ABSTRACT
In Reliability, Availability and Maintainability (RAM) analysis the performance of a production system can be measured. Traditionally, a flow network as a representation of the production system and its components combined with Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) utilizing the discrete event simulation technique is used to generate the results of a RAM analysis. One can apply an analytical approach by use of the Markov methodology instead of the MCS technique. This paper presents a case study of a RAM analysis of a Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) unit in the Norwegian oil and gas industry, where both a RAM model using Monte Carlo simulation and a RAM model using a Markov method have been used to measure the production performance. The purpose of the paper is to provide useful information about these two methods from a practitioner point of view by comparing them in a real case production system application.
