Page 197 - Offshore Electrical Engineering Manual

184 CHAPTER 1 Notes on Design Project Organization and Documentation

2. A detailed cost estimate, aimed for an accuracy of about +20% to −10% of the
actual project cost. At this stage, a planning network for the whole project and
an installation procedure will need to be worked up to a significant degree of
detail to achieve the estimated level of accuracy.
3. Having produced a skeleton scheme for the accomplishment of the whole
project, detailed work on the project proper can then commence. The final docu-
ments produced may be loosely divided into two categories: those required for
construction, which contain material lists and commissioning and installation
procedures, and those required for technical approval, which contain detailed
descriptions and design calculations for each item of equipment, including
information on its intended location on the offshore installation. These may be
sent to a certifying authority such as Lloyd’s Register, ABS or DNV GL for
approval/verification.
4. Whilst the preparation of design packages is under way, procurement specifica-
tions for all large items of equipment must be prepared. It would be of great
assistance to the engineers preparing the specifications if this particular task
could be delayed until the associated design packages have reached an advanced
state of preparation. Unfortunately, this is invariably not the case because
manufacturers’ delivery times for generators, large motors and switchgear are
usually in excess of 6 months, making it imperative that orders are placed early
to adhere to the project programme. It is therefore unavoidable that changes to
switchgear to cater for changes in motor and distribution equipment ratings will
be required, and these may reach cost figures of the same order of magnitude
as the original switchgear order. It is hoped that project accountants bear this in
mind. Note that this work is carried out in the normal commercial environment,
with tendering and award of contracts for the various stages by the oil company
concerned to various design contractors.

OFFICE ENVIRONMENT AND PROCEDURES
The project working conditions should be such that the team of people involved is
assisted in their efforts to ensure that the end product design functions correctly, is as
safe as practicably possible, has the least environmental impact and is cost effective.
In my experience, both the design team’s physical environment and the admin-
istrative and quality assurance (QA) procedures adopted will significantly affect the
degree of excellence of the end product.
Office working environment: Many books, both serious and humorous, have been
written on this subject, but the principle points are

1. provision of good heating, ventilation and lighting;
2. sufficient work and storage space for each person, and the maintenance of
uncluttered accessways throughout the working areas – the premises chosen
to house the project should be large enough to cater for the project team at the
peak manning level, otherwise the team will be broken up into portacabins, etc.,
at the most critical period of the project;