Improving the performance of offshore pipeline ploughs using vibration

A. Zefirova; M. J. Brown; A. J. Brennan; S. Boyes

Improving the performance of offshore pipeline ploughs using vibration

A. Zefirova, M. J. Brown, A. J. Brennan, S. Boyes

Civil Engineering

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Pipelines are often buried in the seabed using ploughs to protect against man-made and natural hazards. The depth of burial is influenced by the soil conditions and plough progress rates required to meet contract deadlines.
Plough progress rates may be a function of the towing vessel capabilities. Being able to reduce plough tow forces, increase the rate of progress or increase ploughing depths without significant increases in tow forces may offer considerable commercial advantages to the ploughing industry. One possible means of improving pipeline plough performance is through inducing vibration in the plough and surrounding ground. This paper reports the findings of a pilot study looking at the effects of plough vibration on tow forces and plough depth. The results show that vibration at 77–102Hz resulted in increased plough depth by up to 38% in dense sand, with limited average increases in tow forces of –6%.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Offshore Site Investigation and Geotechnics
Subtitle of host publication	Integrated Geotechnologies - Present and Future
Publisher	Society for Underwater Technology
Pages	395-401
Number of pages	7
ISBN (Print)	9780906940532
Publication status	Published - 2012
Event	7th International Conference on Offshore Site Investigation and Geotechnics: Integrated Geotechnologies – Present and Future - Royal Geographical Society, London, United Kingdom Duration: 12 Sept 2012 → 14 Sept 2012

Conference

Conference	7th International Conference on Offshore Site Investigation and Geotechnics
Country/Territory	United Kingdom
City	London
Period	12/09/12 → 14/09/12

Cite this

@inproceedings{73a7c282d9eb4c37a495c14d7ea93026,

title = "Improving the performance of offshore pipeline ploughs using vibration",

abstract = "Pipelines are often buried in the seabed using ploughs to protect against man-made and natural hazards. The depth of burial is influenced by the soil conditions and plough progress rates required to meet contract deadlines.Plough progress rates may be a function of the towing vessel capabilities. Being able to reduce plough tow forces, increase the rate of progress or increase ploughing depths without significant increases in tow forces may offer considerable commercial advantages to the ploughing industry. One possible means of improving pipeline plough performance is through inducing vibration in the plough and surrounding ground. This paper reports the findings of a pilot study looking at the effects of plough vibration on tow forces and plough depth. The results show that vibration at 77–102Hz resulted in increased plough depth by up to 38% in dense sand, with limited average increases in tow forces of –6%.",

author = "A. Zefirova and Brown, {M. J.} and Brennan, {A. J.} and S. Boyes",

note = "The authors would like to thank the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) for funding the first author to develop the vibration system under its vacation scholarship programme. The authors would also like to thank CTC Marine Ltd for funding that allowed the development of the model testing facilities; 7th International Conference on Offshore Site Investigation and Geotechnics : Integrated Geotechnologies – Present and Future ; Conference date: 12-09-2012 Through 14-09-2012",

year = "2012",

language = "English",

isbn = "9780906940532",

pages = "395--401",

booktitle = "Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Offshore Site Investigation and Geotechnics",

publisher = "Society for Underwater Technology",

}

Zefirova, A, Brown, MJ , Brennan, AJ & Boyes, S 2012, Improving the performance of offshore pipeline ploughs using vibration. in Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Offshore Site Investigation and Geotechnics: Integrated Geotechnologies - Present and Future. Society for Underwater Technology, pp. 395-401, 7th International Conference on Offshore Site Investigation and Geotechnics, London, United Kingdom, 12/09/12.

Improving the performance of offshore pipeline ploughs using vibration. / Zefirova, A.; Brown, M. J.; Brennan, A. J. et al.
Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Offshore Site Investigation and Geotechnics: Integrated Geotechnologies - Present and Future. Society for Underwater Technology, 2012. p. 395-401.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

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T1 - Improving the performance of offshore pipeline ploughs using vibration

AU - Zefirova, A.

AU - Brown, M. J.

AU - Brennan, A. J.

AU - Boyes, S.

N1 - The authors would like to thank the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) for funding the first author to develop the vibration system under its vacation scholarship programme. The authors would also like to thank CTC Marine Ltd for funding that allowed the development of the model testing facilities

PY - 2012

Y1 - 2012

N2 - Pipelines are often buried in the seabed using ploughs to protect against man-made and natural hazards. The depth of burial is influenced by the soil conditions and plough progress rates required to meet contract deadlines.Plough progress rates may be a function of the towing vessel capabilities. Being able to reduce plough tow forces, increase the rate of progress or increase ploughing depths without significant increases in tow forces may offer considerable commercial advantages to the ploughing industry. One possible means of improving pipeline plough performance is through inducing vibration in the plough and surrounding ground. This paper reports the findings of a pilot study looking at the effects of plough vibration on tow forces and plough depth. The results show that vibration at 77–102Hz resulted in increased plough depth by up to 38% in dense sand, with limited average increases in tow forces of –6%.

AB - Pipelines are often buried in the seabed using ploughs to protect against man-made and natural hazards. The depth of burial is influenced by the soil conditions and plough progress rates required to meet contract deadlines.Plough progress rates may be a function of the towing vessel capabilities. Being able to reduce plough tow forces, increase the rate of progress or increase ploughing depths without significant increases in tow forces may offer considerable commercial advantages to the ploughing industry. One possible means of improving pipeline plough performance is through inducing vibration in the plough and surrounding ground. This paper reports the findings of a pilot study looking at the effects of plough vibration on tow forces and plough depth. The results show that vibration at 77–102Hz resulted in increased plough depth by up to 38% in dense sand, with limited average increases in tow forces of –6%.

UR - https://www.sut.org/books-and-conference-proceedings/offshore-site-investigation-and-geotechnics/

M3 - Conference contribution

SN - 9780906940532

SP - 395

EP - 401

BT - Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Offshore Site Investigation and Geotechnics

PB - Society for Underwater Technology

T2 - 7th International Conference on Offshore Site Investigation and Geotechnics

Y2 - 12 September 2012 through 14 September 2012

ER -

Improving the performance of offshore pipeline ploughs using vibration

Abstract

Conference

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Comparative Assessment of Pipeline Plough Performance Prediction Models Against Field Experience in Sand

Centrifuge testing to verify scaling of offshore pipeline ploughs

The performance of pipeline ploughs traversing seabed slopes

Cite this