Tekla SofTware in pracTice:

laMprellUniTed araB eMiraTeS

a TriMBle coMpanY

OffshOre engineers

rely On Teklas after evaluation of similar software lamprell made an educated choice for Tekla based on the speed of detailing, accuracy, consistency, and clash checks within steelwork, as well as the visual effects available with the software.

laMprell BenefiTS of USing Tekla in offShore a accuracy increased to 98%P productivity and efficiency increased 25%L engineering labor reduced from 10 to 6 persons

aBoUT laMprellT lamprell, based in the United arab emirates and with operations throughout the gulf region, has played a prominent role in the development of the offshore industry in the arabian gulf for over 30 years and is a regional market leader both in the rig market and topsides solutions market. lamprell is a leading provider of diversified engineering and contracting services to the onshore and offshore oil & gas and renewable energy industries. More information at www.lamprell.com

G offshore engineering solutions provider lamprell has been using Tekla 3d BiM software since 2007. The company’s staff was 100 per cent 2d-oriented and did not have much previous experience on 3d methods before moving on to use Tekla.

“whilst it was quite a difficult job to explain to our staff the underlying benefits of 3d and also to reduce their dependency on 2d software,” says Suresh Ramadoss, engineering Manager at lamprell energy. “Today the same staff tells me that they cannot work without Tekla, which to me means that the transition was well worth the challenge—coupled with the fact that both our engineering and construction departments are now confident with respect to the accuracy of the drawings.”

Tekla can handle larger and more complex projects compared to other 3d modeling solutions and can be utilized from initial concept studies, including 4d visualization, to the design of structures, safety systems and sustainability, and all the way from commissioning and modifications to eventual decommissioning.

“we are working on importing Tekla structural components into pdMS and converting the 3d structural model into Sdnf format,” ramadoss continues. “with the latest Tekla development of model sharing and construction management, i am sure we could use Tekla for the whole steelwork life cycle.”

From left to right: Kanakaraj Thomas, Lead Structural Designer, Doug Benson, Executive Vice President, and Suresh Ramadoss, Engineering Manager

incrediBle increaSe in accUracYs “all structural detailers at lamprell only work with Tekla Structures, which has made my department very efficient,” says ramadoss. “i would expect at least a 30-40% increase in the numbers in the future, provided that co-ordination problems can be overridden. with Tekla, we are saving at least 25 to 30 per cent in time compared to our earlier way of working.”

“The accuracy of the drawings are directly proportional to the cost of the fabrication, since material and manpower is not wasted in rework,” ramadoss says. “we have produced many custom components and macros to speed up the modeling process and will continue this development in the future. i expect Tekla to release a beta version of their model sharing solution and help me use the construction Management module with confidence.”

USing Tekla for Barge faBricaTionT “Many where hesitant when i suggested that we should use Tekla for barge fabrication,” says ramadoss, “but considering the accuracy of the software, everyone agreed that we would be better off using Tekla than not using 3d modeling at all.”

despite the fact that hulls are predominantly curve-shaped, which is something lamprell could not model in Tekla, their decision turned out to be the best for the time. even the most sceptical people came back to ramadoss and said that they could never have been so confident and fast trying to do the same in 2d. The outcome was as per ramadoss’s expectations.

Using Tekla in a vessel project involved 6 persons including checkers. The vessel was modeled and extracted in a matter of 4 to 5 months with all details, such as platforms and handrails. The number of people in the project could have easily been 10, and lamprell would not have been confident of the consistency of the interfaces. with Tekla, they were sure not to confront such issues.

“Tekla support has been excellent throughout the time that we have been using this product, and we feel reassured.”- Suresh ramadoss, lamprell energy

Modeling everY coMponenT and deTailT lamprell’s main challenge was the lack of custom components as they had to model every bit of the vessel. This was also made more difficult by methodology of providing all weld preps on the drawings, which meant that they had to model each one of them. They started to create the custom components as they progressed with the project, and in the end had a library, which now helps the company in future projects.

“The unique features in Tekla Structures that specifically helped us complete our projects successfully were, for example, copying of bulkheads, frames, and manholes without the need to model the details of bevels,” says Kanakaraj Thomas, lead designer, Structural, at lamprell. “Tekla also enabled dealing with pipe profiles very accurately.”

“in the future, we intend to further develop Tekla for weld numbering. Tekla support has been excellent throughout the time that we have been using this product, and we feel reassured. This was the first project for which we modeled all of steelwork in Tekla. The documentation control within Tekla is very good and keeps track of all the changes to drawings,” concludes ramadoss.

BUilT ModUle BY ModUleT fpSo Topside Modules were lamprell’s succesful entry for the Tekla Middle east model competition in 2010 and won the Best offshore project category.

The modules are supported by a multi-point support system with appropriate restraints to minimize the interaction with the hull structure. The fpSo will typically receive crude oil directly from underwater wellheads; separate oil, gas and water; inject gas into the field for artificial lift requirement; store stabilized crude oil; and offload it via hoses to export tankers periodically moored to the fpSo. lamprell’s scope of the project involved building all topside modules with the hull built by others.

Tekla is a registered trademark of Tekla Corporation in the European Union, the United States and in several other countries.

oUr aMBiTion iS To MUlTiplY YoUr poTenTial To Think and achieve Big

W with an ambition to multiply its customers’ potential to think and achieve big, Tekla provides a BiM (Building information Modeling) software environment that can be shared by contractors, structural engineers, steel detailers and fabricators, as well as concrete detailers and manufacturers.

The highly detailed as-built 3d models created, combined and distributed with Tekla software enable the highest level of constructability and production control.

centralizing building information into the model allows for more collaborative and integrated project management and delivery. This translates into increased productivity and elimination of waste, thus making construction and buildings more sustainable.

T with its software, Tekla corporation drives the evolution of digital information models and provides more and more competitive advantage to the construction and infrastructure industries. Tekla software is used worldwide to model all types of buildings.

Tekla was established in 1966, and today it has customers in 100 countries, offices in 15 countries, and a global partner network. Since 2011, Tekla has been a part of the Trimble group.

www.tekla.com