With the help of KBeDesign™, Aker Solutions has improved quality and reduced both cost and design time compared to the use of traditional methods. In short, fewer people deliver high quality results using less time in shorter schedules. KBeDesign™ has been an important asset when competing for design contracts.

Knowledge Based Engineering for the petroleum industry

The key to this success lies in the utilization of Knowledge Based Engineering (KBE). In KBE solutions, product and process information is captured in a product model as computer executable rules, thus allowing automation in the design process. KBeDesign™ is a KBE solution for the development of oil and gas facilities.

Based on proven designs

At the heart of the solution lies a knowledge base that incorporates generic engineering knowledge, Aker Solutions best practices, classification society rules and authority requirements. Using this knowledge base with a set of input parameters for a specific project, a KBE product model based on proven design is generated.

Ease of change

Because this model includes both process and product knowledge, major changes can be easily applied, compared to traditional methods.

Unified model, multidisciplinary application

The benefits of a KBE model are realized to a much higher degree when the model can be converted to the formats required by various engineering software used in the design process. To achieve this, KBeDesign™ uses akXML, an in-house developed XML schema for describing offshore structures. AkXML has also been used to provide model conversion services to external customers.

Customer experiences

Aker Solutions customers benefit from increased quality, more flexibility due to the relative ease of making changes and shortened project schedules - at a competitive cost.