GE Energy’s (Power Conversion business previewed its new insight management system, a decision-making aid and capital asset management product for the offshore industry at OTC in Houston, Texas. Offshore ships and platforms are complex environments where vast quantities of data exist and are distributed across numerous control and monitoring systems and subsystems. In high-stress situations like alarm response and remediation actions, it can be difficult to access the most crucial data in a form that can be easily understood and interpreted fast enough to ensure quick and effective issue resolution. GE’s new insight management system is a top-level device which monitors and collects data and asset status to enhance an operator’s interpretation of a situation, locally or remotely, and facilitate appropriate and timely responses especially in time-critical and potentially life-threatening situations.

In 2010, a study by the independent body Abnormal Situation Management Consortium reported, “U.S. industry alone loses $13 billion by incorrectly responding to alarms.” With constantly increasing regulation, a reduction in the number of experienced or qualified operators and growing volumes of information bombarding systems operators, these costs are expected to rise if improvements in methods of data collection and presentation are not made.

GE’s new management system helps address the issue of data overload by providing greater clarity and accessibility of existing information and data derived from multiple sources such as information systems, control systems, alarm systems and CCTV across an entire vessel or platform and simultaneously presenting it to an operator.

Tags: GE Energy