In industrial projects like oil refineries, power plants, or pharmaceutical facilities, success isn’t just about getting the job done. It’s also about being efficient, safe, and keeping costs down. A crucial part of making a project succeed is understanding the difference between basic engineering and detailed engineering design.
These two phases are vital at different points in the project, and not recognizing their importance can lead to mistakes, extra work, and delays. In this guide, we’ll break down what each phase involves, how they’re different, and why getting a handle on both is important for a successful project.
What Is Basic Engineering?
Basic engineering, also known as Front-End Engineering Design (FEED), is the first step of a project where everything starts to take shape. This usually happens after a feasibility study shows that the project makes sense both technically and financially.
Key Goals of Basic Engineering:
- Define what the project will involve
- Set preliminary specs for equipment and materials
- Provide rough cost estimates
- Spot any safety, environmental, and regulatory issues
- Help with investment choices
Basic engineering is important for getting everyone on the same page regarding project goals, risks, and design ideas. It’s all about figuring out what needs to be built and why it matters.
Typical Deliverables in Basic Engineering:
- Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs)
- Preliminary Piping and Instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs)
- Overall plant layout
- Utility needs
- Initial project timeline and budget
- Design guidelines for picking equipment
In this stage, process engineers, safety engineers, and planners all chip in their ideas, setting the stage for the next step: detailed engineering
What Is Detailed Engineering Design?
Once the basic design gets the green light, we move on to the detailed engineering design phase. This is where the real work starts, and we turn design ideas into exact specifications for buying materials, building, and getting everything running.
Detailed engineering lays out how the project will happen, what materials we’ll use, and how all the systems will work together.
Main Goals of Detailed Engineering:
- Turn basic design into detailed documentation ready for execution
- Make sure everything meets codes like ASME, API, and CSA
- Finalize designs for equipment, piping, civil, structure, electrical, and instrumentation
- Create material take-offs (MTOs) and Bills of Materials (BOMs)
- Set things up for buying and construction
This phase answers the “how,” “where,” and “with what” of the project, involving teams from piping, mechanical, civil, electrical, instrumentation, and control engineering.
Read :- Optimizing Industrial Projects Through High-Quality Detailed Engineering
Common Deliverables in Detailed Engineering:
- Final P&IDs and isometric drawings
- Stress analysis reports for piping
- 3D plant models using tools like E3D, PDMS, or AutoCAD Plant 3D
- Structural steel details
- Cable routing diagrams and electrical load lists
- Instrument loop diagrams and control system layouts
- Final project schedule and cost breakdown
Basic Engineering vs Detailed Engineering: Key Differences
Feature | Basic Engineering | Detailed Engineering |
Purpose | Define project feasibility and scope | Finalize technical specifications for execution |
Level of Detail | High-level and conceptual | Fully detailed and construction-ready |
Output | Estimates, layouts, PFDs, preliminary P&IDs | 3D models, stress reports, detailed drawings |
Tools | Process simulators, basic CAD | CAESAR II, AutoPIPE, E3D, SmartPlant |
Impact | Guides budget and investment | Drives procurement, fabrication, and construction |
Why It’s Important to Know the Difference
Not understanding the difference between basic engineering and detailed engineering can cause a bunch of issues like:
- Confusion between engineering and procurement teams
- Delays in getting approvals because details are missing
- More change orders and rework at the site
- Increased costs from design mistakes
- Safety risks and issues with codes
Having a solid plan for both basic and detailed engineering helps projects run more smoothly, cuts down on surprises, and gives you better control over time and money.
How Detailed Engineering Design Helps Projects Succeed
Here’s how putting investment into solid detailed engineering design can make a big difference:
1. Better Cost and Material Estimates
Having detailed material take-offs and bill of materials means faster and more accurate buying, helping to prevent running short or having too much material.
2. Fewer Construction Delays
Clear drawings and 3D models without clashes give construction teams the precise info they need, keeping everything on track.
3. Boosts Safety and Follows Rules
Detailed stress tests, load checks, and code compliance ensure the design is safe and meets local requirements, like CRN in Canada.
4. Makes the Most of Equipment and Space
By bringing all teams together, detailed engineering helps create efficient layouts that save space and make maintenance easier.
5. Aids in Lifecycle Management
Good documentation from the design stage helps with planning maintenance, making changes, and future upgrades.
From Basic to Detailed Engineering in an Oil & Gas Project
A mid-sized EPC company working on a gas compression station started with a solid basic engineering phase. After getting the client’s approval and the necessary permits, they moved into detailed engineering using SmartPlant and CAESAR II.
Here’s what they accomplished:
- Design approval from regulators in three provinces
- 15% cost savings from better piping layout
- No rework during construction
- Commissioning finished three weeks early.
Conclusion
Knowing the difference between basic engineering and detailed engineering design isn’t just about having the right skills; it’s about having the right experience for the project. These two steps have distinct roles but they’re essential for making sure everything goes smoothly and stays on budget.
If you’re involved in a project—whether you’re a contractor, an engineering company, or the owner—putting time into both basic and detailed engineering is smart. It helps you dodge unexpected issues and deliver your project successfully.
