Case Study: J P Kenny achieves optimized, cost-saving deepwater pipeline design with Dassault Systemes (Abaqus FEA)

J P Kenny - Customer Case Study

J P Kenny faced the challenge of designing and routing subsea pipelines for a deepwater gas project about 150 miles off Western Australia, dealing with extreme conditions including water depths to 1350 m, gas temperatures up to 130°C, pressures around 360 barg, long pipeline runs (≈260 km main line and ≈520 km of smaller lines), steep seabed escarpments, cyclones, strong currents, and design issues outside current codes. To tackle these issues they deployed Dassault Systemes’ Abaqus FEA technology to evaluate conceptual, FEED and detailed designs.

Using Dassault Systemes’ Abaqus, J P Kenny ran nonlinear/contact and lateral-buckling analyses, coupled seabed and fluid effects, and integrated Abaqus output with Fledermaus 3-D visualization to map escarpment crossings. The solution reduced simulation times and improved design accuracy, helped confirm spans and material/coating choices to accommodate estimated expansions (≈7 m) and lateral displacements (up to 10 m), and identified an optimal escarpment crossing that can reduce pipe lay by up to 40 km—delivering significant cost and risk reductions.

J P Kenny

Dermot O’Brien

Pipeline Business Leader