OIL & GAS
Fully conversant with most, if not all, of the main design codes, e.g., ABS, API, DNVGL, ISO and Lloyds to name but a few, we have supported some of the most technically demanding projects for some of the most notable national and international oil and gas entities around the world.
Since we were established in 2000, our engineers have pioneered the development of innovative analysis methodologies to assess upstream, midstream and downstream oil & gas applications in the subsea, offshore and onshore environments.
These methodologies cover all of the global dynamic analysis (OrcaFlex) and local analysis (FEA & CFD) needs at a component and a system-level for both greenfield and brownfield developments across the whole life of field cycle, i.e., FEED, installation, commissioning, operations, life extension and decommissioning.
Component-level assessments see us validate:
- Subsea isolation and flow control valves to API 6A and API 6D;
- Premium OCTG connectors to ISO 13628-7, ISO 13679 and API 17G;
- Subsea Xmas Tree (XT) flowloops to ASME VIII Div 3, DNVGL-RP-F112 (HISC) and DNVGL-RP-C203 & NORSOK N0006 (fatigue)
System-level assessments see us validate:
- Entire piping systems to ASME B31.1 and ASME B31.3;
- High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) subsea production systems to API 17TR8;
- Well Intervention and Pipelay Towers to DNVGL-OC-0005.
As well as performing the conventional structural, thermal and flow assurance analyses, through our constant drive to enhance and extend our analysis expertise, we’re now able to give you even greater insight to the performance of your products. Harsh environments or complex phenomena that we’re previously off-limits are now very much within our sphere of influence and control; recent developments allow us to generate fully coupled FEA and CFD models that can simulate complex Fluid Structure Interactions (FSI), consider multiphase fluid flow regimes, model real gas properties and explicitly show the Joule Thomson cooling effect to name but a few.
As the oil and gas commodity prices start to recover, we’re seeing more final investment decisions being made. Clearly, this is good news, but you still face two challenges:
Firstly, while the number of projects is starting to increase, the size of the projects are relatively small; these small projects still need the same amount of engineering support as a large project though, so in real terms, you have to apply more engineering effort for less financial return.
Secondly, many of you find yourselves in a highly competitive landscape where the visible price is still the dominant factor in deciding if you win the work or not. Margins are either very tight, or non-existent at all, so somehow your costs still need to fall.
If we add into the mix that in an attempt to reduce lead times, the industry is driving towards having ‘no’ engineering post-contract award, you’re facing a perfect storm.
We can help.