An Integrated modelling framework for stochastic simulation of pipe-rack construction

Abstract

Pipe-racks are one of the major structures in oil, gas and petrochemical plants supporting pipes and cables that connect different process units to each other. Since the construction of pipe-racks is amongst the critical activities starting early at site, timely completion of their construction is utmost importance. For this reason, accurate and realistic estimation of pipe-rack construction duration plays a critical role in planning of project construction. Authors in this paper are presenting a developed integrated simulation application that interacts with commercially used drafting software (AutoCAD) to simulate pipe-rack construction. The simulation tool imports the design information from AutoCAD drawing by using Visual Basic of Applications (VBA). The application performs the simulation for construction and erection of the pipe-rack using the imported design information and along with other input data and assumptions. The outputs of the model are likely durations of the pipe-rack construction with their respective probability of occurrence. The results can be drawn in a graph that assists project managers and planners in better estimating of pipe-rack construction duration in an uncertain environment. In this paper the developed application is implemented and validated on an under construction oil & gas industry project and results are analyzed in detail.