3-D software boosts offshore platform design capability - Unocal Thailand Ltd invests in new design system

World Oil, August, 1998 by Paul Anthony

Additional time savings come from linking orthographics and isometrics. When design changes inevitably occur, they are entered in the orthographic drawings and automatically rippled through the related isometrics. It is now easier to check the isometrics using the new system as well. Interferences can he easily detected by rotating the 3-D model into different perspectives, and using a clash detection feature.

The now-feasible link to a text database provides equally significant time savings. Designers have been freed from the need to enter descriptions on the drawings. Instead, a secretary types the specs for each component into a simple flat-file textual database. After this initial information is entered, only modifications need to be entered into the database.

Whenever a symbol is entered into the drawing, the textual information is automatically linked to the drawing. This information can then be used in reports such as the bill of materials, valve/specialty/instrument lists and line designation schedules.

Data can be manipulated to save engineering time, such as by separating stainless steel components onto a different report or subtracting the length of in-line components to provide cut-length data. If an error is discovered in a spec, it can be corrected simply by typing the correct data into the database. The change is automatically updated, throughout all drawings.

The conversion from manual drafting and bill of materials generation to 100% AutoPLANT was completed in late 1994, at which time, Unocal had its basic 3-D platform design in the new system that formed the basis for all new platforms. This was a modular design so that for any new project, designers could pick and choose various parts to ultimately create all the new piping drawings in 80 to 160 hr.