AMEC says that AMEC Paragon, their oil and gas business in the Americas, now provides clients with ASD Global's OptiPlant 3D modeling software for front-end engineering design (FEED), pre-FEED and concept estimating. The use of the software adds value by streamlining engineering resources and automating the FEED work process, improving concept estimates and overall project execution for clients.

"Customers today require engineering partners who understand their need for improved efficiencies, quality control and cost containment," said Terrance Ivers, president of AMEC Paragon. "With that challenge in mind, we are focusing on streamlining work processes to complement the conceptual engineering expertise clients have come to rely upon from AMEC Paragon. As we network global project teams together, we optimize human resources and successfully achieve common project objectives."

Clients are demanding more accurate engineering estimates at the conceptual stage, which require that higher quality engineering be conducted at very early stages to reduce re-work and re-design. An automated engineering application, OptiPlant enables an experienced piping designer -- without a large team of support personnel -- to quickly and automatically produce accurate 3D concept models and alternative design arrangements for pipe routing and other plant or offshore equipment layouts.

Additionally, OptiPlant allows engineers to respond quickly to client requests for changes and concentrate on equipment design rather than time-consuming revisions during the concept phases.

"The beauty of this tool is that it uses automation to route the pipe between specified start and stop points, and it’s very user friendly, which increases engineer productivity," said Greg Kreider, AMEC Paragon's project director. "The knowledge-based application assists in routing pipelines based on time-tested algorithms, design rules and other industry data embedded in the software. It allows junior designers and engineers to make connections and automatically rough-route the lines while senior designers and engineers focus on optimizing the pipe routing."

According to Kreider, -- who will present at Daratech's 15th annual daratechPLANT conference on February 23, 2009 in Houston -- AMEC is streamlining work processes through knowledge-based solutions: "OptiPlant is like 3D modeling 'light.' On pre-FEEDs, FEEDs and concepts, 3D is not typically used because the information generated is not necessarily going to be the final rendering and because more powerful design applications used at these phases were too costly to consider. But with this software, we are now able to incorporate the 3D feature cost effectively."

For example, OptiPlant, when applied at a project’s early stages, can be used to route 100 lines of pipe in 20 minutes rather than the several hours required with more detailed, conventional 3D applications.

When developing an equipment arrangement in preliminary design phases, many iterations are required to meet the weight, space, process and other requirements defined by the client, hull provider, topside module constructors, or installation/hook-up contractors. AMEC Paragon, through OptiPlant, is able to quickly input initial equipment arrangements to route lines and easily make revisions within the software by moving basic equipment -- like vertical towers, cylinders, tanks, pumps or horizontal exchangers -- from one location to another without breaking the necessary links.

Tags: AMEC Paragon