Knowledge-based collaborative engineering of pipe networks in the upstream and downstream petroleum industry

This paper describes an approach to the development of a framework for the automation of the detailed engineering cycle based on the integration of concurrent and collaborative engineering models with knowledge-based engineering. The framework is illustrated by the example of pipe networks design and stress and flexibility analysis in the upstream or downstream petroleum industry. Engineering tools are integrated with a Multi-Agent System for helping stress analysis engineers to identify whether a given pipe arrangement can cope with weight, thermal and pressure stress at safe operation levels and suggesting available solutions on pipeline layout and support distribution based on historical cases. Overall, the system architecture is discussed and implementation details are provided.