Pipeline analysis

Qualification of oil, gas and process pipelines and plant

TRaC has continuous experience in the analysis of pipework since 1978. Originally focusing on the stress analysis of gas pipelines, TRaC's analysts also developed sophisticated pipeline analysis software in collaboration with British Gas. This was the first in the field to account for complex technical effects such as nonlinear soil stiffness and soil friction, supplanting British Gas' in-house systems. The command of the theory necessary to our role as system authors together with our first hand experience of day-to-day analysis qualifies TRaC as leaders in the field of pipeline analysis. Now using the analysis software package CAESAR II, TRaC's analysis expertise extends across the entire field of oil, gas and process pipeline engineering.

TRaC meets your needs

Pipeline analysis Whilst computer simulation can be used to rapidly identify problems and check possible modifications, devising practical solutions within project budget and time-scale constraints calls for field experience.

TRaC's engineers commonly visit construction sites, working in collaboration with designers and site engineers to assess conditions and agree the best way to overcome issues.

Computer systems can be taken to site to allow modifications to be evaluated and agreed on the spot.

Other site services include vibration measurement to investigate fatigue failures, followed by analysis to provide design solutions.

Stress distribution in a 36'' Spit Tee (right)

Analysis of Steelwork and Plant

Steelwork making up river crossings and processing equipment are regularly analysed. In addition to operating conditions, earthquake and wind loading effects are investigated.

Qualification of Major Fittings

Gas pipeline analysis In checking pipework against industry standard Code of Practice criteria, simplified methods may be insufficient to qualify major fittings.

In these cases, TRaC carries out detailed finite element analysis. Abaqus is used to predict stress distributions in fittings and welds for checking against limits.

For split tees, inevitable micro defects in site welds need to be assessed to avoid the requirement for post weld heat treatment.

Using the fracture mechanics package Code R6 developed by British Energy for the analysis of nuclear reactors, TRaC’s engineers determine critical defect sizes to support non-destructive testing of welds.

Checking 'as built' geometry on a Russian gas compressor site (left)

Other software in use at TRaC

Packages in regular use alongside CAESAR II, Abaqus and Code R6 include:

Nastran: General purpose finite element analysis.
FESafe: Fatigue life prediction.
CFDesign: Fluid dynamics and heat transfer analysis.
Adams: Mechanisms and Multi-body dynamics simulation.

Upgrating of the Nurgas Guacara AGI, Venezuela (right)

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