Ensure structural integrity and operational safety

Safeguard the long-term performance of your pipelines with tools that prove structural integrity during operation and support lifetime extension assessments. Conduct detailed sensitivity studies to understand corrosion impact and calculate pressure resistance across different defect scenarios. Optimize maintenance costs by calculating allowable free spans and fatigue life under varying seabed conditions. You can also assess material loss due to particle erosion, helping you manage the risks of sand production in oil and gas operations.

Our software tools

There are eight different software products to support the design and operation of submarine pipelines according to DNV-ST-F101 and supplementary recommended practices. The tools for stability calculations are also applicable for submarine umbilicals and cables.

We have also created two packages to do design and operation of submarine pipelines: ‘DNV Pipeline Tools’ and ‘DNV Pipeline Stability’ based on what our existing customers use, making it easier to decide what is right for you.

The DNV Subsea Toolkit is a digital implementation of relevant DNV service documents. They are built to support the design flow including project initiation, project basis and premises, material selection and wall thickness design, installation design and design for operation followed by lifetime operational phase.

The tools contain a main view where the input data is given, and main results are shown. There is also a reporting view aiming at easy views and sharing with stakeholders and verification purposes. Parameter studies are supported, and it is easy to set up and report batch runs with variables. Collaboration between partners is a seamless task by data exchange via structured text files.

All tools are verified by DNV to ensure they yield the same results as the formulas in the respective DNV service documents. This is a cost saving compared to making your own implementations of the formulas and verifying them over time. The software products are in daily operation by DNV’s production chain.

Software support is part of the license agreements. It is easy to learn the tools as they have a low threshold user interface, and the user documentation includes relevant examples. Technical support and training can also be provided and is given by DNV experts in the submarine pipeline domain. Free trials are also provided for you to familiarize yourself with the tools and their capabilities.

Software tool FatFree

FatFree is designed for the assessment and re-assessment of free spans in submarine pipelines, in line with DNV-RP-F105 “Free Spanning Pipelines.” The tool evaluates fatigue life by accounting for wave loading, in-line Vortex Induced Vibrations (VIV), and varying environmental and structural conditions. It also supports ULS design checks and integrates results from finite element (FE) analyses or beam theory.

Key features include:

• Fatigue life analysis under both simplified and advanced dynamic loading conditions
• Free span evaluation to determine allowable lengths and support intervention planning
• Compliance with international standards such as DNV-ST-F101, API RP 1111, and ASME B31.8

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Software tool PILSS

PILSS enables advanced dynamic on-bottom stability analysis of submarine pipelines, cables, flexibles, and umbilicals, fully aligned with DNV-RP-F109. As a complement to StableLines, it offers realistic time-domain simulations that reduce conservatism found in simplified methods. By incorporating detailed seabed and hydrodynamic modeling, PILSS supports cost-efficient designs while maintaining safety and compliance.

Key features include:

• Dynamic analysis using time-domain simulation for realistic wave and current interaction
• Advanced soil modeling including sand, clay types, and friction-based models per DNV-RP-F113
• Load-reduction capabilities from trenching, installation effects, and point-in-space modeling

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Software tool DNV-RP-F101

This software supports the assessment of corrosion defects in pipelines using inspection data, fully compliant with DNV-RP-F101 Part A. It enables accurate evaluation of single, interacting, and irregularly shaped defects under internal overpressure, helping operators ensure pipeline integrity and minimize unnecessary conservatism. The tool also considers combined loading conditions, including compressive axial force, for a more complete assessment of burst capacity.

Key features include:

• Burst pressure evaluation for single, interacting, and complex corrosion defects
• Assessment under combined loading, including internal pressure and axial force
• Support for defect shape variation using detailed inspection data for more realistic results

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Software Pipeline Engineering Tool

The Pipeline Engineering Tool supports early-phase assessments of submarine pipelines, helping decision-makers quickly evaluate key design parameters and potential failure modes. It offers a broad overview of critical considerations based on DNVGL-ST-F101, enabling informed decisions before detailed engineering begins. From basic geometry and weight estimates to installation and integrity checks, the tool streamlines concept evaluation and planning.

Key features include:

• Early-phase design checks including on-bottom stability, buckling, and free span analysis
• Installation planning support for methods such as J-lay, S-lay, and reeling
• System behavior insights like thermal expansion and cathodic protection evaluation

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