Using Teamcenter, Interwell creates a highly efficient system to manage CAD data

Expert exploration

Established in 1992, Interwell has grown to be a major player in increased hydrocarbon recovery and barrier security for global, upstream energy companies. Interwell employs people with extensive and diverse oil field experience in Norway, the United Kingdom, the United States and the Middle East. This broad network of expertise allows the company to focus on the research, development, operation and testing of new and existing tools and technologies. Having built a valuable connection between the pragmatic and leading-edge aspects of oil recovery, Interwell emphasizes sensible but highly advanced solutions.

Need to act fast

Interwell’s products are designed for absolutely optimum performance; there are few businesses in the world where advanced technology, the harsh realities of climate/environment and strict regulations collide with such a magnitude.

Just a few years back, the company faced an increasingly disruptive issue – the handling of increasing volumes of computeraided design (CAD) models and drawings. A constant flow of new, customized product adaptations for different clients created bottlenecks due to an inability to effectively manage this volume of data, as well as comply with International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certifications and other safety regulations. The company needed to address these challenges, while still meeting its customers’ meticulous quality requirements and timelines. Moreover, if action wasn’t taken soon, it was expected that the burgeoning data management problem could escalate to the level of a serious operations problem.

High targets

Due to its complex and aggressive business environment, Interwell needed a solution that would provide lock-tight information technology (IT) security and thorough data traceability, as well as the ability to readily comply with ISO and national regulations. Taking an ambitious approach, Interwell management established high targets, knowing that solution deployment would have to be as fast and flawless as possible in order to keep the company’s regular production optimized. This would be challenging for both Interwell and its suppliers.

To meet the company’s product data management (PDM) challenges, Siemens Digital Industries Software’s Teamcenter® software was the right choice. Interwell was already using Siemen’s Solid Edge® software. “We had been using Solid Edge for about seven years; we’re very productive with this CAD software,” explains Anders Ratdal, the company’s managing director at the Trondheim branch. “Then, when the amount of drawings became increasingly larger, we had to find a solution to manage the document flow.” With Interwell’s confidence in Siemens and the tight integration between Solid Edge and Teamcenter software, it was an obvious choice.

“We had to make a gradual but assertive transition from a PRM (partner relationship management) system to a PDM solution, and it was not always an easy path to walk,” notes Ratdal. “But we simply had to take this trip. Thanks to the powerful functionality of Teamcenter and the great work of the Siemens Norwegian affiliate, Digitread, we saw the final results emerging in the spring of 2011. Our new PDM system is already quite productive and, very soon, we will have Teamcenter in all of our departments. This is certainly a major breakthrough for us.”

Specialized supplier

Digitread is Norway’s leading computeraided technologies (CAx) and product lifecycle management (PLM) company. Located in Sandvika (outside Oslo) and serving more than 300 companies across Norway, Digitread developed all the adaptations necessary to deliver Teamcenter according to the sophisticated parameters required in the highly specialized world of oil and gas exploration. A Siemens Digital Industries Software Platinum Partner, Digitread has provided development and support for Interwell’s PLM needs since 2010. “Interwell had a major challenge in implementing a new and more advanced system for file management and document flow,” says Magnus Normann, managing director at Digitread. “We delivered the right solution to meet Interwell’s business needs, providing optimal tweaking to get the job done smoothly and cost-effectively.”

High-value solutions; competitive advantage

Ratdal and Normann acknowledge that the technology roll-out required significant commitment, but they found the experience to be an exciting journey. Interwell now has a highly effective means of communicating with its suppliers. The result: users now get the right data when they need it, accelerating product turnaround. The company is now readily addressing all ISO and national standards requirements. Overall, business operations are notably smoother.

Ratdal notes, “We are happy to see the results of our new technology solution. The investment was absolutely worth it. We are meeting the targets we established at the onset. Our gains can be measured in higher operations efficiency and greater data security. Moreover, using Solid Edge and Teamcenter, we have created the ability to quickly respond to customer requests with high-value solutions. The addition of Teamcenter represents what we feel will be a long-term competitive advantage.”