Author Archives: sageprof

SAGE Profile 3.0 certification by Bureau Veritas

For all releases of SAGE Profile, we have strived to provide our clients with a specialized and complete software suite dedicated to offshore pipeline analysis. In order to guarantee the reliability and efficiency of such a highly technical tool, multiple certifications were conducted over the years by an independent accredited body.

In this context, Bureau Veritas Marine and Offshore evaluated SAGE Profile 3.0 for its basic suitability for performing pipeline analysis. The scope focused on the numerical simulation, and is now completed. A second phase, which will focus on validation of the new features for version 3.1, is planned to begin shortly.

Picture from www.bureauveritas.com

Fugro, an active participant in the RIGSS JIP

Fugro is an active participant in the “Remote Intelligent Geotechnical Seabed Survey” (RIGSS) JIP, which is currently underway at the University of Western Australia (UWA). The primary objective of the RIGSS JIP is to develop innovative site investigation tools that enable more accurate and reliable understanding of soil behaviour at, and immediately, below seabed. The three “visions” of the JIP are:

Develop a remote SI platform, with robotic control of intelligent tools that target the soil behavioural properties required by designers.
Produce earlier and more reliable geotechnical definition for projects; leading to reduced uncertainty and risk, and therefore more optimised designs.
Develop direct geotechnical design methodologies, i.e. development of pipeline and foundation design methods that incorporate in-situ measurements directly.

For more information, please visit: http://www.rigssjip.com/

Cranfield students are pushing the boundaries of SAGE Profile

The pipeline engineering students at Cranfield University are using SAGE Profile to explore new frontiers for their group projects and master theses. Recently, a group of motivated students has successfully completed an assignment on the prediction of susceptibility to upheaval buckling for buried pipelines. In addition, master theses are on-going to investigate structural reliability of free spanning pipelines, dynamic loading in SAGE Profile and the simulation of pipe-in-pipe systems.

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SAGE Profile used for Fatigue Analysis of Free Spans Subjected to VIV

Vortex induced vibration is a major cause of fatigue failure in submarine oil and gas pipelines and steel catenary risers. In their paper “Fatigue Analysis of Free Spanning Pipelines Subjected to Vortex Induced Vibrations”, dr. ir. Filip Van den Abeele and ir. Frédérique Boël, present a case study from the offshore industry, in association with Shell Exploration & Production. For a deepwater pipeline in the Gulf of Mexico, the remaining fatigue capacity of a long slender span subjected to VIV was analyzed using the DNV-RP-F105 span check offered by SAGE Profile. This powerful capability provides a quick and easy tool to evaluate the severity of free spans for a given pipeline route, and hence can save a tremendous amount of time and money associated with seabed rectification.

In this paper, an integrated numerical framework is presented to predict and identify free spans that may be vulnerable to fatigue damage caused by vortex induced vibrations (VIV). Sensitivity analyses are performed to study the influence of the seabed conditions, where special emphasis is devoted on the selection of pipe soil interaction parameters.

The paper has been presented at the International Conference on Offshore Mechanics and Arctic Engineering (OMAE 2013).

>> Read more – 2013

Journal of Pipeline Engineering covers SAGE Profile simulations

The December 2012 issue of the Journal of Pipeline Engineering presents an overview of numerical modelling and analysis for offshore pipeline design, installation, and operation. SAGE Profile 3D is used to demonstrate the added value of numerical modelling as a design aid and decision tool throughout the entire life of an offshore pipeline.

In their article on ‘Numerical Modelling and Analysis for Offshore Pipeline Design, Installation and Operation’, SAGE Profile experts dr. ir. Filip Van den Abeele and ir. Raphaël Denis present case studies on pipe-soil interaction, free span evaluation, lateral buckling, upheaval buckling and pipeline walking. This comprehensive review demonstrates the versatility of finite element methods as a powerful support tool in offshore pipeline design.

>> Read more – 2012