In order to achieve thisoperational processes are controlled by rigorous testing and real-time monitoring. Laboratory information management systems (LIMS) play a key-role in managing this effort. With the capacity to automatically capture and process sample dataLIMS provide rapid feedback to the field operations within the fast turnaround time required during oil and gas exploration and production.
Large oil and gas companies increasingly have to locate their exploration and production processes in harsh and isolated areas because of the ever-growing competition for natural resources. The considerable escalation in difficulty and costs associated with these operations intensify the already complex problems of analysis of oil and gas during exploration and production (Fig.1).
Furthermoreoil and gas companies are monitoring field operations more closely as they strive to increase efficiency in order to remain competitive. As a consequencethere has been a surge in the number of analyses and samples that are runleading to a need for efficient data management. For examplecrude oil data such as salt and water content is crucial in oil well classification and plays an essential role in planning and maintaining daily oil production rates. Additionallyhydrocarbon gas and condensate composition data ensure that plant processes are monitored and optimised to high standards.
As deposits may intrude and plug wellshalting productionit is imperative that the presence of any sub-quality depositssuch as scalessolids and sludge are identified. While real-time laboratory information assists in the design and implementation of corrective procedures for control and removal of these depositsa comprehensive solution is required in order to manage and interpret the data.
In additionstrict industrial and environmental regulations must be adhered to by oil and gas exploration and production companies. For examplethe 2005 release of ISO17025 ‘general requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories’ greatly affected oil and gas analytical laboratories.
This international standard is the accepted benchmark for analytical laboratories in developing their management system for qualityadministrative and technical operations. Applicable to all organisations performing tests and/or calibrations as well as laboratories where testing and/or calibration forms part of inspection and product certificationthe regulation covers laboratories using standardnon-standard and laboratory-developed methods.
A comprehensive LIMS solution provides oil and gas exploration and production companies with a solution that enables them to address the difficult analytical problems as well as comply with the relevant regulations. In order to enable operators and managers to make business-critical decisions such a system must store and analyse data quickly and effectively. As well as capturing and safely storing data in real-time the LIMS must distribute data in an effective manner to key operational decision-making personnel. In additionthe solution should be capable of providing smooth integration with multiple other systemstools and processes.
Dramatic improvements
The integration of LIMS in oil and gas analytical laboratories has revolutionised the way they operate. Previouslyanalytical results were entered by hand using paper notebooks and transcribed into spreadsheetsa particularly time-consuming and error-prone procedure considering the multiple analyses carried out on a vast amount of samples on a daily basis. Lengthy rechecks were also required to verify the validity of data. Data was often communicated by telephoneor sometimes faxagain with the potential for introducing errors to the reporting.
Integration of LIMS with existing laboratory and business systemssuch as process information management systems (PIMS)manufacturing execution systems (MES) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systemshas replaced these protracted and risky procedures with sophisticatedautomatic data transfer that eliminates error caused by manual procedures and allows more data to be utilised by more decision makers for more efficient operations.
The laboratory and operational productivity benefits of a LIMS include elimination of human error and data duplicationbetter data qualityconsiderable time savings and earlier generation of result reports. In additionimmediate data flow between the laboratory and the rest of the operations facilitates fasterdata-driven business decision-making.
By centralising and consolidating IT and technical support personnelenterprise-wide LIMS integration lowers the total cost of ownership significantly. Standardising on a central LIMS allows organisations to store SOPsspecification limits and have immediate alerts sent out when a sample tests out of specification.
An integrated LIMS approach helps companies identify trends and monitor product quality more rapidly with greater easedramatically improving their overall quality control process and maintaining the highest quality standards.
A comprehensive LIMS solution such as Thermo Scientific SampleManager LIMS also facilitates compliance with ISO17025 regulations. The LIMS covers a broad range of requirementsincluding validation of methodsinstrument calibrationsamplingcontrol of non-conformance testing and reporting of results.
Full security controls segregate work from different facilities and laboratory areas.
In additionthe laboratory’s quality system procedures are stored in the LIMS for reference at any time by relevant personnelincluding a documentation of the scope of activitiesall policies and proceduresas well as results. The laboratory’s quality system can be easily reviewed by having ready access to all incidentscorrective actions
non-conforming results and other events.
Compliance is also achieved with SampleManager’s built-in functionality for incident management and statistical analysis of calibration standards and sample results.
Equipment and instrument calibrationan important component of ISO17025is managed by the LIMS and alerts management and operators when instruments are out of compliance or need calibration.
Conclusion
Oil and gas companies undertaking exploration and production activities are facing increasing pressure to improve oil and gas field yields and overall productivity while adhering to stringent product quality and environmental regulations and minimising their operational costs. Conducting accuratefrequent monitoring to monitor the quality and effectiveness of their products as well as processes in order to remain competitive against their clients and within regulatory guidelines are proving time-consuming and labour intensive.
With the introduction of LIMSglobal oil and gas companies can achieve reduced costs and increased productivitywhile ensuring optimum product quality and regulatory compliance. With the elimination of human error and redundant dataoverall laboratory efficiency is enhanced and regulatory requirements are met. Enterprise-wide deployment of LIMS can help achieve real-time dissemination of information to the enterprise’s decision makers. o
Colin Thurston is director of product strategyprocess industriesinformatics at Thermo Fisher Scientific. Kevin Smith is director of global partner salesinformaticsat Thermo Fisher Scientific. For more informationvisit www.thermo.com/informatics
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