“Our goal is to provide the tools, skills and services to an industrial plant for efficiently revealing dangerous faults before this has a negative effect on people, environment or assets."
SPAS - Safety Performance Analysis Software
SPAS is a software application that livestream data from a Safety and Automation System (SAS) on an industrial plant. Through analysis of these data, the application validates operations of safety equipment as valves, breakers, pumps, fire dampers, generators, etc. to verify if the safety functions are intact, or if there are signs of degradation under development to identify any impaired safety functions. SPAS also include functionality for several other functions and analyzes, as described further below.
Key safety at a glance. SPAS have analysis functions for early detection of plant’s impaired safety functions and presents this to the users in an efficient manner, allowing corrections to be implemented before demands on the degraded safety functions.
Periodic safety analysis of equipment fault, process demands, and the use of safety overrides is required to maintain the plant’s functional safety on the required level. SPAS functionality provides the tools to assist these analyses in an efficient manner.
Automatic verification of proof test programs. CMMS programs for proof test of safety functions are periodically subject to modifications. SPAS can continuously verify that the CMMS system has active proof test programs for all the actuated safety equipment and with the correct interval according to governing safety documentation.
Verification of performed proof tests intervals and applied test method is crucial for verifying intact safety functionality and compliance toward governing requirements. SPAS inbuilt functionality allows the user to perform these verifications with minimum effort.
Target bad actors, not intact safety functions. When safety equipment is operated successfully within the last half test interval, SPAS provide the analysis records required to utilize this as proof tests. Spurious trip records can be utilized as proof tests, and consequently save significant maintenance hours.
Allow for efficient revision stops. SPAS provide continuously updated status for which equipment needs to be proof tested during a planned revision stop and have features for identifying status of equipment forming part of isolation barriers, i.e., equipment with limited available time for testing purposes prior to production startup. Consequently, production downtime can be reduced without losing control of the proof test status.
All key data available at hand. SPAS can retrieve data from several systems to allow that the user have the right data at hand in the various contexts and presented in an intuitive manner. This enables the user to work in an efficient manner when monitoring the status of the plant’s safety equipment and planning for periodic or corrective work.
SPAS is prepared for interfacing a plant plant’s various systems by minimum adaptions.
SPAS can use data from any make of Safety and Automation System that has functionality for exporting event and timeseries data.
SPAS is equipped with standard interfaces modules for data exchange with CMMS systems, Document and Engineering/Component databases, such that adaption work for integrating a new system is minimized.
SPAS application maintenance: Zeek Solutions performs all weekly checks, maintenance, and corrections in the SPAS application from remote, as a part of the software license.
Operational assistance: Zeek Solutions can offer weekly reporting of the plant plant’s operational safety status and SPAS user assistance adapted to the specific customer needs, assuring optimized cost/effect from using SPAS.
To enable fast configuration of SPAS to a quality level suitable for operation, we have several tools and methods;
Change control application, Audit trail functionality and DevOps methods to ensure high quality input during configuration project and continuous improvement in operation.
User friendly tools for efficient Bulk configuration of SPAS.
Monitoring table (verification software audit tool) allows the advanced user to perform step by step analysis of the verification performed by SPAS. This shortens the time from starting the design of a new safety verification typical until this is proven fit for purpose.
Source data metrics tools for detection of any lagging or loss in the source data streaming anywhere from between the data source and SPAS.
SPAS is available for users through subscription of a scalable software license, where all maintenance and continuous improvem ent of the product is included and performed by Zeek Solutions. Additional services such as system configuration, system adaptions and further safety analysis can be purchased separately.
We are a virtual, 100% distributed company. That means we can live and work productively wherever we choose if there is a good internet connection there. We use a great suite of collaboration offerings to share work and enable effective communications, including MS Teams and Azure DevOps.
Our core staff is located at several locations in Europe.
This organization model also allows us to efficiently utilize temporary assistance from software specialist from all over the world when this is needed. Through our suppliers we get access to highly skilled freelance programmers with specialist competence within several fields.
When we design new applications, our design output is the classic written specifications, as we found this to be the most efficient way of communicating the design to development personnel located at various locations, and not necessarily working the same work hours.
This method is also useful for the customer so that the basic functionality can be agreed upon prior to starting the software development.
A compound of development (Dev) and operations (Ops), DevOps is the union of people, process, and technology to continually provide value to customers.
What does DevOps mean for teams? DevOps enables formerly siloed roles—development, IT operations, quality engineering, and security—to coordinate and collaborate to produce better, more reliable products. By adopting a DevOps culture along with DevOps practices and tools, teams gain the ability to better respond to customer needs, increase confidence in the applications they build, and achieve business goals faster.
When the application is coded, a separate code for unit test is also developed. Unit test execution is one of the key stages of the database DevOps process. It is not supposed to be a 100% test, but shall ensure that the changes made by developers to database projects will be verified and all the functionalities will work correctly after deployment. The code for unit tests is kept in the DevOps cloud application and is not installed on the customer production system. If the code does not pass the unit tests, it will be stopped being further transferred towards the test system.
End-to-end testing is programming fully automated tests that simulate the user actions and tests the software product from beginning to end to ensure the application flow behaves as expected. It defines the product's system dependencies and ensures the integrated pieces work together as expected. The code for End-to-End tests is kept in the DevOps cloud application and is not installed on the customer production system. If the code does not pass the End-to-End tests, it will be stopped being further transferred towards the test system.
An application usually consists of a number components of ready-made software that can be purchased or downloaded for free (open source). This Vulnerability and Open-Source License software identify if there are any security vulnerabilities in the code. The use of open-source licenses involves certain limitations and user obligations. This software identifies the type of license that is used in the code, such that use of the application can be used in compliance with these limitations and obligations.
When the code has passed all the cloud based automated tests, the application code can be released to Zeek Solutions test servers and be subject for manual internal testing or factory acceptance tests with the customer. When approved, the application can be deployed to the customer servers through a fully automated pipeline.
We have developed our own web application for logging any request for new feature, fault or need for configuration change in an application developed by us and called this ACR – Application Change Register.
When we develop and application, this tool is also available for our customer to have a low as possible threshold for retrieving any customer feedback, such that we can continuously correct and improve our applications.
The application is prepared for automatic reporting back to the customer so the ACR activities progress on a filed change request can be followed through the phases; - Initiation - Approval – Implementation – Testing – Deployment and Closing.
The ACR application is integrated with Azure DevOps such that defined tasks and attachments in the ACR will be transferred to DevOps, assigned to tasks and developers, as well as assigning forecast completion dates.
What services can we offer?
We offer consulting services for follow up of safety instrumented functions in operation, and we have several years of experience from this line of work.
Even with the best of software tools, without focus and support from management and the rest of the organization, as well as the implementation of suitable work processes, follow up of safety functions in operations cannot succeed. Zeek Solutions can offer consultancy support for how to implement an effective regime for follow up of safety functions in operations.
It is recommended to periodically perform analysis of experienced faults, process demands and the use of overrides, and we re commend that this is performed by a multidiscipline team from the client. To utilize experience from other sites as well as a vailable analysis tools, we can offer to participate in such a team on a regular basis or in the initial phase when starting up such activities.
As above, we can also participate in multidiscipline for preparation of the annual status report for safety instrumented syst ems on a regular basis or in the initial phase when starting up this activity.
We can assist in advising how to structure and quality assure function test programs in an efficient way and ensuring that a ll activities required are covered.
We can participate in root cause analysis ensuring to utilize experience from other sites and the use of available analysis t ools such as various condition monitoring systems.
We can provide tailormade development, installation, commissioning, and operational support for other Software Applications. All services can be provided remotely through cloud solutions without need for travels and on premises meetings.
When acquiring a software application from Zeek Solutions, our self-developed software tool ACR Application Change Register is included. This is a database application that log all change requests based upon application faults, incorrect configurations, or requests for new application features. The customer will also have access to the system and can file requests and follow them through the phases from initiation approval implementation testing and closing. We regard the ACR application as a vital part of our process for continuous improvement.
See further explanation in the “How we work” section.
SPAS can be integrated towards most other applications, both for importing and exporting data. An example of such an application can be the plants Barrier Panel or other applications where data from SPAS can enhance the level of information presented to the user.
Zeek Solutions represents many years of experience from SAS engineering, including specialist competence for design of safety system applications. We also have available specialist competence from in depth troubleshooting and configuration of automation systems, such as ABB’s 800xA system.
We are a Norwegian based company based at Nesodden, Norway, just outside Oslo.
As we interact mainly with cloud-based tools, our staff is based in a variety of other locations, from Haugesund, Norway to Bucharest, Romania.
This is our core staff:
Responsible for SPAS functional specifications, sales and customer support. Located at Nesodden, Norway
Background:
• 30 years+ experience for Oil&Gas Automation.
• Employed 15 years + in ABB with delivery projects for Safety and Automation Systems for the Oil & Gas industry.
• Automation consultant for Aker Solutions for 9 years with Skarv FPSO and Edvard Grieg project.
• Since 2016 hired by Lundin Energy, Edvard Grieg platform for safety automation engineering, IMS solutions, Condition monitoring, and follow up of safety instrumented functions in operations.
Responsible for Zeek Solutions technical infrastructure, tool and methods, and product support. Located in Haugesund, Norway.
Background:
• Employed as automation engineer in ERGA in Croatia in 2010. Worked with several control systems such as ABB
800xA, Rockwell and Siemens.
• Employed in Procosafe Consulting in Norway from 2013 and worked with several Oil & Gas automation projects for
ABB until 2017.
• Employed as a R&D engineer for ABB in Västerås in 2017, with responsibilities within product integration testing,
product support, and development of ABB Ability, ABB’s cloud-based solutions.
• Automation Consultant in Aibel / Dolwin 5 Wind Power Generation project from 2020.
Responsible for SPAS database development and support. Located in Bucharest, Romania
Background:
• 10 years+ experience with administrating, developing and performance tuning on SQL Server Databases
• 10 years+ experience with Microsoft BI’s stack (SSIS, SSRS, SSAS, PowerBI)
• 4 years+ experience in administrating Windows Server
• Implemented Azure Cloud solutions that performs ETL processes on multi-cloud data sources
• Former employed in Ipsos Interactive Services, one of the world top 3 market researchers, focusing on database development and performance tunning
• Employed in ING Bank, one of Europe’s top 10 Financial institutions, focusing on server and database administration for 200+ machines
Responsible for SPAS Front/Back end development and support. Located in Bucharest, Romania
Background:
• 8+ years experience on HTML, CSS, PHP, MySQL
• 5+ years experience on JavaScript, jQuery
• 3+ years experience on AngularJs, Angular2+, NodeJS
• 1+ year experience on Python
Past experience:
• 8 years in Ipsos Interactive Services, one of the world top 3 market researchers. (4 years as a web developer & 4 years as a team lead/manager)
• 2 years in Avira Romania as a web developer
Responsible for SPAS configuration and customer support. Located in Jessheim, Norway
Background:
• Started as an automation apprentice for Lundin Energy Norway at Edvard Grieg oil platform in 2017.
• Worked as automation technician for TS Group since 2019 at Edvard Grieg.
Upon a temporary need for external competence, we hire in seasoned software engineers and specialist developers from our partners with several thousand quality ensured talents available, located all over the world, and with experience from working with Azure DevOps methods.
See “How we work”
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