This was sent from a computer programmer in Saudi Arabia who found our Forum through another forum on Greenspun's server: "Allow me to offer some first hand, in the trenches, up close and personal observations. In case you havn't kept up with current events I am currently in the mid-east at the behest of a major petroleum company frantically attempting to alleviate the Y2k impact here.

Factoid:

Here on the Saudi Peninsula there has been little to no Y2k work done at all. Reason? There has been a perception that it isn't a problem because the American Media has consistently disregarded it. So, it isn't a problem for the international set. The Mid-east is now awakening to the potential and will have it fixed soon, right? Ehhhh... Wrong!!.. most of the oil ports here rely nearly 100% on computer (PLC's not COBOL) controlled systems for the preliminary cracking of the crude and for the control for shipment. These are the "embedded systems" that we keep hearing about.

First problem...identification. over half of the systems are in areas that do not allow ready access to the unit for testing. So we have to use statistical analysis of type failures. Bad news. 100% infant mortality of the most common PLC. So replace them, right? Ehhhh... another wrong answer... at this rate you will never win the Ronco electric dog polisher... The ONLY way to replace them is to take the WHOLE facility off line for about hmmmm.. 4 months... Now, it should be noted that this is the "premier" facility in the mideast accounting for about 45-50% of petro shipments.

Contingency plan.... BUILD (yes I said build) a series of work arounds that could be put inplace with manual controls to attempt to keep the facility running. But even with that we are going to have to let the master system fail and the cut the manual valving into the system one location at a time (manpower problem)Otherwise we are right back at the same problem of taking the whole facility down.. OBTW we can't test this first so it is gonna get dicey as we attempt to guesstimate pressure and flow (previously handled by the computer) and will probably have the system operational in 30 to 40 days. THEN we will begin to replace the PLC's. And just in case you haven't caught on yet that means NO Crude from this facility AT ALL!! for at least 30 days. The Iraqi facility up at Basra is gonna crap out as well as the Yemeni port. Oh yeah, it is only a three day storm cum "bump in the road" right??"

-- Anonymous, November 02, 1999

Answers

Duane,

You are beginning to scare me...

-- Anonymous, November 02, 1999

Just in time for Halloween!

-- Anonymous, November 03, 1999