OBSIDIAN ENGINEERING · AI Talk to us about a pilot

Obsidian Engineering · AI team

Most drawings arrive as a picture.

A flat PDF. No layers, nothing to edit, nothing software can read. Follow one back into engineering data, and see everything that comes from it.

1 PDF to CAD Demonstrated

Every line goes back on its layer.

15 layers on Obsidian's own drafting standard, each in the colour the manual gives it.

A drawing you can edit again.

The same sheet, layered, the way it opens in AutoCAD. Everything below is read from it.

  • _OEC_BORDER
  • _OEC_LIMITS
  • _OEC_PROCESS
  • _OEC_UTILITY
  • _OEC_EQUIPMENT
  • _OEC_VALVES
  • _OEC_FITTINGS
  • _OEC_INSTRUMENTATION
  • _OEC_MISC
  • _OEC_TUBING
  • _OEC_PNEUMATIC
  • _OEC_DATA LINK
  • _OEC_ELECTRICAL
  • _OEC_TEXT1
  • _OEC_TEXT2

Obsidian Drawing Studio In development

How a drawing set gets there.

The tool being built for Obsidian's drafters, on the same drawing. Nothing is issued until a drafter has checked it.

  1. Drawing Studio: adding the issued PDFs
    1 Add the PDFs. Each sheet is read first: its size, vector or scanned, how the lettering was drawn.
  2. Drawing Studio: choosing the drafting standard
    2 Set up the project. Choose the drafting standard the set is drawn to.
  3. Drawing Studio: every sheet in the set
    3 The drawing set. Every sheet, and where it is in the conversion.
  4. Drawing Studio: matching symbols to the block library
    4 Match the symbols. Each block is matched to Obsidian's library once, for every sheet.
  5. Drawing Studio: checking one sheet
    5 Check each sheet. The symbols that need a look are highlighted.
  6. Drawing Studio: checking the text
    6 Check the text. Tags, sizes and set points compared letter by letter with the PDF.
  7. Drawing Studio: the drafting standards check
    7 Drafting standards. The set is checked against the layer standard before issue.
  8. Drawing Studio: issuing the DWG set
    8 Issue the DWG set, with its lists on Obsidian's templates.

2 CAD to lists Demonstrated

Then it reads every device on the sheet.

Each line traced end to end, then every piece of equipment, valve, instrument, car seal and off-page connection, found where it sits on the layered drawing.

  • 8Lines traced
  • 5Equipment
  • 15Valves
  • 45Instruments
  • 4Car seals
  • 8Off-page connections

85 items from one sheet, none of them retyped.

L08 · 3" CL300 · HP flare to headerL07 · 1½" CL600 · HP drain to outletL01 · 8" CL600 · Sour gas from stage 2 dischargeL02 · 8" CL600 · Stage 3 suction scrubber to stage 3 suction bottleL03 · 8" CL900 · Stage 3 suction bottle to stage 3 cylinderL04 · 8" CL900 · Stage 3 cylinder to stage 3 discharge bottleL05 · 6" CL900 · Stage 3 discharge bottle to AC cooler sectionL06 · 6" CL900 / CL600 · Sour gas to outletV-4130 · Stage 3 suction scrubberV-4135 · Stage 3 suction bottleV-4136 · Stage 3 discharge bottleCYL-4114 · Stage 3 cylinderE-4137 · AC cooler sectionV07 · Threaded ball valve · check on drawingV08 · Threaded ball valve · 60-CL600V10 · Threaded gate valve · 60-CL600V02 · Flanged ball valve · 48-CL600V01 · Diaphragm valve · 60-CL600V14 · Threaded pressure regulating valve · check on drawingV11 · Threaded needle valve · check on drawingV05 · Threaded angle choke valve · check on drawingV06 · Threaded angle choke valve · check on drawingV09 · Threaded ball valve · check on drawingV12 · Threaded needle valve · 60-CL600V13 · Threaded needle valve · 48-CL900V04 · Flanged pressure safety valve · 60-CL900 x 89-CL300V15 · Threaded pressure regulating valve · check on drawingV03 · Flanged ball valve · check on drawingLCV-4130 · Level control valveLAHH-4131 · Level alarm, high-highLAL-4131 · Level alarm, lowPRV-4130 · Pressure regulating valveLC-4130 · Level controllerLSHH-4131 · Level switch, high-highLSL-4131 · Level switch, lowRO-4130 · Restriction orificeTI-4132 · Temperature indicatorPI-4130 · Pressure indicatorLG-4130 · Level gaugeRO-4135 · Restriction orificeTW-4136A · ThermowellTE-4136A · Temperature elementTI-4136A · Temperature indicatorRO-4135A · Restriction orificeRO-4136A · Restriction orificeTW (no number) · ThermowellTW (no number) · ThermowellPT (no number) · Pressure transmitterPT (no number) · Pressure transmitterTE (no number) · Temperature elementTE (no number) · Temperature elementPI-4135 · Pressure indicatorPIT-4135 · Pressure indicating transmitterPI (UCP) · Pressure indicatorPI (UCP) · Pressure indicatorTI (UCP) · Temperature indicatorTI (UCP) · Temperature indicatorPDI (UCP) · Differential pressure indicatorPDI (UCP) · Differential pressure indicatorRO-4136 · Restriction orificeTDI (UCP) · Differential temperature indicatorPDI-4135 · Differential pressure indicatorPI-4136 · Pressure indicatorPIT-4136 · Pressure indicating transmitterPSV-4137 · Pressure safety valvePRV-4137 · Pressure regulating valveTI-4137 · Temperature indicatorTIC-4137 · Temperature indicating controllerTY-4137 · Temperature relayPI-4137 · Pressure indicatorTE-4137 · Temperature elementTW-4137 · ThermowellTCV-4137 · Temperature control valveCSO-0002 · PIT-4135 ROOT VALVE · car sealed openCSO-0001 · PIT-4135 2-VALVE MANIFOLD · car sealed openCSO-0004 · PIT-4136 ROOT VALVE · car sealed openCSO-0003 · PIT-4136 2-VALVE MANIFOLD · car sealed openPRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL · continues on 24-118-PID-0006TEMPERATURE DIFFERENTIAL · continues on 24-118-PID-0006SOUR GAS FROM STAGE 2 DISCHARGE · continues on 24-118-PID-0006CAPACITY CONTROL · continues on 24-118-PID-0004HP DRAIN TO OUTLET · continues on 24-118-PID-0004HP FLARE TO HEADER · continues on 24-118-PID-0004SOUR GAS TO OUTLET · continues on 24-118-PID-0004FANS SPEED CONTROL · continues on 24-118-PID-0012

The lists Demonstrated

And those devices fill in the lists.

Read straight from the layered drawing, not retyped. Each row points back to its place on the sheet.

15valves

Valve list

ItemTypeSize
V01Diaphragm valve60-CL600
V02Flanged ball valve48-CL600
V04Flanged pressure safety valve60-CL900 x 89-CL300
V08Threaded ball valve60-CL600
V10Threaded gate valve60-CL600

+ 10 more rows

8lines

Line list

SizeClassFromTo
8"CL60024-118-PID-0006V-4130
8"CL600V-4130V-4135
8"CL900V-4135CYL-4114
8"CL900CYL-4114V-4136
6"CL900V-4136E-4137

+ 3 more rows

5pieces of equipment

Equipment list

TagEquipment
CYL-4114Stage 3 cylinder
E-4137AC cooler section
V-4130Stage 3 suction scrubber
V-4135Stage 3 suction bottle
V-4136Stage 3 discharge bottle
45instruments

Instrument index

TagFunctionMounted
LAHH-4131Level alarm, high-highPanel (PLC)
LAL-4131Level alarm, lowPanel (PLC)
LC-4130Level controllerField
LCV-4130Level control valveField
LG-4130Level gaugeField

+ 40 more rows

The same rows go into Obsidian's own line list, instrument index, equipment list and shutdown key templates. What the drawing says is filled from the drawing; what a P&ID doesn't show is marked typical.

The line list on Obsidian's template, filled from the drawing
The instrument index on Obsidian's template, filled from the drawing

3 Electrical I/O and junction boxes In use

The electrical package starts from the same drawing.

The tool reads the P&ID and lists every electrical instrument with its signal type. An engineer confirms each row against the drawing, then one step draws the I/O and junction box drawings as DWG and PDF.

  1. Engineer review of the I/O register
  2. Each row shown on the P&ID
  3. Generate the drawings
  4. The I/O drawing in AutoCAD
The I/O register for engineer review
An I/O row shown on the P&ID
Generating the I/O and junction box drawings
The generated I/O drawing in AutoCAD

4 Shutdown key In development

The instruments give the shutdown key.

Every trip on the drawing, with its tag and set point, in Obsidian's shutdown key template. What each trip closes or stops is typical here: a P&ID doesn't show it.

The shutdown key for the example drawing on Obsidian's template

PLC logic Future direction

The key becomes the PLC logic.

One rung per trip, written from the shutdown key: the level switch, the pressure trip, the valves it closes, the cooler loop. Illustrative, with example tags; no real program is shown.

2Scrubber level high-high: the field contact opens on trip (fail-safe) and the trip latches.LSHH_4131<R1-S1-DI-02>LEVEL SWITCH V-4130LAHH_4131SCRUBBER LEVEL HIGH-HIGHL5Stage 3 discharge pressure high-high: trips at 7260 kPag and latches.GEQGreater than or equalSource APIT_4136Source B7260PAHH_4136STAGE 3 DISCHARGEPRESSURE HIGH-HIGHL13Suction valve SDV-4101: on while healthy; any of these trips drops it out and the valve closes.ESD_4100_TRIPMODE 1 EMERGENCYSHUTDOWNHS_4100_TRIPMANUAL ESD PUSHBUTTONLAHH_4131SCRUBBER LEVEL HIGH-HIGHPAHH_4135STAGE 3 SUCTION PRESSUREHIGH-HIGHPAHH_4136STAGE 3 DISCHARGEPRESSURE HIGH-HIGHTAHH_4136ASTAGE 3 DISCHARGETEMPERATURE HIGH-HIGHPDAHH_4135STAGE 3 ROD LOADHIGH-HIGHUA_4114UNIT COMMON SHUTDOWN(PACKAGE)SY_4101<R1-S5-DO-01>SUCTION VALVE SDV-410115Blowdown valve BDV-4108: on while healthy; any of these trips drops it out and the valve opens.ESD_4100_TRIPMODE 1 EMERGENCYSHUTDOWNHS_4100_TRIPMANUAL ESD PUSHBUTTONSY_4108<R1-S5-DO-03>BLOWDOWN VALVE BDV-410818Cooler outlet temperature control: TIC-4137 holds the set point on TE-4137 by positioning TCV-4137.TIC_4137_MAN0COOLER CONTROL FORCED TO0 %PIDPID loopLoopTIC_4137Process var.TE_4137Control var.TCV_4137

Program check In development

Then the program is read back and checked.

Every cause and what it does, rebuilt from the logic alone and compared with the key: 11 of 12 match, and one set point doesn't. Illustrative: we changed that set point on purpose to show the check catching it.

Cause, read from the programTagSet pointUCP-4114SDV-4101SDV-4107BDV-4108LCV-4130TCV-4137EM-4137XA-4100XC-4100Against the key
Mode 1 emergency shutdownESD-4100—SDCLCLOPCLM0SPENX✓
Manual ESD pushbuttonHS-4100—SDCLCLOPCLM0SPENX✓
Scrubber level high-highLSHH-4131610 mmSDCLCLENX✓
Scrubber level lowLSL-4131203 mmCLENX✓
Stage 3 suction pressure high-highPIT-41354590 kPagSDCLCLENX✓
Stage 3 discharge pressure high-highPIT-41367200 kPagSDCLCLENXSet point: program 7200 kPag, drawing 7260 kPag
Stage 3 discharge temperature high-highTE-4136A107 °CSDCLCLENX✓
Stage 3 rod load high-highPDI-4135100 %SDCLCLENX✓
Cooler outlet temperature controlTE-413749 °CCO✓
Cooler outlet temperature highTE-413760 °CENX✓
Cooler fan VFD faultEM-4137—ENX✓
Unit common shutdown (package)UCP-4114—CLCLENX✓

5 What's next

Isometrics: the callouts laid out, the collisions gone.

A workflow that lays the bubbles out and addresses collisions. Demonstrated

An isometric as generated, with callout bubbles colliding
As generated: 9 collisions
The same isometric after the layout workflow, with no collisions
After the workflow: none

What's in use, what's demonstrated, what's next.

Capabilities as of October 2026. The drawing stays the anchor; engineers keep the design decisions, and every result can be checked against its source.

In use Electrical delivery

  • I/O list, from the P&ID, then approved
  • I/O schematics
  • Junction box drawings
  • Cable schedules
  • Native CAD from approved I/O data

Demonstrated Drawing and facility intelligence

  • Editable layered CAD
  • PDF to DWG from vector drawings
  • Line, valve and equipment lists
  • Instrument index
  • Equipment and instrument relationships
  • Connected drawing graph
  • Cross-document reconciliation
  • Revision and discrepancy reporting
  • Isometric clean-up
  • Control narrative first draft

In development Connected workflows

  • P&ID device handoff
  • Alignment-sheet processing
  • Shutdown key and cause-and-effect
  • P&ID versus PLC, DCS or SIS cross-check
  • Drawing standards and drafting-rule checks
  • Repeatable drawing sets from inputs
  • Drawing index
  • PSV list and specialty item list
  • CSO/CSC (car-seal) list
  • Meter, electrical equipment and control hardware indexes
  • Load lists, single-line diagrams and plot plans
  • Scanned drawing conversion

Future direction Coordinated generation

  • Master tag register
  • Cross-sheet references
  • Termination schedules
  • Missing, duplicate or conflicting tag report
  • Searchable facility data portal
  • Symbol libraries from existing drawing sets
  • Batch drawing assessment and conversion
  • Review-ready MTO and procurement packages
  • Engineering calculations from the drawing data
  • Control program from a shutdown key

Send us one drawing.

Start small enough to check every result: one drawing family, and one workflow that matters. We map today's workflow with your team first, so the result is measured against it.

  1. 01

    Choose the source

    One representative drawing family, its conventions, and the deliverables made from it today.

  2. 02

    Build and check the record

    Recover layers, objects, tags and connections. Measure coverage against the source; send anything uncertain to review.

  3. 03

    Apply one use case

    Editable CAD, a list, a reconciliation, or one engineering rule set, measured against how it's done today.

Talk to us about a pilot info@obsidianeng.ca