Control Room Suites for ASAB, SAHIL & SHAH Oil Fields
Foster Wheeler
Background
The Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations was undertaking full field development for the Asab, Sahil and Shah oil fields. The programme included the design and construction of three new control rooms. Foster Wheeler was engaged by ADCO to provide specialist engineering consultancy and they commissioned expert support for the control centre part of the project.
Project
CCD's remit was to provide interior and ergonomic design for three oil field control rooms for the Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations (ADCO). As visiting dignitaries to the Gulf States are often given a tour of the oilfields, including a visit to one of the control rooms, the brief was for each control room to project an image appropriate for the client and the local culture.
Implementation
A series of alternative control room layouts were developed by CCD. The preferred grouping of workstations and the relative importance of operational links between different functions were assessed with the ADCO operational staff. The preferred arrangement was in the form of an arc-shaped console, with primary workstations at the centre and those of less priority at the extremities. The console will consist of a series of linked, modular workstations, each physically identical in design, differing only in function and control panel design, to provide maximum flexibility over the lifespan of the control room. The control panels will consist of an easily replaceable modular system accommodating "hard" controls such as CCTV camera controls, microphones, telecoms and radio equipment.
The emergency shut down panels and telephones will be grouped on a support console positioned to the rear of the main console arc. This ‘hotline' console, accessible from both sides, will also provide a suitably sized worksurface for laying out drawings and reference files.
The client brief called for an interior with a prestigious and contemporary feel, which has been reflected by CCD in the choice of high quality materials and finishes for both the interior and the bespoke furniture.
The entrance to each control room was designed as a processional route for important visitors. The doors leading from the reception areas will be clad with bronze metal, the walls lining the entrance corridor lined with marble slabs and the carpet tiles to the entrance emulate the idea of a ‘red carpet' for VIPs. Glazed doors at the end of the corridor will offer views through to the control room as they are approached.
A computer model of the space was built to test the acoustic performance of the design - this revealed that the "weak link" in terms of sound absorption was the large area of reflective glass reinforced gypsum forming the main body of the ceiling, which was designed to reflect the shape and layout of the main console below. Subsequent modelling of the room established that facing the ceiling coffers with Sonacoustics Elite ceiling finish would reduce the reverberation time to 0.6 seconds, meeting the design target.
Ambient lighting throughout the control room suite will consist of ceiling mounted direct/indirect luminaires, with recessed downlighters illuminating the central ‘hotline' console. Task lighting above the main console will be provided by recessed downlighters individually switched from the console work surface. Accent lighting will be provided by recessed downlighters along the sides of the room, to provide scallops of light to the wall panelling. Further accent lighting will be provided by linear wall washers at the rear of the adjoining supervisors' office and engineering room. All elements of the lighting scheme will be programmable and dimmable.
The feature wall panelling will consist of acoustic timber panels veneered with bird's eye maple. These panels will be perforated and have sound absorbent material behind them. The remaining walls will be finished with polished plaster. This is a hard wearing finish comprising plaster, fine particles of marble and colour pigment. Because the colour is integral it will obviate the need for future redecoration. Skirtings will be polished stainless steel. The main console will be veneered in burr maple with crown cut maple to the console worksurfaces.
Outcomes
CCD prepared a CAD walk-through for the design scheme for sign-off by ADCO and supplied Foster and Wheeler with full sets of layout drawings and detailed specifications for inclusion within tender documentation for each of the three sites. It was a client requirement that no products were specified unless they could be supported by a local agent: the specifications include all the relevant contact details. Requirements for the consoles and other furniture, input devices and control panels, visual display units and mounting devices, touch panels, CCTV and human computer interaction (HIC) were also included within the tender documentation.
Find out more
See more about Foster Wheeler at www.fwc.com and about the Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations at www.adco.ae