be extended. The thesis demonstrates that these systems can be decomposed and analyzed using rigorous, methodical system architecture thinking that archives and represents tacit knowledge in several graphical frameworks. The thesis breaks the architecture of oil and gas production systems into two problems. The first problem is the architecture of one facility and one reservoir; a classic problem of assigning function to form. The second problem is the architecture of multiple facilities and multiple reservoirs; a classic problem of connection and routing. For the first problem, the production process is decomposed using Object Process Methodology (OPM). The decompositions provide a methodology to capture industry knowledge that is not always explicitly stated and provides a framework to explore the entire architectural design space. The thesis then describes how these decompositions of general and specific oil systems can be used to develop software models, using the meta-language tool OPN (Object Process Network), that successfully generate thousands of architecture concepts. This set of feasible architectures can be prioritized and better understood using metrics in an effort to down-select to a handful of preferred concepts to be carried forward for more detailed study and eventual development. / (cont.) The approach to the second problem demonstrates that even a modest set of facilities and reservoirs have a huge number of connection possibilities. This space of connection possibilities is large and daunting, and typically is not fully explored. To solve the second problem the thesis presents two models that generate all the possible connection schemes between elements in a system, in this case oil facilities and reservoirs. It is then demonstrated that these possibilities can be prioritized through the use of metrics. The thesis presents a method that can identify new concepts, highlight preferred sets of concepts, and underline patterns common to those concepts. This method increases the architects' overall knowledge and understanding of the entire space of possibilities, and ensures that all options are considered in the development of complex systems. / by James Keller. / S.M.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:MIT/oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/45220 |
| Date | January 2008 |
| Creators | Keller, James (James Thomas) |
| Contributors | Ed Crawley., Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics., Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics. |
| Publisher | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| Source Sets | M.I.T. Theses and Dissertation |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 118 p., application/pdf |
| Rights | M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission., http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582 |
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