Development of a Vertical Embedded Plate Anchor (VEPLA) for Pipeline Restraint

Peter Allan, David Bruton, Michael Brown, Yaseen Sharif

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

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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.
Original languageEnglish
Pages516-523
Publication statusPublished - 12 Sept 2023
Event9th International SUT OSIG Conference “Innovative Geotechnologies for Energy Transition” - Imperical College, London, United Kingdom
Duration: 12 Sept 202314 Sept 2023
https://sut.org/event/osig2023/
http://www.osig2023.com

Conference

Conference9th International SUT OSIG Conference “Innovative Geotechnologies for Energy Transition”
Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
CityLondon
Period12/09/2314/09/23
Internet address

Keywords

  • Pipeline installation
  • walking
  • clay

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Energy (miscellaneous)
  • Civil and Structural Engineering

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