Abstract
Pipeline walking, due to thermal expansion and contraction of seabed pipelines in operation, has been the subject of extensive research to understand when walking may occur, and the forces and movements generated. To date, the usual solution for pipelines at risk of walking is to place a large anchor at one end of the pipeline, or mid-line anchors installed to each side of the pipeline along the route. However, such anchors require pre-installed attachment points on the pipeline. A more elegant and efficient approach, demonstrated by recent research, is to install or retrofit distributed anchors on the pipeline at the most efficient location. Also, for many pipelines the potential for walking is unclear, and a solution which can be installed during the operational life of the pipeline is attractive, as part of ‘Wait and See’ strategy, based on the “Observational Method”.
To address these issues, the Vertically Embedded Plate Anchor (VEPLA) has been developed, as a modest capacity anchor that can easily be clamped to an existing or new pipeline. The concept utilises two plates, which are embedded by self-weight into the seabed and clamp onto the pipeline. A series of numerical studies and centrifuge tests have been performed to assess the efficiency of the solution and allow restraint capacity to be assessed. This paper describes the concept and discusses the research performed to assess the geotechnical operation of the anchor system.
To address these issues, the Vertically Embedded Plate Anchor (VEPLA) has been developed, as a modest capacity anchor that can easily be clamped to an existing or new pipeline. The concept utilises two plates, which are embedded by self-weight into the seabed and clamp onto the pipeline. A series of numerical studies and centrifuge tests have been performed to assess the efficiency of the solution and allow restraint capacity to be assessed. This paper describes the concept and discusses the research performed to assess the geotechnical operation of the anchor system.
Original language | English |
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Pages | 516-523 |
Publication status | Published - 12 Sept 2023 |
Event | 9th International SUT OSIG Conference “Innovative Geotechnologies for Energy Transition” - Imperical College, London, United Kingdom Duration: 12 Sept 2023 → 14 Sept 2023 https://sut.org/event/osig2023/ http://www.osig2023.com |
Conference
Conference | 9th International SUT OSIG Conference “Innovative Geotechnologies for Energy Transition” |
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Country/Territory | United Kingdom |
City | London |
Period | 12/09/23 → 14/09/23 |
Internet address |
Keywords
- Pipeline installation
- walking
- clay
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Energy (miscellaneous)
- Civil and Structural Engineering