Mechanical integrity of buried energy pipelines

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Pipelines play a major role in transporting oil and gas products for civilian and industrial use. Establishing safe, reliable and economic pipeline transportation systems is essential for all stakeholders including operators, industry, regulatory agencies and society. Onshore pipelines are generally buried for reasons of public safety and protection from third-party damage. These pipeline transportation systems traverse hundreds of kilometers across varied environmental, topographical, and geotechnical conditions. Along segments of this system, the pipeline may be subject to large deformation ground movement. The relative soil displacement imposes geotechnical loads on the buried pipeline system. This may initiate pipeline deformations affecting pipeline operations and serviceability. The geohazards may also initiate a more significant pipeline response affecting mechanical integrity. Consequences of pipeline failure may have a significant impact on society, environment, and operations. The economic impact can be millions of dollars.The anticipated contributions from this research program will be the advancement of numerical simulation tools that provide improved estimates on geotechnical loads and load effects on pipeline systems. The technical approach will incorporate engineering desktop studies, analytical tools, reduced-scale centrifuge modelling techniques and numerical modelling procedures. A framework will be developed to integrate the research outcomes within engineering practice for the analysis, design and assessment of buried pipeline transportation systems subject to long-term geohazards. The reduced uncertainty will improve pipeline safety and life-cycle economics through a better understanding of pipeline integrity. The research outcomes may also assist pipeline companies in the development of monitoring programs, mitigation strategies, and operational response plans.