Bentley Case Studies GEOMSA's Subsea Pipeline System Design in the Gulf of Mexico: A Case Study

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	GEOMSA's Subsea Pipeline System Design in the Gulf of Mexico: A Case Study Bentley

GEOMSA's Subsea Pipeline System Design in the Gulf of Mexico: A Case Study

Bentley

Technology Category	Sensors - Environmental Sensors Sensors - Temperature Sensors
Applicable Industries	Oil & Gas Transportation
Applicable Functions	Logistics & Transportation Product Research & Development
Use Cases	Time Sensitive Networking Vehicle Telematics
Services	System Integration
Challenge	Grupo Especializado en Obras Marinas (GEOMSA), a major developer of pipe-soil systems in the Gulf of Mexico, was tasked with assessing pipeline integrity under various conditions in the clay soil trenches of an underwater pipeline system. The project's objective was to increase domestic oil production in the surrounding region. The team needed to determine how the new pipeline system would react to expansion and lateral deformation considering the route's horizontal curves, the varying widths of the trench, the number of ocean floor levels above the pipeline, and how the pipeline would interact with the clay soil environment in which it was being placed. They also had to determine a logical and reliable behavior of the pipeline by simulating it inside the trench considering variables such as temperature, lateral deformations, and system stress. Read More
About Customer	Grupo Especializado en Obras Marinas (GEOMSA) is a major developer of pipe-soil systems in the Gulf of Mexico. With over 18 years of experience in marine platform and submarine platform engineering projects, GEOMSA assesses the strength of subsea pipeline systems by determining the effect that expansion and lateral wear have on its life expectancy. The organization specializes in terrestrial pipe and industrial installation projects for hydrocarbon collection and processing. GEOMSA's mission is to reliably meet its clients' requirements. Read More
Solution	To address these challenges, GEOMSA deployed Bentley's AutoPIPE to perform the structural analysis and accurately model the geometry of the pipeline and the characteristics of the soil. The project occurred in two phases. In the first phase, the engineering team used AutoPIPE to develop a 3D model using the project's informational database that describes the types of materials needed for the pipes, connections, and valves. In the second phase, the design team input codes and regulations, design factors, design pressure and temperature, and bend radius elbows. These factors were then used to calculate how the system would interact with the soil. The engineers manipulated the parameters of the soil-pipe interaction in the model to simulate the variations in the width of the trench. They also performed several flexibility analyses so that the team could obtain stress results and deformations in the clay soil. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Sensors - Environmental Sensors

Sensors - Temperature Sensors

Applicable Industries

Oil & Gas

Transportation

Applicable Functions

Logistics & Transportation

Product Research & Development

Use Cases

Time Sensitive Networking

Vehicle Telematics

Services

System Integration

Challenge

Grupo Especializado en Obras Marinas (GEOMSA), a major developer of pipe-soil systems in the Gulf of Mexico, was tasked with assessing pipeline integrity under various conditions in the clay soil trenches of an underwater pipeline system. The project's objective was to increase domestic oil production in the surrounding region. The team needed to determine how the new pipeline system would react to expansion and lateral deformation considering the route's horizontal curves, the varying widths of the trench, the number of ocean floor levels above the pipeline, and how the pipeline would interact with the clay soil environment in which it was being placed. They also had to determine a logical and reliable behavior of the pipeline by simulating it inside the trench considering variables such as temperature, lateral deformations, and system stress.

About Customer

Grupo Especializado en Obras Marinas (GEOMSA) is a major developer of pipe-soil systems in the Gulf of Mexico. With over 18 years of experience in marine platform and submarine platform engineering projects, GEOMSA assesses the strength of subsea pipeline systems by determining the effect that expansion and lateral wear have on its life expectancy. The organization specializes in terrestrial pipe and industrial installation projects for hydrocarbon collection and processing. GEOMSA's mission is to reliably meet its clients' requirements.

Solution

To address these challenges, GEOMSA deployed Bentley's AutoPIPE to perform the structural analysis and accurately model the geometry of the pipeline and the characteristics of the soil. The project occurred in two phases. In the first phase, the engineering team used AutoPIPE to develop a 3D model using the project's informational database that describes the types of materials needed for the pipes, connections, and valves. In the second phase, the design team input codes and regulations, design factors, design pressure and temperature, and bend radius elbows. These factors were then used to calculate how the system would interact with the soil. The engineers manipulated the parameters of the soil-pipe interaction in the model to simulate the variations in the width of the trench. They also performed several flexibility analyses so that the team could obtain stress results and deformations in the clay soil.

Impact #1	The use of AutoPIPE led to significant benefits for GEOMSA. The application helped the engineering team reduce the time that it would have normally taken to modify how the piping system would interact with the soil, while also accurately representing gradual variations in the trench’s width. AutoPIPE also enabled the engineering team to create realistic designs that reduced the risk of the pipeline failing. The user-friendly application displayed the analysis to the project team in a fully graphical environment so that the results could be clearly understood by all stakeholders. This improved collaboration, and saved time and cost. AutoPIPE was also instrumental in allowing the project team to meet local and international regulations or codes. This capability allowed the engineers to feel confident that they were creating the safest pipeline system, reducing the risk of marine pipeline failure and the severe environmental impact on the surrounding area.

Impact #1

The use of AutoPIPE led to significant benefits for GEOMSA. The application helped the engineering team reduce the time that it would have normally taken to modify how the piping system would interact with the soil, while also accurately representing gradual variations in the trench’s width. AutoPIPE also enabled the engineering team to create realistic designs that reduced the risk of the pipeline failing. The user-friendly application displayed the analysis to the project team in a fully graphical environment so that the results could be clearly understood by all stakeholders. This improved collaboration, and saved time and cost. AutoPIPE was also instrumental in allowing the project team to meet local and international regulations or codes. This capability allowed the engineers to feel confident that they were creating the safest pipeline system, reducing the risk of marine pipeline failure and the severe environmental impact on the surrounding area.

Benefit #1	AutoPIPE reduced the analysis process, enabling GEOMSA to reduce delivery time and project costs.
Benefit #2	AutoPIPE allowed the project team to deliver more realistic designs, which improved system reliability and lessened the environmental impact.
Benefit #3	Optimizing the volume of domestic oil production improves the country’s economy and creates more local jobs.

Benefit #1

AutoPIPE reduced the analysis process, enabling GEOMSA to reduce delivery time and project costs.

Benefit #2

AutoPIPE allowed the project team to deliver more realistic designs, which improved system reliability and lessened the environmental impact.

Benefit #3

Optimizing the volume of domestic oil production improves the country’s economy and creates more local jobs.

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Overview

GEOMSA's Subsea Pipeline System Design in the Gulf of Mexico: A Case Study

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit