Buckling Oil and Gas
Buckling Oil and Gas
Buckling Oil and Gas
MASTERS THESIS
Study program/ Specialization:
Of f shor e Technol ogy/
Subsea Technol ogy
Spring semester, 2013
Open/ Restricted access
Writer:
Obel e I f enna I saac
(Writers signature)
Faculty supervisor:
Dr . Dani el Kar unakar an ( Adj unct Pr of essor )
( Uni ver si t y of St avanger , Subsea 7 Nor way)
External supervisor(s):
Dr . Dashar at ha Achani ( Subsea 7 Nor way)
Title of thesis:
Lat er al Buckl i ng and Axi al Wal ki ng of Sur f ace Lai d Subsea Pi pel i ne
Credits (ECTS):
30
Key wor ds:
I ni t i al i mper f ect i on, Lay r adi us, wal ki ng,
l at er al buckl i ng, Out - of - st r ai ght ness
( OOS) , pi pe- soi l i nt er act i on, end
expansi on, ef f ect i ve axi al f or ce, Feed- i n,
Vi r t ual anchor , snake- l ay, t her mal
gr adi ent , pi pel i ne.
Pages: xviii +115
+attachment/other: 82
Stavanger, J une 15, 2013
Date/year
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page iii
ABSTRACT
Subsea pipelines are increasingly being required to operate at high temperature and pressure
HT/HP. The pipeline installed on the seabed and left exposed have a potential to buckle, walk
and change configuration under high temperature and pressure (HT/HP). This could lead to
failure of the Pipeline if buckling and walking is not properly controlled or mitigated.
The objective of the thesis work is to study and understand the influence of pipeline-soil
interaction on the design of surface laid subsea pipeline susceptible to lateral buckling and
pipeline walking.
The main focus of the thesis work is on the use of snake-lay configuration as a mitigating
measure under controlled buckling design and rock dumping if needed to limit feed-in into
buckle and end expansions; the effect of thermal gradient on axial walking and the use of direct
electric heating (DEH) to reduce rate of walking.
The snake-lay configuration is achieved by installing deliberate horizontal lay imperfection to
trigger a sufficient number of thermal buckles at a pre-determined location along the pipeline.
The desire is to limit pipeline expansion at the connecting ends by using snake-lay design with
intermittent rock dumping.
The work includes performing non-linear finite element analysis (FEA) and modeling the soil-
pipeline interaction of as-laid pipeline using general finite (FE) element software ANSYS. The
results are discussed against the relevant design criteria based on design codes DNV-OS-F101,
DNV-RP-F110 and Subsea 7 Lateral Buckling Analysis Design Guideline.
FE analyses were performed to study the lateral buckling of a 2km VAS model with an initial
out-of-straightness (OOS) under operating temperature and pressure.
Consequently, the effect of thermal gradient of an asymmetric heating process in pipeline
walking phenomenon is investigated. Based on FE analyses findings, the use of direct electric
heating (DEH) system to reduce the rate of axial walking is proposed and explained.
Keywords: Initial imperfection, Lay radius, walking, lateral buckling, Out-of-straightness
(OOS), pipe-soil interaction, end expansion, effective axial force, Feed-in, Virtual
anchor, snake-lay, thermal gradient, pipeline, direct electric heating (DEH).
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page iv
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page v
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This thesis was carried out to fulfill the requirement for the award of Master of Science degree in
Offshore Technology at the Department of Mechanical and Structural Engineering and Materials
Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Stavanger, Norway.
The thesis work was carried out in the premises of the world class company, Subsea 7 Norway,
during spring academic year 2013.
My gratitude goes to Subsea 7, Stavanger, Norway for providing me an office space, computer
system, full support and access to ANSYS finite element software and other Software to
facilitate successful execution of this task.
My sincere appreciation goes to my faculty supervisor, Dr. Daniel Karunakaran (Adjunct
Professor), whose guidance, encouragement and wealth of knowledge made every bit of time I
spent on this work extremely meaningful.
I would especially like to thank my day to day external supervisor, Dr. Dasharatha Achani from
Subsea 7, for his guidance, time for sharing knowledge and for his great help and tutorial for
finite element works in ANSYS. I will not forget the time he spent in reviewing my final work.
I would like to appreciate Dr T Sriskandarajah and Pradeep Hegde from Subsea 7 Sutton for their
assistance.
I am thankful to Arild sthus (Central Engineering Manager, the Department of Rigid Pipeline
and Structural Engineering, Subsea 7 Norway) and Tim Van Kempen for their help.
My appreciation also goes to Dr. Qiang Chen for his great tutelage in the areas of buckling
analysis and walking.
I am also grateful to my sponsors (Obi Obele, Geoffrey Nwankwo, Dr. Daniel Obele and
Virginia Madueke) and most importantly my mother, my brothers and sister whom their prayers
and support saw me during my time of studies.
Obele Ifenna Isaac
Stavanger, J une 10, 2013.
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page vi
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page vii
TableofContents
1. Introduction...................................................................................................................1
1.1 General.............................................................................................................................1
1.2 StateoftheArt.................................................................................................................5
1.2.1 PipelineSoilInteraction............................................................................................5
1.2.2 Engineered Buckle initiators and Mitigating Measures............................................7
1.2.3 AxialWalkingControlMeasures.............................................................................12
1.3 ThesisObjectives............................................................................................................15
1.4 OutlineofThesis.............................................................................................................17
2. TheoreticalBackground................................................................................................19
2.1 PipeBehaviour...............................................................................................................19
2.2 Buckling..........................................................................................................................19
2.3 OperatingStresses.........................................................................................................23
2.3.1 HoopStress (oH)...................................................................................................23
2.3.2 LongitudinalStress (oL).........................................................................................24
2.3.3 CombinedStresses..................................................................................................26
3. TheoreticalBackgroundEndExpansions.....................................................................27
3.1 PipelineEndExpansion..................................................................................................27
3.1.1 LongitudinalStrain..................................................................................................28
3.1.2 FrictionalStrainandForce......................................................................................29
3.1.3 EffectiveAxialForce................................................................................................30
3.1.4 EndExpansion.........................................................................................................31
4. TheoreticalBackgroundLateralBuckling....................................................................35
4.1 LateralBucklinganditsMechanism...............................................................................35
4.2 LateralBucklingModes..................................................................................................35
4.3 FeedinZone.................................................................................................................36
4.3.1 FeedinLengthandMaximumAllowableMoment................................................37
4.3.2 HobbsPredictiveAnalyticalMethod.....................................................................39
4.3.3 PipelineInitialImperfection....................................................................................42
4.3.4 VirtualAnchorSpacing............................................................................................43
4.4 SnakeLayControlMechanism.......................................................................................43
4.4.1 LayRadiusImperfection.........................................................................................44
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
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4.5 DesignLimitingCriteria..................................................................................................46
5. Pipeline Walking.........................................................................................................47
5.1 PipelineWalkinganditsMechanisms............................................................................47
5.2 SteepThermalGradient.................................................................................................49
5.3 PullingForceatSCR........................................................................................................50
5.4 SteepThermalGradient.................................................................................................50
5.5 InteractionbetweenPipelineWalkingandLateralBuckling.........................................51
6. DesignMethodology....................................................................................................53
6.1 General...........................................................................................................................53
6.1.1 Designobjective......................................................................................................53
6.1.2 DesignAssumptionsandRequirement...................................................................54
6.2 DesignProcessandRoadmapLateralbuckling............................................................55
6.3 DesignRoadmapforPipelineWalkingThermalTransientEffect...............................59
6.4 DesignAnalysis...............................................................................................................60
6.4.1 AnalyticalMethod...................................................................................................60
6.4.2 FiniteElementMethod(ANSYSMechanicalAPDL)LateralBuckling....................63
6.4.3 FiniteElementMethodPipelineWalking.............................................................69
7. DescriptionofCase.......................................................................................................71
7.1 FieldDescription.............................................................................................................71
7.2 DesignParametersLateralBuckling............................................................................72
7.3 DesignParametersWalking........................................................................................75
8. ResultsandDiscussion..................................................................................................77
8.1 ResultsandDiscussion...................................................................................................77
8.1.1 VerificationofPipelineLengthScale......................................................................77
8.1.2 EffectiveAxialForce................................................................................................78
8.1.3 EndExpansions.......................................................................................................79
8.1.4 SusceptibilityofPipelinetoLateralBuckling..........................................................80
8.1.5 RegionsSusceptibletoLateralBuckling.................................................................83
8.2 LateralBucklingBehaviour.............................................................................................84
8.3 SnakeLayControlMeasure............................................................................................86
8.3.1 LayConfigurationfor10kmpipelineR1500m.....................................................86
8.3.2 ParametricStudyofLayConfiguration...................................................................92
8.4 PipelineWalkingResultsandDiscussion.......................................................................96
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
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8.4.1 SusceptibilitytoPipelineWalking...........................................................................96
8.4.2 FiniteElementAnalysisAxialWalking..................................................................97
8.4.3 EffectofThermalGradientonPipelineWalking..................................................101
8.4.4 OperationalEffectofWalkingduetoThermalGradient......................................104
8.4.5 ControlofWalkingPhenomenonbyDirectElectricHeating(DEH).....................104
8.4.6 ChallengesfacingtheuseofDEH.........................................................................107
9. Conclusions,RecommendationsandFurtherWork....................................................109
9.1 SummaryandConclusions...........................................................................................109
9.2 Recommendations.......................................................................................................111
9.3 FurtherWork................................................................................................................111
REFERENCES............................................................................................................................113
APPENDIXA:CALCULATIONRESULTS..................................................................................116
APPENDIXB:ANSYSSCRIPT.................................................................................................125
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
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List of Figures
Figuie 11: Example of Beep Watei Subsea Fielu Layout (2b1stconsulting, 11 Septembei,
2u12)..............................................................................................................................................1
Figuie 12: 0pheaval anu Lateial Buckling (Floiiano et al., 2u11)...........................................2
Figuie 1S: Example of a local buckleu Pipe (Takahashi et al., 2uu7)......................................2
Figuie 14: Example foi 0valisation Failuie Noue (Kyiiakiues anu Coiona, 2uu7)...............3
Figuie 1S: Example foi Ruptuie Failuie Noue (Ahmeu anu & uaieth, 2u12)........................3
Figuie 16: Illustiation of Pipeline walking (cieep) that coulu leau to excessive enu
movement anu ultimately the failuie of tiein jumpeispool connection (EcoPiasinos,
2u12)..............................................................................................................................................4
Figuie 17: Example of Pipeline Response uuiing Pipesoil Inteiaction (Biuton et al., 2uu7)
.........................................................................................................................................................5
Figuie 18: Illustiation of Pipesoil inteiaction foi Effective axial foice foi a iange of fiiction
in a stiaight Pipe (White anu Biuton, 2uu8)...............................................................................6
Figuie 19: Illustiation of Pipesoil inteiaction foi uisplacement along shoit pipeline with
lateial impeifections (White anu Biuton, 2uu8)........................................................................6
Figuie 11u: Biffeient Regions in a buckle (Kein et al.).............................................................7
Figuie 111: Post Effective foice of a single isolateu buckle (Kein et al.).................................8
Figuie 112: Illustiation of expansion shaiing with multiple buckles (Kein et al.).................8
Figuie 11S: Example of Niuline expansion spool (Kein et al.)...............................................9
Figuie 114: Buckle initiating using veitical sleepeis (Kein et al.).........................................10
Figuie 11S: SB view of Buckle initiation using veitical tiiggei (Kein et al.)........................10
Figuie 116: Buckle initiation using uistiibuteu Buoyancy (Biuton et al., 2uuS).................11
Figuie 117: Snake Lay Configuiation (Kein et al.)..................................................................11
Figuie 118: Schematic view of Suction anchoi, flowline anu Risei System (Subsea7, 2u12)
.......................................................................................................................................................12
Figuie 119: Inline Expansion Spool..........................................................................................13
Figuie 12u: Sketch of the PLET with Sliuing Nechanism (Caineiio anu castelo, 2u1u)......13
Figuie 121: PLET with Sliuing Founuation (Caineiio anu castelo, 2u1u)............................13
Figuie 21: Loau Response in Buckling (Robeit).....................................................................19
Figuie 22: Bifuication Buckling (Ahmeu anu & uaieth, 2u12).............................................19
Figuie 2S: SnapThiough Buckling (Ahmeu anu & uaieth, 2u12).........................................20
Figuie 24: Loau Response in buckling (Robeit)......................................................................20
Figuie 2S: Beam Section unuei Loauing..................................................................................20
Figuie 26: Stiess Inuuceu by Inteinal Piessuie Loauing (Kaiunakaian, 2u12)..................23
Figuie 27: Longituuinal Stiess component (Piof. Shaima)....................................................24
Figuie 28: Piessuie inuuceu by Enu Cap Effect (Kaiunakaian, 2u12)..................................24
Figuie 29: Pipeline expansion uue to Poisson's effect (uuo et al., 2uuS)..............................25
Figuie S1: Example of Expansion Analysis..............................................................................27
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
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Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
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List of Tables
Table 41: Constant foi Lateial Buckling Noues (Bobbs, 1984).............................................41
Table 71: Basic Besign paiameteis..........................................................................................72
Table 72: Exteinal coating paiametei......................................................................................72
Table 7S: Fiiction Coefficients..................................................................................................73
Table 74: Applicability of Pipeline............................................................................................74
Table 81: Anchoi Length iesults...............................................................................................77
Table 82: Enu Expansion Long pipeline...................................................................................79
Table 8S: Enu Expansion of shoit pipeline..............................................................................80
Table 84: Constants foi Lateial buckling moue.......................................................................81
Table 8S: Bobbs Ciitical Buckling foice at uiffeient fiiction factois.....................................82
Table 86: Analytical Result Ciitical Buckling Foice..............................................................82
Table 87: Feeuin Results foi R1Suum.....................................................................................87
Table 88: Expansion Summaiy foi the R1Suum configuiation.............................................89
Table 89: Feeuin Results foi lay iauius of 2Suum.................................................................92
Table 81u: Expansion Summaiy foi R2Suu.............................................................................95
Table 811: Analytical Result foi iate of walking at SS
o
Ckm.................................................96
Table 812: Rate of walking foi seveial cycles..........................................................................99
Table 81S: Results fiom FE Analyses anu Analytical Calculation foi Biffeient Axial
Fiictions.....................................................................................................................................100
Table 814: Results foi both cases...........................................................................................106
Table 91: Expansion Result.....................................................................................................109
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
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Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
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Nomenclature
Abbreviations
BE Best Estimate
LB Lower Bound
UB Upper Bound
DNV Det Norske Veritas
FEA Finite Element Analysis
OOS Out-of-Straightness
OD Outside Diameter
OS Offshore Standard
RP Recommended Practice
SMYS Specified Minimum Yield Strength
MSL Mean sea level
SNCF Strain Concentration factor
DEH Direct electric heating
Symbols
E Youngs modulus of the steel pipe
H Residual lay tension
I Second moment of area
M
b
Bending moment
N
a
Axial force
P
e
External pressure
P
i
Internal pressure
N
e (x)
Effective axial force
R Ray radius
F
cr
Critical Buckling Force
W
submerged
Weight submerged
WD Water Depth
N
OOS
Force due to out-of-straightness (OOS)
U
eed-|n
Design feed-in length
X65 Steel grade of 65000psi
T
amh
Ambient temperature
N
Hobbs
Force Hobbs
o
H
Hoop stress
o
L
Longitudinal stress
o
LF
Longitudinal stress due to End cap
o
LT
Longitudinal stress due to temperature
s
pu|xxun
Stroin Juc to Poisson ccct
N Iruc woll Forcc
VAS Virtual Anchor Spacing
HP/HT High Pressure / High temperature
PLET Pipeline End Terminal
SCR Steel Catenary Riser
KP Kilometer point on pipeline
ANSYS Analysis System
PLET Pipeline End terminal
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 1
1. Introduction
1.1 General
As oil and gas industry moves farther into deep and ultra-deep waters, HP/HT envelope
continually being pushed outward and fields with wellhead pressures and temperatures of order
of 600bars (8700 psi) and 170
o
C are being developed.
Hence, the need for improved technology in handling the delivery of well fluid has become a
challenge to pipeline industries.
Environmental and operational conditions in deep waters make it almost impracticable to operate
pipeline system (as shown in Figuie 11) and hence will require appropriate design guidelines in
regulating the pipeline-soil behavior in order to counter the large uncertainties developed in the
design of such system. These uncertainties from pipe-soil force-displacement response are as a
result of differences in seabed-pipeline temperatures, pressures and higher hydrostatic pressures.
Figure 11: Example of Deep Water Subsea Field Layout (2b1stconsulting, 11 September, 2012)
Pipeline left exposed on seabed under operational conditions have a potential to buckle, walk and
change configuration due to high temperature and pressure (HT/HP) operational conditions. If
the pipeline is restrained, a compressive axial force will be induced in the pipeline. According to
(Palmer and King, 2004), this could lead to buckling of the pipeline if the compressive axial
force induced reaches the critical buckling force. As a result of the induced force, the pipeline
will tend to move upward or sideways to release the excessive axial force induced.
The direction of the movement depends on the pipeline restrictions. As shown in Figuie 12, large
induced axial compressive force for trenched or buried pipeline will therefore lead to upheaval
buckling (Upward) while exposed surface laid-pipeline leads to lateral buckling (sideways). This
will endanger the integrity of the pipeline if not controlled.
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The phenomenon above is termed Global buckling. This is not a failure mode in itself, but a
load response and could lead to several failure modes such as local buckling, fracture and fatigue
(DNV-RP-F110, 2007).
Fracture is another failure mode; it is the failure on the tensile side of the cross section which is
due to excessive material utilization through cyclic loading of the pipeline system.
Fractured pipeline could cause leakage or full bore rupture leading to reduced production, or
even full production stop (Almeida, 2001).
Figure 14: Example for Ovalisation Failure Mode (Kyriakides and Corona, 2007)
Low cycle fatigue which often occurs for limited load cycles gives strains in the plastic region.
This resulting strain could possibly cause pipe leakage or rupture (see figure 1-5), resulting to
production reduction, or full production stop. Pipeline exposed to seawater and stresses from
buckle could also lead to leakage through hydrogen induced stress cracking.
Figure 15: Example for Rupture Failure Mode (Ahmed and & Gareth, 2012)
There has been buckling cases in several fields in the world for example, as recorded In J anuary
2000, a 17km 16-Inch pipeline in Guanabara Bay, Brazil, suddenly buckled 4m laterally and
ruptured, leading to a damaging release of about 10,000 barrels of oil and a great loss to the
operator.
Field observation showed that as a result of temperature increase, the pipeline displaced laterally,
when failure took place. Operating pressure and temperature of the pipeline were 400bar
(5800psi) and 95C, respectively. The soil beneath the pipeline was very soft clay with about
2kPa undrained shear strength at seabed (Almeida, 2001).
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
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In this thesis concerning the lateral buckling problem stated above, the tendency for pipeline to
buckle will be investigated. A non-linear finite element analysis will be conducted on the area of
the pipeline which is found to be susceptible to lateral buckling.
If buckling cannot be avoided, the most economical mitigating measure (for example, snake-lay
configuration) will be utilized.
Moreover, under repeated start-ups and short-downs and corresponding heating and cooling
during subsea operations, cumulative axial displacement of short pipelines could occur. This un-
wanted mechanism is termed pipeline walking.
This walking mechanism as written by SAFEBUCK J IP (Carr et al., 2006) could lead to
excessive pipeline end movement and ultimately the failure of tie-in jumper/spool connection,
loss of tension in a steel catenary riser (SCR) and increased loading within buckled area.
The driving mechanism of axial walking is the expansion and contraction of the pipeline and also
on the possibility of no movement in case of an anchor point constraint. As a result of pipeline
walking, the expansion at one end of the pipeline would be more than the expected value
calculated during design stage and may cause failure of expansion spool or riser (Almeida,
2001).
The rate of axial walking depends strongly on temperature profiles, the magnitude of axial
resistance, the mobilization distance and the degradation to residual conditions (Carr et al.,
2006).
According to (Almeida, 2001), in year 2000, there were six incident reported in North sea as a result of
excessive expansion of pipeline and at least one loss of containment failure due to pipeline walking.
Figure 16: Illustration of Pipeline walking (creep) that could lead to excessive end movement and
ultimately the failure of tiein jumper/spool connection (EcoPrasinos, 2012)
WALK
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
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Figure 17: Example of Pipeline Response during Pipesoil Interaction (Bruton et al., 2007)
Pipeline-soil interaction is the largest uncertainty in the design of pipelines both due to variation
and uncertainty in characterization (DNV-RP-F110, 2007). The corresponding force-response
models have been developed during phase 1 of the SAFEBUCK J IP. The SAFEBUCK J IP was
initiated to address this challenge and aims to raise confidence in the lateral buckling design
approach and to improve understanding of the related phenomenon of pipeline walking (Bruton
et al., 2007).
Consequently, SAFEBUCK J IP performed analysis about pipeline structural response which
detailed the responses during installation, expansion during first loading, response in a buckle
(first load), response in a buckle (Cyclic behavior - influence of berms) and buckle initiation.
It was shown in their work that pipelines have a total different behavior at lower bound axial
friction and upper bound axial friction. The lower bound friction (for examplep
u
= u.1u ),
means that the pipeline experiences greater end expansion and is susceptible to Pipeline
walking. The Upper bound friction (for example, p
u
= u.S8) means that the pipeline is fully
constrained over some of its length so that the section in contact will not move axially, thus
preventing walking, but the effective axial compressive force will hence increase significantly
making it susceptible to lateral buckling.
In summary, it was deduced that the low axial friction will increase the end expansion and axial
feed-in into a buckle site while high axial friction will tend to reduce end expansion and feed-in
as can be seen from the Figuie 18 below:
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
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Figure 18: Illustration of Pipesoil interaction for Effective axial force for a range of friction in a
straight Pipe (White and Bruton, 2008)
Figure 19: Illustration of Pipesoil interaction for displacement along short pipeline with lateral
imperfections (White and Bruton, 2008)
From Figuie 19, it is seen that the compressive axial force in a pipeline depends on the
temperature condition of the pipeline and the axial friction. The paper (White and Bruton, 2008)
re-stated that if the compressive force is large enough, then the pipeline may be susceptible to
lateral buckling but this will only occur when the compressive force exceeds the critical buckling
force as stated previously above (Palmer, 2004).
Also, as the temperature and pressure fluctuates, it creates a cyclic soil-pipeline interaction
which influences berms formation. Subsequent consolidation increases its strength and will result
in axial feed-in and out of the buckles with each cycle. This is an unwanted scenario in subsea
pipeline operation and should be controlled.
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
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Figure 111: Post Effective force of a single isolated buckle (Kein et al.).
If the temperature is further increased after the post buckling, more pipe length will feed into the
buckle and will increase the moment of the buckle (Kein et al.). This could lead to formation of
more buckles along the pipeline.
If the buckles are spaced such that the distance between successive buckles is less than the total
buckle length (Lo +2Ls) of an isolated buckle, the feed-in is shared between the two buckles as
shown in Figuie 112 (Kein et al.). This is known as expansion sharing (DNV-RP-F110, 2007).
Figure 112: Illustration of expansion sharing with multiple buckles (Kein et al.).
The conventional techniques to avoid buckling have been to restrain the pipeline by trenching,
burying and rock dumping. Alternatively, the thermally induced stress in the pipeline can as well
be relieved with the use of inline expansion spools or mid-line expansion spools (Cheuk, 2007).
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
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In spite of this, these methods are becoming less cost-effective as the operating temperatures and
pressures are being required to increase further as the exploration moves into deeper waters
where trenching and burying are not viable. Hence, the pipeline is left exposed on the seabed and
allowed to buckle laterally.
In accordance with the recommended practice, DNV-RP-F110 (2007) if the response from the
applied loads exceeds the pipe cross-sectional capacity, mitigating measures have to be
introduced.
Apart from the conventional ways of preventing buckling there are number of improved
mitigating measures that have been utilized in the industry during the past years.
The lateral buckling concept has been a design concept that aims to work with the induced
expansion phenomenon rather than working against the induced stresses on the pipeline and
some of the measures that have been used are as follows:
a) Sharing of expansion into adjacent buckles:
This can be achieved by the use of rock dumping at intermittent sections, with the aim to
increase the restraint to axial movement in order to reduce the feed-in into isolated
buckles that may be triggered by imperfection or trawl gear (DNV-RP-F110, 2007).
b) Mid-line Expansion spool:
This utilizes the mid-line spool to absorb the pipe expansion under operational
temperature and pressure. Figuie 11S shows a mid-line expansion spool which was
modeled in U configuration and imposed to thermal expansion at both ends. (Kein et al.).
Figure 113: Example of Midline expansion spool (Kein et al.)
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
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c) Vertical Triggers/Sleepers:
This is a method that utilizes initial vertical imperfection (Out-of-straightness - OOS) to
initiate a lateral buckle. Pipe sleepers pre-laid across the seabed is used to raise the
pipeline off the seabed. This will create a vertical imperfection, OOS, which will initiate
a buckle at this section. Figuie 114 illustrates buckles initiated by trigger. The buckle
crown elevates the pipe above the seabed and causes a reduction in lateral friction
resistance, and hence reduces uncertainties concerning lateral pipe-soil interactions.
Trigger/Sleeper lowers the critical buckling force as a result of reduction in lateral
friction resistance. This allows for higher thermal feed-in into the buckle site, therefore
increasing the buckle spacing and as a result reducing the number of buckle initiator
required (Kein et al.).
Figure 115: 3D view of Buckle initiation using Vertical trigger (Kein et al.)
Figure 116: Buckle initiation using distributed Buoyancy (Bruton et al., 2005)
e) Snake Lay Configuration:
Figuie 117 present typical snake lay configuration. The concept of snake lay is to
deliberately install horizontal lay imperfections to trigger a sufficient number of buckles
at pre-determined locations along the pipeline so that the thermal expansion is distributed
among a number of buckles rather than being concentrated at a few buckle sites (Rundsag
et al., 2008).
Figure 118: Schematic View of Suction anchor, flowline and Riser System (Subsea7, 2012)
b) Increased Jumper/Spool Expansion Capacity: The end expansion buckling capacity
can be increased at additional cost to withstand against the cyclic loading from axial
displacement and hence there is a curtail effect of pipeline walking (Rong et al., 2009).
The end expansion capacity can be achieved by using longer spool/Jumpers. The
Effective axial force during start-up and shut-down will have to be used to design and
accommodate the increased jumper and spool expansion capacity.
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 1S
The objective of the present thesis work is to study and understand the influence of pipeline-soil
interaction on the design of surface laid subsea pipeline susceptible to lateral buckling and
pipeline walking.
The main focus of the thesis work is on:
The use of snake-lay configuration as a mitigating measure under controlled buckling
design and rock dumping if needed to limit feed-in into buckle and end expansions.
The effect of thermal gradient on axial walking and the use of direct electric heating
(DEH) to reduce rate of walking.
The snake-lay configuration is achieved by installing deliberate horizontal lay imperfection to
trigger a sufficient number of thermal buckles at a pre-determined location along the pipeline.
The aim is to limit pipeline end expansion at the connecting ends and feed-in into the buckle
using snake-lay design with intermittent rock dumping.
The acceptability of snakes as engineered buckles will be verified based on lateral buckling
criteria by performing a design check according to DNV RP F110:
Local buckling check (displacement control criteria) which is the main criteria to obtain
the allowable virtual anchor spacing.
The work includes performing analytical investigations of pipeline expansion and lateral
buckling and verifying the results against the predictions from a non-linear finite element
analyses (FEA). The non-linear FE analyses are performed by modeling the soil-pipeline
interaction of as-laid pipeline and using general finite element software ANSYS.
The work further analyzes the lateral buckling of the pipeline with an initial out-of-straightness
(OOS) while applying internal pressure and temperature over a 2km VAS model.
Also, the work include FE based analyses to investigate the effects of thermal gradient in
pipeline walking phenomenon is investigated and assess the use of direct electric heating (DEH)
system to reduce axial walking. This is done by considering two thermal gradients of asymmetric
heating profile having same heating steps.
The effect of axial friction factor in axial walking phenomenon is analyzed using FE software
ANSYS while comparing the results with analytical results obtained using SAFEBUCK
guideline.
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 16
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 17
The thesis is organised in 9 chapters based on the problem and solution considering the
objectives presented in the previous page. The details of the chapters are briefly outlined below.
Chapter 2: (Theoretical background Pipe Behaviour) this chapter presents the behaviour of
pipe material under the influence of compressive axial force and the operating stresses that could
affect the pipe to move in different directions.
Chaptere3: (Theoretical background End expansions) this chapter summarizes expansion that
occur at the end connection due the movement of pipe end as a result of induced effective axial
forces. Detailed analyses of the driving factors like temperature and pressure loading, strain and
end-cap effect are discussed.
Chapter 4: (Theoretical background Lateral Buckling) the chapter details some of the
governing theorys behind pipeline lateral buckling behaviour like Hobbs critical force analysis,
effective axial force, anchor force, initiation control mechanism (expansion sharing formula) and
allowable feed-in based on recommended practice or standard.
Chapter 5: (Theoretical background Pipeline walking) presents the theory behind pipeline
axial walking, relevant equations, driving mechanism and previous work done by SAFEBUCK
J IP.
Chapter 6: Design Methodology The chapter describes the relevant steps and procedures
which are to be followed in designing for lateral buckling and pipeline walking on even seabed.
The design requirement, the assumption, the reason for the use of ANSYS software in the work
and the snake Lay configuration principle shall be discussed within this module.
Chapter 7: Description of the study The chapter presents, the thesis problem and the necessary
data. An in-place design of 10km pipeline for lateral buckling and 2km flowline for axial
walking is presented.
Chapter 8: Results and Discussion The chapter presents the results obtained from the
analytical calculations and FE analysis. Furthermore, the results with respect to lateral and
pipeline working mechanism are discussed. Also, the results from snake lay configuration results
are presented and discussed.
Chapter 9: Conclusions and Further work The chapter summarizes the results of the analysis
and presents the conclusions of the thesis and recommendations for any future work.
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 19
2. Theoretical Background
2.1 Pipe Behaviour
The present section discusses the theoretical background and basic scientific principle relating to
pipe-soil interaction with respect to end expansion, lateral buckling and axial walking. This will
vary from the driving factors of high temperature and pressures, breakout resistance to thermal
buckling.
The basics of the study were generated by the principle of buckling phenomenon in a simple bar
element. The same principle is applied for a subsea pipeline installed on a seabed.
2.2 Buckling
Buckling occurs physically when a structure becomes unstable under a loading configuration
and mathematically when a bifurcation occurs in the solution to equation of equilibrium
(Ondrej, 2012). Buckling could either be a:
Bifurcation Buckling This is a situation where the elastic stiffness of the structure is
cancelled by the effects of compressive stress within the structure. If the effect of this
causes the structure to suddenly displace a large in a direction normal to the loading
direction, then it is a classical bifurcation buckling. Figuie 21 and Figuie 22 illustrate the
bifurcation buckling and the load response in the bucking
Snap-through Buckling If there is a sudden large movement in the direction of the
loading it is called a snap-through buckling. According to Robert This occurs in
structures experiencing limit point instability, when the load is increased infinitesimally
beyond the critical load, the structure undergoes a large deformation into a different
stable configuration which is not adjacent to the original configuration (Robert).
Figure 22: Bifurcation Buckling
(Ahmed and & Gareth, 2012)
Figure 21: Load Response in Buckling (Robert)
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 2u
The Critical Buckling that must be exceeded for buckling to occur becomes:
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 22
P
cr
=
n
2
n
2
EI
I
2
. (S)
Forn = 1,
P
cr
=
n
2
EI
I
2
mude 1
Forn = 2,
P
cr
=
4n
2
EI
I
2
= 4P
n=1
mude 2
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 2S
For a thin-wall pipeline(t > 2u), subjected to internal pressure, P, the effect of the radial
force distributed around the circumference will produce a stress called circumferential or Hoop
Stress o
H
(Karunakaran, 2012).
o
H
=
P
2t
Where: o
H
= Eoop strcss
P = Intcrnol Prcssurc
= nct intcrnol iomctcr
t = nominol woll tbickncss
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 24
As operations gets to the deeper waters, the mitigating effect of external pressure should be
included as follows:
o
H
=
(P
IocuI
-P
c
)
2t
Where: P
IocuI
= Iocol Jcsign prcsurc
P
c
= Extcrnol Prcssurc
= cxtcrnol Jiomctcr
2.3.2 Longitudinal Stress (o
L
)
Longitudinal stress is referred as the axial stress experienced by the pipe wall. As seen below
from Figuie 27, it comprises the stresses due to the end cap effect, temperature (thermal stress),
bending, axial and Poissons effect (hoop stress).
Figure 29: Pipeline expansion due to Poisson's effect (Guo et al., 2005)
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 26
4
)
(2)
= Scctionol moJulus o rigiJity o tbc pipc
2.3.2.5 Axial Stress (o
LA
)
The Longitudinal stress generated due to the axial stress can be computed as stated in (Yong
andQiang,2005)bytheequation:
o
LA
=
N
u
A
s
Where: N
u
= Axiol orcc
A
s
= Cross - scctionol Arco =
n(
2
-
2
)
4
2.3.3 Combined Stresses
Provided that the sign convention foe compressive and tensile effect are employed properly, the
total longitudinal stress can be determined according to the relation given in (Guo et al., 2005)
as:
o
L
= o
LL
+o
L1
+ o
LH
+ o
LB
+o
LA
Therefore, the combined stress depending on the approved codes and standard for the project
shall meet the requirement below:
o
combncd
= o
H
2
+o
L
2
- o
H
o
L
F
combncd
. SHS
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 27
The lower the axial friction (the restraint), the greater the end expansion at the spool or tie-in end
(the greater the anchor length).
3.1.1 Longitudinal Strain
The maximum pipeline end expansion is consequence of the net longitudinal strain and frictional
force between the pipeline and the seabed (Offshorevn, 2010).
The pipeline expansion as stated above will occur at pipeline ends under unrestrained condition
leading to longitudinal strain at the ends. The longitudinal strains are due to Temperature and
pressure effect.
3.1.1.1 Thermal Strain (s
T
)
For an unrestrained pipeline, the temperature change created by the difference between the
operating and installation temperature induces a thermal strain that is linearly proportional to the
change in temperature in axial direction as shown in Figuie S2:
Therefore, the thermal strain induced in the pipeline in an unrestrained condition is given as:
T
= uT = u(T
u
-T
|
)
3.1.1.2 Pressure Strain
The longitudinal strain created due to pressure loadings are as a result of end-cap effect and
Poisons effect.
a. End-Cap Effect:
The pressure differential across the pipe wall induces an axial loading which give rise to
a longitudinal strain in the pipeline as shown in Figuie SS:
The effect can occur at closed end of a pipeline or at a bend. The strain due this can be calculated
as stated below:
e
1
I
o
I
t e
cnd
P
c
Figure 32: Thermal strain effect
Figure 33: End Cap Effect
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 29
- P
c
A
c
=
P
n
1
2
4
-
P
c
n
2
4
s
end
=
F
end
A
s
E
wbcrc tbc cross -scctionol orco, A
s
is ossumcJ to bc, A
s
= n
t
Taking =
- P
c
)
4tE
b. Poisson Effect:
The internal pressure induces hoop stress and corresponding circumferential strain in the
pipeline. The hoop expansion causes a longitudinal contraction of the pipe, i.e. the pipe expands
in the hoop direction and the Poisson effect results in an axial contraction (opposite to end cap
pressure effect) (Subsea7, 2011).The radial expansion created by this effect will cause a
longitudinal contraction of the pipe as shown in Figuie S4:
The strain due the Poisson effect can be calculated as given by (Yong and Qiang, 2005):
e
posson
= -
:o
H
E
Assuming no effect of external pressure, the total longitudinal strain is given as:
s
|ung|tud|na|
=
T
+e
cnd
+e
posson
= oI +
P
4tE
-
:o
H
E
= oI +
o
H
2
(1 -2:)
E
3.1.2 Frictional Strain and Force
Pipeline resting on seabed experiences a frictional resistance between the soil and the pipeline
outer surface, and the relationship between them is given by the Coulomb relationship. For a
t
P
P
c
Long. Contraction
Hoop Expansion
Figure 34: Poisson Effect
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page Su
pipeline that do not penetrate the seabed, the Coulomb friction relation is applicable and
appropriate (Prof. Sharma).
The frictional strain of a pipeline resting on seabed is given as:
e
]cton
=
p. w
submcgcd
. I
uncho
A
s
E
Where: I
uncho
= oncbor lcngtb
w
submcgcd
= Pipclinc SubmbcrgcJ wcigbt
From the above expression, the frictional force that will be experienced between the soil and
pipeline is given as:
N
r|ct|un
= p. w
submcgcd
. I
uncho
(4)
3.1.3 Effective Axial Force
During pipeline expansion, the combined driving axial force that must be counteracted in order
to avoid end expansion is the effective axial force (Fyrileiv and Collberg, 2005). The effective
axial force increases from pipeline end until it reaches its maximum at the point of full axial
constraint.
According to (Fyrileiv and Collberg, 2005), the effective axial force governs the structural
response of the pipeline by influencing on lateral and upheaval buckling, anchor forces, end
expansion and natural frequencies of free spans.
Considering the external and internal pressures, the effective axial force can be calculated by the
following relation (Fyrileiv and Collberg, 2005):
N
c]] (x)
= N -P
+ P
c
A
c
. (S)
N = Iruc woll Forcc
But, P
- P
c
A
c
= N
cndcup
= EnJ Cop Forcc
Therefore,
N
c]] (x)
= N -N
cndcup
Taking installation barge tension into consideration, the barge tension,F
It
as shown in Figuie SS
below is given as:
F
It
= N + P
c
A
c
= E. (6)
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page S1
Figure 35: Illustration of Lay Tension induced during Pipe laying (Fyrileiv and Collberg, 2005)
During operation, the true axial force if fully constraint goes into compression as a result of the
thermal expansion (-EA
s
oI) and tension due to the hoop stress and Poissons effect
(:o
E
A
s
) (Fyrileiv and Collberg, 2005).
Therefore, from equation (5), the true axial force after installation becomes:
N = E - P
c
A
c
+:o
E
A
s
- A
s
EoI
N = E - P
c
A
c
+ :A
s
P
2t
-A
s
EoI . . (7)
Equating (5) and (7), the effective axial force becomes:
N
c]]
= E - P
+ :A
s
P
2t
- A
s
EoI . . (8)
In general, the effective axial compressive driving force of a pipeline under full axial constraint
is given as:
N
c]]
= A
s
EoI - :A
s
P
2t
+ P
-E. . (9)
Where: P
t
3.1.4 End Expansion
The amount of expansion induced at the ends can be calculated using the strain balanced method.
This is done by integrating the strain between the free ends and the virtual anchor points. The
longitudinal strain is the difference between the applied axial force and the frictional force
induced by soil-pipeline interaction.
H
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page S2
This combined driving axial force required to fully constrain the pipeline is as a result of the end-
cap effect, Poissons effect, thermal and residual lay tension. For design purposes, according to
(Subsea7, 2011), the residual lay tension, may be assumed to be negligible. Therefore, the
combined driving axial force (Effective Axial Force) that causes end expansion is given as:
N
e (x)
= H- |N
end-cap (x)
+ N
pu|xxun (x)
+ N
therma| (x)
]
This force is also known as the Anchor Force.
Where:
EnJ cop Forcc: F
end-cap (x)
= P. A
|
.(Subsea7, 2011)
P = P
IocuI (x)
-P
cxtcnuI (x)
P
IocuI
= Iocol Jcsign prssurc = P
dcsgn
+p
contcnt
gb
p
contcnt
= Jcnsity o tbc contcnt
b = Icrticol Jistoncc bctwccn Jcsign prcssurc rccrcncc locotion onJ
clc:otion o intcrcst
Forcc Juc to poisson, N
pu|xxun (x)
= -uo
H
A
x
= -P. u. A
x
= -u
P.
. A
x
2t
Forcc Juc to tbcrmol, N
therma| (x)
= EA
s
oI
Neglecting the lay tension the combined driving axial Force that causes end expansion is given
as:
N
c]] (x)
= N
cnd-cup (x)
+ N
posson (x)
+ N
thcmuI (x)
N
c]] (x)
= EA
s
oI +P. A
-:
P.
. A
s
2t
A
s
= n
t
A
=
n
2
4
N
c]] (x)
= EA
s
oI +
P. n
2
4
(1 -2:) . . (1u)
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page SS
As stated in (Subsea7, 2011), by taking an anchor point at the hot end and the cool end of the
pipe, the expansion at the hot and cold end are given by the following expressions:
o
H01
= _
(N
c]] (x)
-N
]cton (x)
)
EA
s
KP
0
Lu (x1)
. Jx
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page S4
o
C0L
= _
(N
c]] (x)
- N
]cton (x)
)
EA
s
Lu (x2)
KP
n-1
. Jx
Where:
o
H01
= bot cnJ cxponsion
o
C0L
= CoJl cnJ cxponsion
N
c]] (x)
= Resultant effective axial foice
N
]cton (x)
= Fiiction iestiaint along full beam
Io (x1) = bot cnJ oncbor point
Io (x2) = colJ cnJ oncbor point
KP
0
= Pipclinc stort Kilo Point
KP
n-1
= EnJ o Pipclinc KP
VAP=Virtual anchor point
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page SS
- :
P.
. A
s
2t
- E
Where:
N
c]] (x)
= Eccti:c oxiol comprcssi:c Forcc
E = HoJulus o RigiJity
A
s
= Cross scctionol orco o tbc pipc woll
o = Cocicicnt o lincor cxponsi:ity
I = Icmpcroturc cbongc
P = Prcssurc Jicrcntiol
A
= Intcrnol Jiomtcr
E = RcsiJuol loy tcnsion
4.2 Lateral Buckling Modes
Pipeline buckles when the effective force reaches the critical buckling load. According to (Kaye,
1996), these buckles can either be in symmetric or asymmetric mode. Axis of symmetry here
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page S6
refers to axis drawn through the center of the buckle and normal to the initial centerline of the
pipeline (see Figuie 41)
This means that there is movement of slip-length from the zone with higher compressive force to
the zone with lower compressive force generated in the buckle section.
As the temperature in the pipeline increases the slip length will therefore continue to feed-into
the buckle after the buckle has been developed (Kein et al.).
The length of the feed-in- zone depends on the available frictional resistance that resists the feed-
in. If a buckle sections loses its ability to carry additional axial load, it is subjected to excessive
lateral deformation and failure of the pipeline (Ahmed and & Gareth, 2012). This can be seen
from the feed-in behavior of the most critical mode shape, which is mode 3 type of buckling
shown in Figure 4-3 (also see Figuie 42).
Figure 4-3: Feed-in-Zone for Mode-3 Buckling (Ahmed and & Gareth, 2012)
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page S8
The allowable compressive strain can be deduced from the criterion of displacement controlled
condition (strain based) which is given in (DNV-OS-F101, 2012):
e
cu
=
u.78
y
s
SNCF
_
t
st
0
st
- u.u1] _1 + S.7S
P
mn
-P
c
P
b
] o
h
-1.5
o
gw
eR
c
Where:
e
cu
= tbc ollowoblc comprcssi:c stroin in tbc pipc,
SNCF = Stroin Conccntrotion Foctor,
y
s
= rcsistoncc stroin octor,
P
mn
= minimum intcrnol Jcsign prcssurc,
P
c
= cxtcrnol prcssurc Juc to moximum wotcr JcptE,
P
b
= tbc burst prcssurc or uncorroJcJ pipc scction . scc Equ. S.8 NI F1u1,
o
h
=
R
t0.S
R
m
yiclJ tcnsilc strcngt rotio ,
o
gw
= girtb wclJ octor,
eR
c
= ollowoblc comprcssi:c stroin rcJuction octor,
If the maximum feed-in exceeds the allowable feed-in, local buckling may occur and the pipeline
integrity could be lost. During design for lateral buckling, it is recommended to do a check for
the local buckling and pipe integrity.
Based on (DNV-RP-F110, 2007), local buckling check can be performed against two acceptance
criteria; one is a criterion for load controlled condition (bending moment) and the other is a
criterion for displacement controlled condition (strain based ).
However, Due to the relation between applied bending moment and maximum strain in pipes, a
higher allowable strength for a given target safety level can be achieved by using a strain-based
criterion rather than a bending moment criterion (Sren and Yong, 1999).
The limiting parameter for a pipeline subjected to combined pressure, longitudinal force and
bending moment due to effect from the installation, seabed contours and HPHT operating
conditions is the Bending moment capacity (Sren and Yong, 1999).
The maximum bending moment can as well be used based on the load displacement criteria to
deduce the maximum feed-in into the buckle.
In this thesis work, the strain based criteria will be used in this thesis to establish the maximum
allowable feed-in length.
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page S9
P
cr
=
n
2
n
2
LI
L
2
. . n = moJc numbcr
The maximum amplitude of the buckle is given as:
y = k
4
p
L
w
EI
I
4
The maximum bending moment H is:
H = k
5
p
L
wI
2
While using the assumptions, (Hobbs, 1984) derived the final relation for the configuration of
the buckle between the effective axial force N
c]]
, at full constraint and the buckle length, L as:
N
c]]
= P + k
3
p
u
wI __1 +k
2
EAp
L
2
wI
5
p
u
(EI)
2
-1.u_ . . (12)
This is the equilibrium relations in terms of buckle length and the fully restrained axial force.
Where:
P = Eccti:c comprcssi:c oxiol orcc witbin tbc bucklc
p
u
= Cocicicnt o oxiol riction
p
L
= Cocicicnt o lotcrol riction
w = SubmcrgcJ wcigbt o tbc pipclinc
I = Bucklc Icngtb corrcsponJing to N
c]]
E = moJulus o closticity
I = ScconJ momcnt o orco
The constants for the lateral buckling modes according to (Hobbs, 1984) can be found in Table
41.
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 41
L
w
LI
2
describes the axial displacement in the pipeline and the second
term describes the tensile elongation due to the reduced compressive force within the buckle
(Kaye, 1996).
Hobbs predictive analysis stated above is based on certain assumptions such as:
Perfectly Straight Pipe (no initial imperfection);
Single Isolated buckle formation (No multiple buckle formation);
Long pipeline having tendency for full axial constraint.
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 42
Figure 45: Force profile along pipeline showing Virtual anchor spacing and reduction in force at each
lateral buckle (Bruton and Carr, 2011)
During buckle initiation, lateral buckle are introduced to share the axial loading between the
buckle such that the loadings are distributed along the pipeline instead of concentrating on a
particular buckle site. Between this buckle virtual anchors are formed due to soil friction and the
effective axial force in the pipeline. The virtual anchors are the points where the axial feed-in
occur in each buckle.
The Virtual anchor spacing defines the feed-in length which determines the amount of axial feed-
in into the buckle with respect to the available soil resistance at the feed-in zone.
4.4 Snake-Lay Control Mechanism
Pipelines that are normally laid and exposed on seabed are naturally allowed to move. If the
induced compressive axial forces are higher than the buckling force, it will buckle sideways.
Uncontrolled buckling can lead to loss of pipeline integrity as a result of the limiting state failure
modes.
According to (DNV-RP-F110, 2007), buckling can be controlled by sharing the expansion into
buckles at regular intervals along the pipeline route. The controlled buckles must be located such
that the resulting axial feed-in into each buckle does not exceed the limiting condition for the
displacement controlled criterion.
As discussed previously, lateral buckles can be triggered using buckle initiators at selected
locations. As mentioned before, the buckles can be initiated by several methods such as the use
of mid-line spool, vertical triggers, rock dumping and snake-lay.
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 44
depends largely on the lateral initial imperfection. In other words, the critical buckling load
depends on the lay radius of the buckle curvature.
Figure 47: SnakeLay with Lay Radius Imperfection (Bruton and Carr, 2011)
According to (Rundsag et al., 2008), large lateral initial imperfection which means a small lay
radius is normally preferred since it allows buckling at lower effective compressive force which
gives a higher probability that intended buckle will occur at the pre-determined location such that
the required distribution is achieved. The lower effective axial force associated with small lay
radius could also yield a gentle buckle than the radius with a higher effective force (Rundsag et
al., 2008).
In order to trigger this buckle at larger initial imperfection (i.e. lower Critical buckling force), the
lay radius should be as small as possible provided the design limit state conditions are not
compromised. The critical buckling force P
c
which determines the onset of buckling is related
to the lateral imperfection (Lay radius, R) and lateral resistance p by the following equation:
P
c
= p
L
w
submcgcd
. R
Figure 48: Critical Buckling Force Against the lateral soil friction (Rundsag et al., 2008)
P
c
P
c
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 46
This equation suggests that the pipeline will buckle laterally when the axial induced compressive
stress exceeds the soil resistance force.
Therefore, since the curved section of the snake-lay is an arc, the size of the imperfection of the
curved radius is equal to the inverse of the radius.
Hence, the reliability of buckle formation can be increased by reducing the lay radius or
increasing the length of curvature in each snake.
Therefore, the main thing in the design of snake lay is to establish a minimum Lay radius for an
appropriate breakout force.
4.5 Design Limiting Criteria
Limit state is the condition beyond which a structure is deemed unsafe and no longer fulfills the relevant
design criteria. The limit state that is usually applicable for lateral buckling effect on pipelines
could range from the list below according to (DNV-OS-F101, 2012):
Local Buckling limit state:
The longitudinal compressive strain induced by the effective axial compressive force
along the pipeline is displacement controlled, so the strain based design criteria based on
requirement of (DNV-OS-F101, 2012) has been used for the local buckling failure mode.
Fatigue Limit state:
High temperature and high pressure pipelines are subjected to low frequency-high
amplitude loading mainly from the startup-shutdown cycles and pipeline installation. The
fatigue response of the girth weld is usually very critical in pipeline design with respect
to this high stress-low cycle regime.
Weld fracture:
Fracture analysis could be carried out to examine accurately any undetected crack within
the ranges as directed by (DNV-OS-F101, 2012) and other relevant standards.
Trawl Gear interaction:
The impact of trawl gear on buckled section could also be considered based on the
environment impact and the area of operation and water depth.
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 47
Figure 49: Schematic View of Pipeline walking due to separation of Virtual Anchor (Chaudhury, 2010)
According to (Chaudhury, 2010), In a heating and cooling cycle operation of a pipeline, if there
exist a shift between the two virtual anchor points, an unbalanced axial force is generated in
between the virtual anchor points resulting in a small amount of movement of the entire pipeline
if the pipeline is fully mobilized (i.e. not enough frictional resistance to reach full constraints
(e.g. short pipeline)). This is known as WALKING.
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 48
Heating Mechanism:
The heating process occurs from the hot end (well) towards the cold end (e.g. SCR) in several
transients at constant gradient along the pipeline until a steady state point is attained. During the
first heating and cooling process, compressive axial force builds up from each transient at
constant thermal gradient. As the pipe expands during heating process a virtual anchor will be
formed at the mid-line when the pipeline become fully mobilized and also during cooling another
virtual anchor will be formed at the midline as the pipe contracts. This is shown in Figuie 41u
with the red line for heating and blue line for cooling, and the other colors represents the
transient stages.
Figure 410: Force Profile during the first and second heating stage (Carr et al., 2006)
As the heating continues, the pipeline expands after each transient making the remaining portion
of the pipeline to remain at colder temperature. This scenario causes a non-uniform expansion
of the pipeline creating a virtual anchor from A1 to A7 for each of the transient. Due to the
expansion and movement, subsequent virtual anchors are created from B1 to B7 to maintain an
equilibrium state as shown in Figuie 41u.
Cooling Mechanism:
These cycles of plastic expansion and contraction could range for several start-ups and shut-
downs and will result in the accumulation of axial displacement along the pipeline.
According to (Carr et al., 2006), Pipeline walking is a phenomenon that can occur in short,
high temperature pipeline that does not reach full constraint in the middle, but instead expands
about a virtual anchor point (VAP) located at the middle of the pipeline.
Alternatively, the pipelines unloads (cooldown) at a uniform rate and forms a virtual anchor at
the mid-line. This symmetrical cooling ensures that there is no reversal of the displacement of the
pipeline, hence the shift that occurred during heat-up will not be recovered (Carr et al., 2006). As
this occurs in each cycle, the pipeline walks towards the cold end.
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 49
The phenomenon can also occur in long pipeline (pipeline that develops full constraint force)
where lateral buckling has already occurred.
Figure 411: Illustration of Pipeline waking and its contributory factors (Bruton and Carr, 2011)
As shown in Figuie 411, pipeline walking can occur in one of the following conditions:
Short pipeline with steep transient thermal gradient (axial movement towards the cold
end);
Pulling force at the end of a flowline, associated with a SCR (moves towards the pulling
end (SCR));
Seabed slope along the pipeline (downward movement);
Multiphase flow behavior during startup and shut-down operations.
Pipeline walking is not a limit state but under no critical examination could lead to the
following undesired situations:
Overstress of the spools/J umpers due to end expansions;
Loss of tension in the Steel catenary Riser (SCR);
Increased feed-in within lateral buckle.
Initiating factor in pipeline walking is the tendency for short pipeline to become fully mobilized
and not reaching full constrain and this depends on the axial friction force and non-uniformity of
the heating and cooling operation.
5.2 Steep Thermal Gradient
As shown in Figuie 412, the transient thermal gradient down the slope increases the expansion
towards the cold end as the pipeline weight acts in that direction.
The driving force down the slope is a function of the weight and the slope angle, which result to
axial walking down the hill during heating and cooling. This can be seen by the analysis
conducted by (Carr et al., 2006).
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page Su
Long Pipeline
As shown in Figuie 416, a long pipeline will reach a fully restrained condition and the
compressive force is likely to exceed the lateral buckling limit. The lateral buckling tendency
may be mitigated by introducing predefined buckling locations (e.g. laid on sleepers) and hence
the long pipeline is effectively split into several short pipelines with each buckle acting as a
pipeline end.
These short pipelines may be susceptible to walking under thermal transients and/or seabed
slope.
6. Design Methodology
6.1 General
The design for lateral buckling and axial walking of surface laid subsea pipeline is carried out
according to Subsea7 design guideline for lateral buckling and axial walking (Subsea7, 2012)
with respect to DNV OS F101, DNV RP F110 and SAFEBUCK guideline.
According to the SAFEBUCK guideline and DNV RP F101, during pipeline design analysis
prior to installation, pipelines shall be checked for its susceptibility to buckling.
If the pipeline is found to buckle under thermal and pressure loading, a control measure of
deliberate lateral buckles will be introduced at predetermined location along the pipeline such
that the total effective compressive causing the buckling will be shared among the buckles along
the pipeline.
6.1.1 Design objective
The thesis objective is to study and understand the influence of pipeline-soil interaction on the
design of surface laid subsea pipeline that is susceptible to lateral buckling and pipeline
walking. The main focus is on:
The use of snake-lay configuration as a mitigating measure under controlled buckling
design and rock dumping if needed to limit feed-in into buckle and end expansions.
The effect of thermal gradient on axial walking and the use of direct electric heating
(DEH) to reduce rate of walking
The snake-lay configuration is achieved by installing deliberate horizontal lay imperfection to
trigger a sufficient number of thermal buckles at a pre-determined location along the pipeline.
The aim is to limit pipeline expansion at the connecting ends by using snake-lay design with
intermittent rock dumping.
The acceptability of snakes as engineered buckle will be verified based on lateral buckling
criteria by performing a design check in accordance with DNV RP F110.
This is done using local buckling check (displacement control criteria) which is the main criteria
to obtain the allowable virtual anchor spacing
The work shall include performing analytical investigations and verifying them with a non-
linear finite element analysis (FEA) by modeling the soil-pipeline interaction of as-laid pipeline
using general finite element software ANSYS.
Secondly, the effect of thermal gradient in pipeline walking phenomenon is investigated and the
use of direct electric heating (DEH) system to reduce axial walking shall be discussed based on
FE analysis results.
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page S4
d. Snake-Lay Configuration
Snake lay involves the introduction of horizontal-lateral imperfection into the pipeline in
form of curves having a given radius of curvature at predetermined location.
This is done to deduce the critical buckle spacing required to prevent the maximum strain
and cyclic strain range from exceeding the allowable design strain obtained from the
DNV- OS - F101.
To address the issue of buckling on even seabed, it has been proved a better option is to
adopt a method that allows buckling to happen provided it could be demonstrated that the
resulting high loads and deformations are acceptable.
To ensure that expansions are shared into pre-installed snakes along the pipeline, the
pipeline capacity need to be determined based on DNV lateral buckling check.
Pipe Capacity:
The pipeline capacity which determines the feed-in capacity is determined based on DNV-OS-
F101. In this thesis work, displacement controlled method (strain based criteria) is used to
deduce the capacity.
The allowable compressive strain can be deduced from the displacement controlled condition
criterion (strain based) as given stated in (DNV-OS-F101, 2012):
e
cu
=
u.78
y
s
SNCF
_
t
st
0
st
- u.u1] _1 + S.7S
P
mn
-P
c
P
b
] o
h
-1.5
o
gw
eR
c
Where:
e
cu
= tbc ollowoblc comprcssi:c stroin in tbc pipc
SNCF = Stroin conccntrotion Foctor
y
s
= rcsistoncc stroin octor
P
mn
= minimum intcrnol Jcsign prcssurc
P
c
= cxtcrnol prcssurc Juc to moximum wotcr JcptE
P
b
= tbc burst prcssurc or uncorroJcJ pipc scction . scc Equ. S.8 NI F1u1
o
h
=
R
t0.5
R
m
yiclJ tcnsilc strcngt rotio
o
gw
= girtb wclJ octor
eR
c
= ollowoblc comprcssi:c stroin rcJuction octor
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page S8
The maximum allowable feed-in length is established for displacement controlled condition on
the basis of the relation below
e
mux
e
cu
Where:
e
mux
= Hoximum rcportcJ comprcssi:c oxiol stroin in pipclinc
e
cu
= Allowoblc comprcssi:c stroin in pipclinc
By comparing the reported strain which shall be determined from the ANSYS model against the
criteria stated above, the allowable feed-in to the buckle is be established.
From the ANSYS model, the maximum feed-in is determined using the allowable compressive
strain obtained previously. This is estimated with the relation below:
I
]ccd-n
= e I
buckIc
Lay Configuration:
The lay configuration is achieved based on the principle of expansion sharing outlined in DNV-
RP-F110 for sharing into adjacent buckle. Following the steps, it is to be ensured that the
allowable feed-in lengths are not exceeded.
According to the guideline, expansion sharing into adjacent buckle can occur if the following
relations are fulfilled:
F
post
LB
+S
LB
F
ctcuI
0B
Where:
F
post
LB
= tbc lowcr bounJ post - buckling orcc or tbc gi:cn snokc conigurotion
S
LB
= cccti:c oxiol orcc builJ -up bctwccn oJ]occnt boscJ on IB octor
F
ctcuI
0B
= uppcr bounJ criticol orcc or tbc gi:cn snokc conigurotion
Note:
To build up effective force between the buckles and limit the pipeline end expansion without
exceeding the allowable feed-in length in the buckle, snake-lay design and intermittent rock
damping is utilized.
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page S9
The overall road map can be seen from the Figuie 62 below:
6.4 Design Analysis
This section details the design steps taken to achieve the analytical and finite element solution.
This is done in accordance with the design guidelines and relevant procedure specified above.
6.4.1 Analytical Method
The analytical method in this thesis will be based on the several points: End expansions
calculations and Hobbs critical buckling assessment, pipeline susceptibility to walking and
Snake-lay radius determination.
a. End Expansion:
Assuming a straight-fully constrained pipeline, the end expansion due to pressure (end-cap
and Poisson effect) and thermal loadings is calculated. This deduces the maximum expansion
that the effective axial compressive force will yield which the ends must accommodate.
b. Effective Axial Force The expansions at the ends are built-up because of the effective axial
forces generated from the pressure and thermal loadings when fully constrained at the ends.
Thus, the effective axial force along the pipeline is calculated based on the relation below:
N
P0LL
= N
Lu
- N
Lndcup
+N
posson
+ N
1hcmuI
Figure 62: Design roadmap for Pipeline walking under thermal transient
No
No
Select Design Parameters
Is pipeline
susceptible
to walking?
Define rate of walking
(Analytical method
thermal transient)
Yes
Apply direct electric
heating (DEH)
control Measure
Review Design
Parameters
Yes
Are
displacement
Limits
exceeded?
Pipeline walking Design
solution
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 61
This force is sometimes called the Anchor Force. The results of the end expansion reveals if the
pipeline is a short or a long pipeline based on the value of the anchor length obtained.
Recall: if the anchor length obtained is greater than the length of the pipeline then the pipeline is
termed a short pipeline i.e. fully mobilized. If the pipeline is a long pipeline, the two virtual
anchor points will be deduced for the hot and the cold end.
The expansion at the ends is calculated using the below equation based on subsea7 design
guideline:
cxponsionE0I =
(N
P0LL
- N
]ctonuI
)
EA
s
KP0
uncho hot cnd
cxponsionC0I =
(N
P0LL
- N
]ctonuI
)
EA
s
uncho coId cnd
KPcnd
Thus, the minimum spool length required can be calculated with the following relations:
I
mnmum
= _
2.2S
o
cxponsionE0I
o
Bcndng
.See Appendix A
Submerged weight calculation The submerged weight is calculated with respect to the
pipeline datas. This is achieved by using the relation:
w
submcgcd
= contcnt wcigbt +stccl wcigbt +cooting wcigbt -buoyoncy
c. Hobbs Critical Buckling Force Assessment:
The Hobbs critical buckling force analysis is done to determine the susceptibility of the pipeline
to lateral buckling as well as determine the Hobbs critical buckling force. The axial forces
described by Hobbs with respect to several modes (modes 1, 2, 3, 4 and infinity) are used to
obtain the critical buckling forces for the corresponding nodes.
The method traces the equilibrium path in terms of buckle length and fully restrained axial force.
The Effective axial force according to Hobbs is given as:
P
0
= P
buckIc
+ K
3
p
uxuI
w
submcgcd
I
buckIc
__
_
1 +K
2
EAp
Lut
2
w
submcgcd
I
buckIc
5
p
uxuI
(EI)
2
_ -1_
.See Appendix A for details.
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 62
If the pipeline is susceptible to walking, the rate of walking per cycle under constant thermal
gradient will be deduced using the relation below:
0
=
I
2
8 EA
s
--- - -- - -- i
0
6
0
=
I
2
16 EA
s
(24
0
-
0
-4) - - -- - --- -i >
0
6
This gives the accumulated axial displacement as a result of the thermal transient based on
constant gradient along the seabed.
6.4.2 Finite Element Method (ANSYS Mechanical APDL) Lateral Buckling
This is a detail description of the non-linear solution method for lateral buckling of subsea
pipeline laid on even seabed with an initial imperfection. The model is done using ANSYS
mechanical APDL.
Reason for Finite Element Method:
Based on the Hobbs analytical assumptions stated previously, Hobbs critical buckling force
analyses did not account for initial imperfection and post-buckling behavior in the pipeline.
Hence, a non-linear finite element method is necessary so as to determine the effect of initial
imperfection on lateral buckling.
The main reason for a non-linear solution is to overcome the shortcomings that were created
while applying the analytical method. The material modeling, the seabed modeling, the non-
linearity of pipe-soil interaction, the initial imperfection, the temperature profile and the pipeline
boundary conditions which could not be implemented in the analytical method.
The finite element (FE) analysis uses iterative newton Raphson solution method by applying the
loading in an increment with respect to time step (transient analysis). This is done to locate an
equilibrium path defined by the load and nodal variable.
Pipeline Model:
A local model approach (VAS model) of 2km pipeline section with an initial imperfection is
modeled with respect to the material properties of the pipeline. The VAS model is used to
determine the effective axial force, the bending moment and the lateral displacement acting on
the buckled section of the pipeline.
The initial out-of-straightness (OOS) is achieved as a function of lay radius for the snake lay
configuration with respect to the available operational corridor.
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 64
i. Pipe Element:
The pipeline is modeled with PIPE288 element, which supports nonlinear modeling of Elasticity,
hyper-elasticity, plasticity, creep, and other nonlinear material models. PIPE288 is a linear,
quadratic, or cubic two-node pipe element in 3-D. The element has six degrees of freedom at
each node (the translations in the x, y, and z directions and rotations about the x, y, and z
directions). The element is well-suited for linear, large rotation, and/or large strain nonlinear
applications (see Figuie 6S).
Figure 63:Pipe288 Geometry and the ANSYS model
PIPE288 supports the thin-pipe (KEYOPT (4) =1) option. The thin-pipe option assumes a plain
stress state in the pipe wall and ignores the stress in the wall thickness direction.
To obtain a better lateral displacement distribution and bending moment, the pipe element is
subdivided into a unit length per element. Activating KEYOPT (6) =0 generates end-caps loads
from the internal and external pressure.
Setting KEYOPT (7) =0 generates output section forces/moments, strains/curvatures, internal
and external pressures, effective tension, and maximum hoop. This enables the maximum feed-
in length and bending moment in the buckle section to be deduced.
ii. Initial Horizontal Out-of-Straightness:
In practice, pipelines laid on seabed will always have an imperfection probably induced due to
uneven seabed, barge motion during installation or by fishing gear activity. A perfectly straight
pipeline without any imperfection will not buckle when subjected to pressure and thermal
loading.
To generate an initial imperfection that will trigger lateral buckling, a pre-determined axial force
associated with pipeline out-of-straightness (OOS) is introduced at some section in the
middle-nodes of the pipeline.
, N
00S
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 6S
Depending on the Lay-radius required and the buckle amplitude, the pre-load is initiated which
will trigger buckling based on the submerged weight and the lateral friction coefficient as shown
in Figuie 64.
R
I
w
Figure 68: Boundary condition showing pipe ends fixed in all direction
Seabed Modeling:
The seabed is modeled on the soil surface along the z-axis using element TARGE170.
TARGE170 is used in ANSYS APDL to represent a rigid target surface for associated 3D node-
to-contact element. The element can be set into a 4 node by applying shape as QUAD using a
TSHAPE command. This is shown in Figuie 69 below.
Figure 69: Seabed Model on zplane
Pipe-Soil Interaction (Contact model):
The submerged weight introduced in the pipeline model creates a self-weight on each of the pipe
element. As a result, the need to create a contact between the pipeline and the seabed
(TARGE170) arises. The contact is modeled using CONTA175 in ANSYS. As shown in Figuie
61u, this element supports the orthotropic coulomb friction, a pipeline-seabed model with both
axial and lateral friction coefficient. ESURF command is used to generate a surface contact in y-
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 68
direction of the all the contact nodes between all the pipe-nodes and the associated seabed nodes
(TARGE170).
Figure 610: Model showing the contact element generating friction Force on the Seabed
Loading Sequence:
The model is divided into two (2) sections; the lateral buckling section, the cyclic loading and
unloading section.
a. Lateral Buckling Loading Sequence:
The lateral buckling of the 2km VAS model in ANSYS will be operated/simulated exactly the way
installation and operation of pipelines on seabed is done.
1. Model the Pipeline;
2. Lay Pipeline on even seabed;
3. Apply boundary condition at the ends (fixed end nodes);
4. Apply Submerged weight of the entire content;
5. Applying Initial imperfection (OOS) due to the installation motion of the vessel;
6. Apply internal pressure to retain the initial imperfection (OOS) against collapse from external
pressure effect;
7. Apply external pressure p
wutc
g wotcr Jcptb;
8. Remove lateral force that generated initial imperfection;
9. Applying operating pressure and temperature.
b. Cyclic loading and Unloading Sequence:
The lateral buckling of the 2km VAS model in ANSYS is loaded the way installation and
operation of pipelines on seabed is done as shown below:
1. Model the Pipeline;
2. Lay Pipeline on even seabed;
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 69
A total of 15 asymmetrical heating steps were done for each cycle and a uniform cooling
at the end overall heating steps;
The pressure variation remained at zero along the pipeline and solutions obtained for
each cycle.
Loading Steps without Direct Electric Heating (DEH):
1. Model the Pipeline;
2. Lay pipeline on even seabed with both ends free to move;
3. Apply Submerged weight of the entire content;
4. Apply external pressure p
wutc
g wotcr Jcptb;
5. Apply the operating pressure along the pipeline;
6. Start the heating steps until steady state is attain;
7. Cooldown to ambient temperature.
Loading Steps with Direct electric heating (DEH):
1. Model the Pipeline;
2. Lay pipeline on even seabed with both ends free to move;
3. Apply Submerged weight of the entire content;
4. Apply external pressure p
wutc
g wotcr Jcptb;
5. Apply the operating pressure along the pipeline;
6. Apply a temperature of 20
o
C along the pipeline length;
7. Apply the heating steps until steady state is attained;
8. Cooldown to DEH temperature.
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 71
7. Description of Case
7.1 Field Description
The work of this thesis is based on a typical subsea field development as shown in Figuie 71. The
scope includes the installation of two 22-inch pipelines of length 10km and 2km. The flowline
are made of X65 grade steel. The Field is a typical subsea field with a water depth of
approximately 800m. A riser is connected from a topside tie-in point of 20m above the mean sea
level (MSL) to a tie-in spool which is connected to the pipeline at the touchdown point. The 2km
flowline is connected between the two tie-in spools before the end structures while the 10km
pipeline is tied to PLET as shown in Figuie 71 below.
Figure 71: A typical Subsea field with Pipeline on even seabed (Subsea7, 2011).
CASE study:
Lateral Buckling
Pipeline end expansion assuming straight pipe on even seabed;
Deduction of the hot and cold end expansion using analytical and finite element model;
Verification of the 10km pipeline susceptibility to lateral buckling due to thermal, pressure
loading during operation;
Control of lateral buckling using snake-lay initiation method during installation;
Sensitivity analysis of the optimum lay radius required during installation of snakes.
Pipeline Walking
Susceptibility of Pipeline to walking (A check);
Deduction of rate of axial displacement in each cycle (rate of walking);
Sensitivity analysis of walking with respect to thermal gradient;
Analysis of the maximum strain that the tie-in spools can accommodate and corresponding
remedies.
2km Flowline
10km Pipeline
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 72
a. Temperature Profile:
The operating temperature variation along the entire pipeline length was generated using the general
exponential relation between the inlet and the ambient.
I = I
umb
+ (I
nIct
- I
umb
)c
(-L)
The temperature for the 10km pipeline is as shown in Figuie 72 below:
c. Applicability of Pipeline:
According to SAFEBUCK guidelines, pipeline data should be checked to ensure that pipeline is
considered within the range of validity. This is shown in Table 74:
Table 74: Applicability of Pipeline
Parameter Calculated Value
SAFEBUCK rage of
Validity
D/t 29,26701571 ration between 10 and 50
Design Temperature 95
o
C <180
o
C
Ovality less than 1.5% <1.5%
PIP NA -
FLUID oil HC based product
Installation Plasticity
No significance
plastic
deformation
during installation
No significance plastic
deformation during
installation not considered
Inspection Valid
100% girth weld UT
inspection
Seabed roughness Flat Seabed Relatively Flat seabed only
Hence, the pipeline falls within the range of applicability of SAFEBUCK guideline.
d. Pipe Material Yield Stress:
Based on the stress strain characteristics of X65 material, the de-rating of SMYS yield strength with
temperature is shown in Figuie 7S. Based on the given temperature profile, the de-rated material
properties are used in FE modeling analysis.
e. Hydrostatic pressure:
w = wotcr Jcptb (8uu)
Therefore, the hydrostatic pressure on the pipeline surface is given as:
P
Hdostutc
= p
contcnt
g (w +y)
7.3 Design Parameters Walking
The design parameters for the 2km flowline are the same as the properties used for the lateral
buckling analysis.
The pressure variation for pipeline walking is taken as zero and this helps in deducing the actual
walking due to thermal gradient. The Axial friction coefficient is taken for the all the cases such
that the effect of walking can be deduced with respect to axial frictional forces.
Pipeline walking mechanism depends largely on the steps of heating profile developed during
heat-up cycles. As a result of this, a constant thermal profile is used for the heating steps until the
steady state is reached to ensure the effect was obtained due to thermal gradient alone.
This profile was developed in an excel spreadsheet, by interpolation of the inlet temperature at
each node along the flowline in the FE model.
wbcrc y = Jistoncc bctwccb tbc topsiJc tic -in onJ tbc mcon sco lc:cl (HSI)
y
w
Pipeline on seabed
Figure 74: Hydrostatic Effect from the topside connection
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 76
The analytical method used a constant thermal profile as well through out the heating steps.
The temperature profile used in the heating steps was developed in Excel using the relation:
I = I
hot cnd
- q
0
I
i = u, 1. . . lostnoJc
a. Thermal Transient Asymmetric Heating Steps:
The temperature was determined such that the asymmetric heating steps still retains the
remaining section of the pipeline at the ambient temperature. The heating process will continue
with the same profile until steady state is reached. The heating steps will be done in such a
manner that a large movement from a section to another is avoided and hence a continuous
heating interval is obtained.
The linear transient presented below exhibits a constant gradient along the pipeline involving 10
heating steps and the final steady state heating. This is the basis for walking mechanism along
the pipeline and it is visible at the cold end.
The Profiles are as follows:
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000
T
e
m
p
e
r
a
t
u
r
e
(
C
)
KPdistance(m)
Temperature Profile Thermal transient
Walkingheatingprofile
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 77
The effective axial force developed during thermal and pressure loading reaches full constraint
as the frictional forces builds-up. This could also yield larger end expansion at both ends if the
lateral and axial frictional forces are decreased. See Appendix A2 for detail calculations.
Note: The results stated above are for end expansions without lateral buckling control measure.
This is also a testament that the 10km pipeline builds up more frictional force and hence has
tendency more to buckle as seen from the results of the two pipelines.
Table 83: End Expansion of short pipeline
End Expansion of 2km Flowline
Analytical FE Model
Concrete
thickness Hot-end cold-end Hot-end Cold-end
25mm 1.021m 0.933m 1.0509m 0.869m
40mm 1.006m 0.918m 1.0547m 0.8862m
55mm 0.99m 0.902m 1.08m 0.909m
Note: See Appendix A1 for the detail calculation steps
Controlled lateral buckling by sharing expansion reduces the end expansion. If the end expansion
is found higher than the spool capacity designed for the pipeline connection, a measure will be
re-established to accommodate the expansions at the ends, either by rock dumping or in-line
spool connection.
8.1.4 Susceptibility of Pipeline to Lateral Buckling
It is a standard requirement to check for susceptibility of pipeline to buckling (See Appendix A2
for detailed calculation steps). Pipelines are said to be susceptible to lateral buckling if the
following inequality holds:
N
muxmum
N
ctcuI
Where:
N
muxmum
= Ibc moximum comprcssi:c cccti:c oxiol orcc,
N
ctcuI
= Ibc criticol Buckling orcc,
N
muxmum
= min (N
]uII constun
, N
]mux
),
N
ctcuI
= min (N
00S
, N
Hobbs
),
N
]uII constun
= Full onstroincJ cccti:c oxiol orcc,
N
]mux
= moximum comprcssi:c cccti:c oxiol orcc in sbort pipclinc,
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 81
N
00S
= ciitical buckling foice associateu with Pipeline out of stiaightness (00S),
N
Hobbs
= Eobbs minimum buckling orcc,
N
Hobbs
= min (moJc
1
, moJc
2
, moJc
3
, moJc
4
, moJc
n]nt
),
The Hobbs critical buckling force is calculated based on a spreadsheet developed using Mathcad
15. The critical buckling force for each of the buckling modes is based on the pipeline input and
using the Hobbs constants K1, K2, K3, K4, and K5 as shown in Table 84.
Table 84: Constants for Lateral buckling mode
Modes K
1
K
2
K
3
K
4
K
5
1 80.76 6.391 X 10
-5
0.5 2.407 X 10
-3
0.06938
2 4a
2
1.743 X 10
-4
1.0 5.532 X 10
-3
0.1088
3 34.06 1.668 X 10
-4
1.294 1.032 X 10
-2
0.1434
4 28.20 2.411 X 10
-4
1.608 1.047 X 10
-2
0.1483
4a
2
4.7050 X 10
-5
4.4495 X 10
-3
0.05066
From the spreadsheet, the buckling force within the buckle was plotted against the buckling
length for a certain section as described in Hobbs papers. Below is the result of one of the plots
in Figuie 8S (see Appendix A for details).
The values for the Hobbs critical buckling force obtained are as shown in Table 8S for different
lateral friction factors:
Table 85: Hobbs Critical Buckling force at different friction factors
Buckling mode Units
Analytical Results
LB = u.6 BE =u.7 0B =u.8
Mode 1 KN 3086.5 3354.0 3603.8
Mode 2 KN 3001.4 3240.2 3482.2
Mode 3 KN 2937.4 3190.0 3425.2
Mode 4 KN 2927.8 3180.7 3417.5
Mude KN 3672.4 3966.6 4240.5
Minimum values (KN) 2927.8 3180.7 3417.5
N
Hobbs
LB
= 2927.8 KN
N
Hobbs
BL
= S18u.7 KN
N
Hobbs
0B
= S417.S KN
Note: Hobbs critical buckling force is based on assumption of a straight pipeline which is not
obtainable in reality due to deformation from lay barge, seabed contours and initial imperfection
(OOS). The results are summarized in Table 86.
As stated previously, the critical buckling force associated with pipeline out of straightness
(OOS) is obtained with the following relation:
N
00S
= p
Lut
w
submcgcd
R
Table 86: Analytical Result Critical Buckling Force
N
OOS
W_xuhmerged
KNm
Radius
R (m)
Analytical Results
LB = u.6 BE =u.7 0B =u.8
N
OOS
Given that the maximum compressive axial force along the pipeline is obtained from calculation
as:
N
Muxmum
= 82S2 KN
The pipeline is therefore, susceptible to BUCKLING because the inequality is true.
N
muxmum
N
ctcuI
8.1.5 Regions Susceptible to Lateral Buckling
Since the 10km pipeline is now known to be susceptible to lateral buckling, the area that is prone
to such lateral movement is to be determined. Critical buckling force is used as a limiting
criterion to define the areas that are susceptible to buckling. These areas are those with effective
axial force greater than the critical buckling force as shown in Figuie 84 below:
F
o
r
c
e
(
M
N
)
KP(Km)
RegionSusceptibletoLateralBuckling
EffectiveAxial FullConstrain CriticalForce(LB)
Critical(BE) Criticalforce(UB)
Buckle Prone Region
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 84
As observed from the previous analysis, about 8km of the pipeline length is susceptible to lateral
buckling within KP1 and KP9. Naturally, pipeline laid of seabed with an initial imperfection will
buckle on thermal and pressure loadings.
If the induced compressive force is sufficiently high, uncontrolled buckling could occur and the
pipeline integrity could be lost. This effect can lead to the following limit state:
Excessive Plastic deformation of the pipe which could lead to local buckling collapse
Cyclic fatigue failure due to continuous heat-up and cool-down
A
m
p
l
i
t
u
d
e
DistanceAlongpipeline(m)
Lateraldisplacementatthebuckle
Heatupatsteadystate Firstcooldown Secondheatup
SecondCooldown Thirdheatup Thirdcooldown
Linear(Secondheatup)
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 8S
During cyclic loading, it can be seen that the pipe-soil interaction cannot be predicted during
cooldown steps. The cooldown step from operating temperature of 90
o
C to ambient temperature
of 5
o
C resulted in non-linear behavior of the buckle section which resulted in strain build up
within the buckle site.
Since this is a displacement controlled condition, the capacity of pipeline is based on allowable
strain. For the pipeline, the predicted strain from the FE analyses was compared against
allowable strain. It was observed that predicted strain reached maximum allowable strain can be
predicted to occur at lower operating temperature.
The effective axial force at different soil friction is important to extract the result of the post
buckling force from FE analyses. Figuie 86 presents the results for the effective axial force at
different friction factors.
A
x
i
a
l
f
o
r
c
e
(
M
N
)
KPdistance(m)
Effectiveaxialforceforceatdifferentaxialfrictionfactor
UB BE LB
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 86
The above results from FE analyses result are the basis for Snake lay configuration and
expansion sharing into adjacent buckle such that total strain developed by the thermal loading
and pressure loading be shared among the pre-determined buckles.
8.3 Snake Lay Control Measure
There are many ways of reducing or controlling lateral buckling of pipeline on seabed depending
on the criticality of the problem. The conventional way is by rock dumping at some certain pre-
determined areas along the pipeline.
Here in this thesis work, one of the Buckle initiation method (expansions sharing) called Snake-
Lay configuration is applied. The snake Lay configuration is based on the principle of sharing
expansion into adjacent buckles as stated in DNV-RP-F110.
Note: The obtained snake lay configuration in the present work is based on the allowable
capacity of the pipeline. However, the required number of snakes is dependent on allowable end
expansion taken by the spools connected to the pipeline. As the capacity of the connecting Spool
(expansion Limit) to the 10km pipeline is not known, the result of expansion sharing will be
acceptable based on further analysis
The purpose of the snake lay configuration and intermittent rock dumping is to ensure the feed-in
into buckle shall be within allowable capacity of the pipeline and further to ensure that end
expansion limit can be kept within the limit given by the spool capacity.
As stated previously, the expansion sharing between the adjacent buckles shall be established
when the following relation is fulfilled:
F
post
LB
+S
LB
F
ctcuI
0B
This relation is used in developing the spreadsheet for snake lay configuration.
At the hot and cold ends, there is less frictional force available to build up effective forces
between the buckle so there is need to build up frictional forces at those ends. To obtain this,
rock dumping of some height TOP was employed at the hot and cold ends.
8.3.1 Lay Configuration for 10km pipeline R1500m
As shown in Figuie 87, the FE model for snake-lay configuration of radius 1500m was developed
with an initial imperfection of 2m for a 2km VAS model on even seabed. Based on the limiting
condition stated previously from DNV-OS-F101, the post buckling force at the lower bound
friction coefficient were obtained.
By applying several time steps, the FE analyses were run to obtain the post buckling force
corresponding to the maximum allowable strain based on displacement controlled condition
(strain based criteria) as given below:
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 87
e
mux
e
cu
Also allowable feed-in was calculated based on displacement controlled condition. Based on the
results from FE analyses, the predicted post buckling forces and the allowable feed-in are
summarized below in Table 87 for several combinations of frictional factors.
Table 87: Feedin Results for R1500m
Axial
Friction
Lateral
Friction
F
cr|t|ca|
Strain Limit
Displacement controlled condition
F
puxt
s
ca
Feed -|n
KN KN m/m m
LB LB -2408.4 -1756 0.004 1.20
BE BE -3010.5 -1864 0.004 1.12
BE UB -3010.5 -1894 0.004 0.9
UB UB -3417.5 -1910 0.004 1.12
Adopting the results from the ANSYS model and using the snake lay excel spreadsheet; the
expansion sharing was generated for each snake based on acceptance criteria stated previously.
PREB0CKLINu
P0STB0CKLINu
Figure 87: PreBuckling and Post Buckling of a pipeline snake Configuration
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 88
By applying the R1500m configuration, the upper bound critical buckling force is -3010.5kN and
the lower bound post-buckling force is -1756kN.
To ensure that allowable feed-in of 0.9m at the hot end, rock dumping of 2m rock height TOP
was applied over the section of 100m. Figuie 88 presents the effective axial force distribution
obtained from snake-lay configuration.
Figure 88: Effective axial force distribution for Snake Lay configuration
The result in Figure 88 shows that the 10km pipeline requires 7snakes, rock dumping to limit end
expansions. Table 88 shows the results obtained for the 1500m radius lay configuration.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
-6
-5
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
0 2 4 6 8 10
E
f
f
e
c
t
i
v
e
A
x
i
a
l
F
o
r
c
e
[
M
N
]
KP [km]
Effective Axial Force
Lower bound Best Estimate
Upper bound Pcrit (Hobbs)
P crit (stab) Fully restrained
Rock Height
R
o
c
k
H
E
i
g
h
t
(
m
)
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 89
end. These results for the pipeline end expansion can be used along with operational loads to
design end spools and to assess interface loads at the hub.
This shows that the integrity of our pipeline is recovered and intact according to DNV-RP-F110.
Figuie 89 shows the expansion distribution. At the hot end the 2m rock height TOP was used to
build up the effective axial force in order to reduce end expansion. This helps to reduce the
expansion in the adjacent snake along the pipeline.
From Figuie 89, it can be seen that the expansion towards the cold end is reduced as a result of
the sharing of the feed-in into the snakes. Also due to the use of rock at the end, an expansion of
0.60m was induced to achieve the desired configuration with an acceptable displacement control
condition.
(
M
N
)
KP(Km)
EffectofSnakeLayExpansionSharing
Fullconstrain EffectiveForce SnakeLayControl
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 92
Figure 812: Effective force distribution of snake lay (R2500m) configuration with Rock dumping
For the R2500m configuration shown in Figuie 812, the lowest expansion at the cold and hot
reduced by 0.2m due to the lower feed-in in the buckle site as compared to R1500m. This is
testament that the expansion the spool can accommodate can be re-established to suit the spool
design value by increasing the radius or rock dumping at the opposite end. This is shown at the
expansion result in Figuie 81S below:
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
-6
-5
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000
E
f
f
e
c
t
i
v
e
A
x
i
a
l
F
o
r
c
e
[
M
N
]
KP [m]
Effective Axial Force R2500
Lower bound Best Estimate
Upper bound Pcrit (Hobbs)
P crit (stab) Fully restrained
Rock Height
R
o
c
k
H
e
i
g
h
t
(
m
)
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 94
0
=
I
2
8 EA
s
--- - -- - -- i
0
6
0
=
I
2
16 EA
s
(24
0
-
0
-4) - - -- - --- -i >
0
6
The above expression gives the accumulated axial displacement as a result of the thermal
transient based on constant gradient along the seabed and the results are as shown below in Table
811:
Table 811: Analytical Result for rate of walking at 35
o
C/km
Axial Friction Factor
Thermalgradient
[
o
C/km]
Rateofwalking
[mm]
LB 35 51
BE 35 44
UB 35 40
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 97
From the above results, it is seen that for lower bound friction, the rate of walking towards the
cold end is higher than that for best estimate and upper bound friction. This response was
expected.
The axial friction coefficient is the dominating factor during pipeline walking and this has to be
taken into consideration in order to minimize the effect of walking.
From the calculation using the analytical method, it is found that at higher axial frictional factor
and lower thermal gradient the SAFEBUCK relations do not give a good approximation based on
the assumption stated on the guideline (see Appendix A4). Hence, it requires performing a finite
element analysis and to obtain a better approximation of the rate walking at different thermal
gradient.
Hence, the analytical method of calculation is not used for final conclusion of results but it is
used as a basis to predict the response of walking along the pipeline.
8.4.2 Finite Element Analysis Axial Walking
Temperature profile presently in Figuie 7S with constant thermal gradient of 35
o
C/km was used
to generate asymmetric heating step along the pipeline. The response from the heating steps is as
shown in Figuie 814 below:
(
C
)
KPdistance
ThermalTransient 35
o
C/km
heatstep1
heatstep2
heatstep3
heatstep4
heatstep5
heatsteps6
heatstep7
heatstep8
heatstep9
heatstep10
heatstep11
heatstep12
Steadystate
heatstep11
heatstep12
heatstep13
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 98
When the 2km flowline is subjected to the above heating steps, it experiences a non-uniform
expansion due to the distribution of the hot fluid from the hot end. The region of the pipe close to
the hot end expands from the center of virtual anchors that are formed along the center pipeline
at each heating step, while the rest of the pipeline remains cold approximately at the ambient
temperature. Due to this reason, non-uniform heating along the pipeline induces walking.
Figuie 81S presents the results for axial displacement prior to full mobilization for heat-up steps.
From the figure, it is seen that, the displacement at the hot region increases from the heat-step 1
to heat-step 7. But the displacement at the cold region remains to be almost zero.
D
i
s
p
l
a
c
e
m
e
n
t
(
m
)
KP(mx2)
AxialdisplacementpriortofullMobization
heatstep1
heatstep2
heatstep3
heatstep4
heatstep5
heatstep6
heatstep7
0,6
0,4
0,2
0
0,2
0 200 400 600 800 1000
A
x
i
a
l
D
i
s
p
l
a
c
e
m
e
n
t
(
m
)
KP(mx2)
AxialDisplacementduringFirstheatingcycle 35
o
C/km
heatstep1
heatstep2
heatstep3
heatstep4
heatstep5
heatstep6
heatstep7
heatstep8
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 99
D
i
s
p
l
a
c
e
m
e
n
t
(
m
)
KP(mx2)
AxialDisplacementduringFirstheatingcycle 35
o
C/km
heatstep1
heatstep2
heatstep3
heatstep4
heatstep5
heatstep6
heatstep7
heatstep8
heatstep9
heatstep10
heatstep11
heatstep12
heatstep13
heatstep14
heatstep15
steadystate
Cooldown
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 1uu
Operational Implication: Assuming that the pipeline is subjected to a total of 100 full shut-
down and start-up cycles over its lifetime, the pipeline would walk axially a total of 6m towards
the cold end connection. This scenario could result in a serious damage and a threat to the
integrity of the pipeline system which must be mitigated.
Finite element analyses were carried out for different friction coefficients to understand the
sensitivity of method of analyses on predicted results when compared from analytical
calculations. Table 81S compared the results obtained from both analytical calculations and FE
analyses.
Table 813: Results from FE Analyses and Analytical Calculation for Different Axial Frictions.
Methods Axial Friction
Walking displacement
(mm)
Analytical UB 40
FE analysis UB 59
Analytical BE 44
FE analysis BE 60.4
Analytical LB 51
FE analysis LB 106.3
As was concluded by (Carr et al., 2006), the above results confirms that the walking
phenomenon is dependent on the axial frictional force.
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 1u1
From the heating profiles presented above in Figuie 818, it is evident that the steeper profile of
35
o
C/km induces more heating steps (8 heating steps) before reaching the end of the pipeline
compared to the five (5) heating steps induced by the 20
o
C/km thermal gradient.
The steepness is a function of temperature change since the steeper the gradient the faster the
temperature is transferred towards the downstream of the pipeline. Irrespective of the
temperature profile, this is a dominating effect as seen in the above plots.
From the result of the finite element analyses for the two thermal gradients, the predicted axial
displacements prior to full mobilization are shown in Figuie 819.
0
100
0 500 1000 1500 2000
T
e
m
p
e
r
a
t
u
r
e
(
C
)
KPdistance
ThermalTransient 20
o
C/km
heatstep1 heatstep2
heatstep3 heatstep4
heatstep5 heatsteps6
heatstep7 heatstep8
heatstep9 heatstep10
Steadystate heatstep11
0
100
0 500 1000 1500 2000
T
e
m
p
e
r
a
t
u
r
e
(
C
)
KPdistance
ThermalTransient 35
o
C/km
heatstep1 heatstep2
heatstep3 heatstep4
heatstep5 heatsteps6
heatstep7 heatstep8
heatstep9 heatstep10
heatstep11 heatstep12
Figure 818: Thermal gradient showing two different Scenarios (35
o
C/km and 20
o
C/km)
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 1u2
The two cases were subjected to the same temperature with increasing 10
o
C in each heating step
down the pipe length. At 70
o
C and heating step 8, the 35
o
C/km case attained full mobilization
while at 50
o
C and heating step 5 the 20
o
C/km attained full mobilization.
As shown in the Figuie 819, the hot end of the 35
o
C/km case expansion of about 0.45m before
reaching full mobilization while the case of 20
o
C/km shows expansion of about 0.23m at full
mobilization. This concludes that the case of 20
o
C/km reaches full mobilization earlier than the
case of 35
o
C/km at the same temperature. Once full mobilization is reached, to attain steady
state, the case of 35
o
C/km requires another 8 heating steps to attain to steady state temperature
while the case of 20
o
C/km requires only 6 heating steps. This is as shown in Figuie 82u.
0,6
0,4
0,2
0
0,2
0 500 1000
A
x
i
a
l
D
i
s
p
l
a
c
e
m
e
n
t
(
m
)
KP(mx2)
AxialdisplacementpriortofullMobization
35
o
C/km
heatstep1 heatstep2 heatstep3
heatstep4 heatstep5 heatstep6
heatstep7
0,3
0,2
0,1
0
0,1
0 500 1000
A
x
i
s
T
i
t
l
e
AxisTitle
Axialdisplacementpriortofullmobilization
20
o
C/km
heatstep2 heatstep3
heatstep4 heatstep5
1
0,5
0
0,5
1
0 500 1000
A
x
i
a
l
d
i
s
p
l
a
c
e
m
e
n
t
(
m
)
KP(mx2)
Axialdisplacementduringthefirstcycle
20
o
C/km
heatstep2
heatstep3
heatstep4
heatstep5
heatstep6
Heatstep7
heatstep8
heatstep9
heatstep10
heatstep11
heatstep12
steadystate
cooldown
1,5
1
0,5
0
0,5
1
1,5
0 500 1000
A
x
i
a
l
D
i
s
p
l
a
c
e
m
e
n
t
(
m
)
KP(mx2)
AxialDisplacementduringFirstheatingcycle
35
o
C/km heatstep1
heatstep2
heatstep3
heatstep4
heatstep5
heatstep6
heatstep7
heatstep8
heatstep9
heatstep10
heatstep11
heatstep12
heatstep13
heatstep14
Figure 819: Axial displacement for prior to full mobilization for two different thermal gradient
Figure 820: Axial displacement of the two cases after full mobilization.
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 1uS
As a result of the enormous amount of heat induced on the pipeline prior to full mobilization by
the 35
o
C/km gradient, over shutdown/cooling cycles, the pipeline axial walking towards the cold
end is more than the walking from the case of 20
o
C/km as seen in Figuie 821. This can also
restated that the heating that results in walking phenomenon is mostly the heating steps prior to
full mobilization stage.
The case of 20
o
C/km requires 5 heating steps and yields walking of 39.5mm while the case of
35
o
C/km requires 8 heating steps and yields walking of 59mm.
The cumulative displacements obtained from the two cases are shown Figuie 821:
From Figuie 821, the full curvature shows the attainment of full mobilization and also shows that
it took enormous heating for the 35
o
C/km gradient to reach full mobilization. Because of the
asymmetric expansion from the heating steps prior to full mobilization, the 35
o
C/km gradient
induces an axial movement giving rise to 59mm pipe movement towards the cold end while the
20
o
C/km gradient gives 39.5mm pipe movement after the cooling step as shown above Figuie
821. Once full mobilization is attained, the walking stops and the middle section remains fixed
as noticed in Figuie 82u.
250
200
150
100
50
0
50
0 500 1000
C
u
m
u
l
a
t
i
v
e
D
i
s
p
l
a
c
e
m
e
n
t
(
m
m
)
KP(mx2)
CumulativedispalcementduringfirstCycle
35
o
C/km
Heatstep1
Heatstep2
Heatstep3
heatstep4
Heatstep5
Heatstep6
Heatstep7
heatstep8
heatstep9
heatstep10
heatstep11
heatstep11
heatstep12
heatstep13
heatstep14
steadystate
cooldown
250
200
150
100
50
0
50
0 500 1000 1500
A
x
i
a
l
d
i
s
p
l
a
c
e
m
e
n
t
(
m
m
)
KP(mx2)
CumulativedispalcementduringfirstCycle
20
o
C/km
Heatstep2
heatstep3
heatstep4
heatstep5
heatstep6
heatstep7
heatstep8
heatstep9
heatstep10
heatstep11
heatstep12
steadystate
cooldown
Figure 821: Cumulative displacement for 35
o
C/km and 20
o
C/km
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 1u4
Hypothesis:
Gradual warming of cold section of short pipeline reduces the effect of thermal gradient in
pipeline axial walking such that some extent of uniform heating is achieved prior to full
mobilization.
Task:
In order to use this measure as a means of controlling axial accumulation (walking),
investigations with FE analysis is carried out to determine the difference it yields by gradual
warming of the pipeline cold end section prior to start-ups and shutdowns.
Conditions:
Same thermal gradient of 35
o
C/km and the same heating steps are maintained. The cold end is
heated from 5
o
C ambient to a temperature of 20
o
C using direct electric heating (DEH) during the
start-up and shut down by allowing the tail end of heating steps to heat to 20
o
C until full
mobilization.
This is shown in the heating profile in Figuie 824:
(
C
)
KPdistance
EffectofDEHonThermalTransient
heatstep2
heatstep3
heatstep4
heatstep5
heatsteps6
heatstep7
heatstep8
heatstep9
heatstep10
heatstep11
heatstep12
Steadystate
heatstep11
heatstep12
heatstep13
Directelectricheatingof pipelinefrom5
o
C(ambient)to20
o
C.
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 1u6
The results from see Figuie 826 shows that prior to full mobilization, the pipeline with direct
electric heating along the pipeline expands at both hot end and cold ends while the other does not
remain cold but moves axially towards the cold end.
It is evident from Figuie 826, that the heating steps with DEH after full mobilization are almost
the same values as compared to the one without DEH. This shows that walking happens at the
heat-up sections and not after full mobilization. Hence, DEH reduces the walking by gradual
warming to uniform temperature of 20
o
C and the results are presented in Table 814:
Table 814: Results for both cases
With DEH Without DEH
Rate of walking (mm) 40 59.2
Thermal gradient (
o
C/km) 35 35
0,2
0
0,2
0 500 1000
A
x
i
a
l
d
i
s
p
l
a
c
e
m
e
n
t
(
m
)
KP(mx2)
WithDEH
heatstep1 heatstep2 heatstep3
heatstep4 heatstep5
0,2
0
0,2
0 500 1000
A
x
i
a
l
D
i
s
p
l
a
c
e
m
e
n
t
(
m
)
KP(mx2)
WithoutDEH
heatstep1 heatstep2
heatstep3 heatstep4
heatstep5
Figure 825: Axial displacement for both DEH and normal heating step
1,5
1
0,5
0
0,5
1
1,5
0 500 1000
A
x
i
a
l
d
i
s
p
l
a
c
e
m
e
n
t
(
m
)
KP(mx2)
WithDEH
heatstep1
heatstep2
heatstep3
heatstep4
heatstep5
heatstep6
heatstep7
heatstep8
heatstep9
heatstep10
heatstep11
heatstep12
heatstep14
Heatstep15
heatstep16 1,5
1
0,5
0
0,5
1
1,5
0 500 1000
A
x
i
a
l
D
i
s
p
l
a
c
e
m
e
n
t
(
m
)
KP(mx2)
WithoutDEH
heatstep1
heatstep2
heatstep3
heatstep4
heatstep5
heatstep6
heatstep7
heatstep8
heatstep9
heatstep10
heatstep11
heatstep12
heatstep13
heatstep14
Figure 826: Axial displacement for heating with DEH and without DEH
Early Expansion of cold end
Early Expansion of Hot end
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 1u7
Increasing the buckle length from 160m (R1500m) to 200m (R2500m) resulted in less initial
imperfection. From the analyses for the selected pipeline, this radius (R2500m) gives less feed-in
compared to the initial radius ((R1500m) but with rock dumping at only the hot-end.
Pipeline Walking
Pipeline walking has been studied in greater depth by SAFEBUCK J IP and a number of
deductions were generated. In the present thesis work, the influence of thermal gradient on
pipeline axial walking has been studied. FE analyses were performed for the selected pipeline
considering the two cases of thermal gradients. The predictions from the two cases are compared
and discussed with respect to the rate of pipeline walking toward cold end.
The calculations using the analytical method based on SAFEBUCK guidelines were performed
and compared against the predictions from FE analyses. Based on the results, it can be confirmed
that analytical relations do not give an accurate estimation of rate of walking, but can be used as
basis for preliminary assessment whether to perform an FE analysis.
Reason for discrepancy between analytical and FE results being that the analytical relations are
based on certain assumptions which cannot be generalized for all pipeline operation cases.
Findings:
The critical buckling force at lower bound friction has been seen as better basis for
pipeline buckling design such that where the pipe-soil interaction are not properly
estimated, the system will still be able to withstand the worst case effect in any failure
mode.
Use of post-lay rock dumping with large lay radius for expansion sharing has been seen
as a better means of lateral buckling control measure. This is especially where the
operational corridor is smaller such that the distance between successive buckles are less
than the total buckle length.
Pre-warming the pipeline system is a greater way of reducing the effect of thermal
gradient on short pipeline before reaching full mobilization.
Use of di-electric heating (DEH) of the short pipeline before operational start could assist
in reducing thermal gradient along the pipeline.
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 111
9.2 Recommendations
As a result of the uncertainties surrounding pipe-soil interactions, most long pipelines are
found to be susceptible to lateral buckling. Excessive build-up of effective axial force by the
frictional force from the soils and the extreme high pressure and high temperature (XHPHT)
have been a major driving factor as we drill deep for more oil and gas.
Moreover, the need to maintain the temperature and pressure of the well effluent in order to
avoid the flow assurance issues has made the solution more critical. Hence, pipelines are allowed
to move laterally at will provided that the integrity of the pipe is not jeopardized.
Allowing the pipeline to move laterally without restriction by the use of snake lay configuration
is a great way of sharing expansion such that the total allowable feed-in is distributed among the
snakes generated by the configuration applied.
In order to reduce the cost of lay barge which cost more in negotiating a smaller bend radius,
longer lay radius with post-lay rock dumping can be applied thereby reducing the operational
corridor which could act adversely in case of unforeseen lateral movement of the pipeline.
Axial accumulation at the cold end can be so disastrous if allowed to go on till the life of the
system and it should be mitigated. Pre-warming the pipeline system is a greater way of reducing
the effect of thermal gradient on short pipeline before reaching full mobilization.
The thermal gradient of pipeline installation should always be determined and the effect
calculated based on the axial frictional forces so that the effect can be reduced or the pipeline re-
routed to ensure safety of the connecting ends.
9.3 Further Work
As mentioned above, there are uncertainties hidden on the pipe-soil interaction which was
evident on the results from the post buckling force at different soil frictions. A study should be
carried out to generate a better way of deducing a better approximation of the pipe-soil
movement with respect to temperature profile at extreme well pressures.
The use of di-electric heating (DEH) with pipe-in-pipe system c considered as a way of reducing
the effect of thermal gradient along short pipeline such that the accumulation of the axial
displacement is greatly reduced over the life of the field.
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 112
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 11S
REFERENCES
FYRILEIV, O. & COLLBERG, L. Influence of Pressure in Pipeline Design Effective Axial Force.
International Conference on Offshore Mechanics and Arctic Engineering (OMAE 2005),
2005Halkidiki,Greece.
GUO,B.,SONG,S.,CHACKO,J.&GHALAMBOR,A.2005.OffshorePipelines,Elsevier.
HARALD, K. 2008. Direct Electric HEating (DEH) Basic technology. In: RESEARCH, S. E. (ed.).
SINTEFEnergyResearch.
HOBBS,R.1984.InServiceBucklingOfHeatedPipelines.JournalofTransportationEngineering,
Vol.110,No.2.
KARUNAKARAN, D. 2012. Lecture nots in MOK 160: Pipelines and Risers. University of
Stavanger,Norway.
KAYE,D.1996.LateralBucklingofSubseaPipelines:ComparismbetweenDesignandOperation.
UK:SocietyforUnderwaterTechnology.
KEIN, L. K., MING, S. L. & MASCHNER, E. Design of High Temperature/High Pressure (HT/HP)
PipelineagainstLateralBuckling.
KYRIAKIDES, S. & CORONA, E. 2007. Mechanics of Offshore Pipelines Volume 1: Buckling and
Collapse,Elsevier.
OFFSHOREVN. 2010. End Expansion and Local Buckling [Online]. Available:
http://www.slideshare.net/Offshorevn/endexpansionanalysis [Accessed February, 20
2013].
ONDREJ,K.2012.Buckling[Online].Available:https://wiki.csiberkeley.com/display/kb/Buckling
[AccessedFebruary,192013].
PALMER,A.C.2004.LateralBucklingofAxiallyConstrainedPipeline.JPTForum2.
PALMER, A. C. & KING, R. A. 2004. Subsea Pipeline Engineering, Tulsa, Oklahoma, PennWell
Corporation.
PROF. SHARMA, S. C. Strength of Material [Online]. Available:
http://nptel.iitm.ac.in/courses/Webcoursecontents/IIT
ROORKEE/strength%20of%20materials/lects%20&%20picts/image/lect15/lecture15.ht
m[AccessedFeruary,222013].
ROBERT, M. J. Buckling [Online]. Wikipedia. Available: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckling
[AccessedFebruary,192013].
RONG,H.,INGLIS,R.,BELL,G.,HUANG,Z.&CHAN,R.2009.EvaluationandMitigationofAxial
Wlaking with a Focus on Deep Water Flowlines Offshore Technology Conference (OTC).
Houston,Texas,USA:OTC.
RUNDSAG,J.O.,TRNES,K.,CUMMING,G.,A.D.,R.&ROBERTS,C.2008.OptimisedSnakedLay
Geometry.InternationalSocietyofOffshoreandPolarEngineers(ISOPE).vancouver,BC,
Canada.
SAFEBUCKJIP 2011. SAFEBUCK III Safe Design of Pipelines with Lateral buckling Design
Guideline.
SRISKANDARAJAH, T., DONG, S., SRIBALACHANDRAN, S. & WILKINS, R. Effect of Initial
ImperfetcionontheLateralBucklingofSubseaPipelines.In:(ISOPE),I. S.O.O.A.P.E.,
ed. Proceedings of the Ninth (1999) International Society of Offshore and Polar
Engineers(ISOPE),1999Brest,France.
SRISKANDARAJAH,T.,RAGUPARTHY,P.&WILKINS,R.DynamicVersusStaticBucklingofSubsea
Pipelines. In: (ISOPE), T. I. S. O. O. A. P. E., ed. International Offshore and Polar
Conference,2001Stavanger,Norway.
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0bele Ifenna Isaac 0niveisity of Stavangei Page 11S
SUBSEA7 2011. Techninal Guideline: Pipeline Expansion In: 7, S. (ed.) Doc. No: GDGLPDCOE
006.2011ed.
SUBSEA7 2012. Lateral Buckling and Pipeline Walking. In: NORWAY, S. (ed.) LONCENGEPLN
0001.
SREN,H.&YONG,B.1999.BendingMomentCapacityofPipes.JournalofOffshoreMechnics
andArcticEngineering.
TAKAHASHI, K., ANDO, K., HISATSUNE, M. & HASEGAWA, K. 2007. Failure behavior of carbon
steel pipe with local wall thinning near orifice. Nuclear Engineering and Design, 237,
335341.
WHITE, D. J. & BRUTON, D. A. 2008. PipeSoil Interaction During Lateral Buckling and Pipeline
walkingSAFEBUCKJIP.In:OTC(ed.)OffshoreTechnnologyConference(OTC).Houston,
Texas,USA.
YONG,B.&QIANG,B.2005.SubseaPipelinesandRisers,SanDiego,USA,ELsevier.
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
A1|P a g e
APPENDIX A
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
A11|P a g e
APPENDIX A1
PIPELINE END EXPANSION
st
7850kg m
3
:=
SMYS 450MPa :=
E 2.07 10
5
MPa :=
1.17 10
5
C
1
:=
0.3 :=
inscoat
910kg m
3
:=
conc
2400.kg m
3
:=
water
1027kg m
3
:=
cont
900kg m
3
:=
P
d
15MPa :=
P
op
15MPa :=
P
hyd
0MPa :=
E:\thesis\mathcad\Endexpnasion 1 of 10
T
amb
5 C :=
Sea water Ambient Temperature
T
op
95 C :=
Operating Temperature
External Loads:
M
b
0kN m :=
Bending moment
Axial Force
N
a
0kN :=
Residual Lay Tension
Soil Properties:
Axial Friction Factor
Lateral Friction Factor
Safety Factors:
Usage Factor for Hoop stress
Usage Factor for Longitudinal stress
N
lay
0kN :=
axial
0.5 :=
lateral
0.8 :=
h
0.72 :=
L
0.8 :=
Parameter Calculations:
Internal Diameter
Effective Pipe Diameter
Cross-sectional Area of Steel Pipe
Cross-sectional Area of external coating
Cross-sectional Area of Concrete coating
Mass of Steel Pipe
Mass of External coating
Mass of concrete coating
Mass of Content
Mass of water Content
Mass in water (Bouyancy Mass)
Total Mass in air
D
in
D
o
2 t
wall
:=
D
eff
D
o
2 t
ext.coat
t
conc
+
( )
+ :=
A
s
4
D
o
2
D
in
2
|
\
|
.
|
\
|
.
:=
A
ext
4
D
o
2 t
ext.coat
+
( )
2
D
o
2
:=
A
conc
4
D
o
2 t
ext.coat
+ 2 t
conc
+
( )
2
D
o
2 t
ext.coat
+
( )
2
:=
M
st
A
s
st
:=
M
ext.coat
A
ext
inscoat
:=
M
conc
A
conc
conc
:=
M
cont
4
D
in
2
cont
:=
M
water
4
D
in
2
water
:=
M
bouyancy
4
D
eff
2
water
:=
M
air
M
st
M
conc
+ M
ext.coat
+ :=
E:\thesis\mathcad\Endexpnasion 2 of 10
Submerged Mass
Weight of Dry Pipe
Weight of Content
Weight of Submerged Pipe
Temperature Difference
Moment of Inertia of Steel Pipe
cross section
Sectional Modulus of Steel Pipe
M
submerged
M
air
M
bouyancy
:=
W
dry
M
air
g :=
W
cont
M
cont
g :=
W
submerged
M
cont
g M
ext.coat
g + M
st
g + M
conc
g + M
bouyancy
g :=
W
submerged
3.345
1
m
kN =
T T
op
T
amb
:=
I
s
4
D
o
4
D
in
4
|
\
|
.
:=
Z
s
I
s
D
o
2
:=
EFFECTIVE AXIAL FORCE CALCULATION
559 x 19.1mm PIPE OF 2km Pipe Length 1.
Kp
0
0m :=
n 6 := KP
step
100m := k 0 2000 .. :=
Kp
n 1
2000m :=
T
k
5C ( ) 90C ( ) e
0.0000911607 k
+ :=
x Kp
0
KP
step
, Kp
n 1
.. :=
x
k
k 1 m :=
0 500 1000 1500 2000
70
80
90
100
Temperature profile
Design Temperature Profile
KP distance (m)
T
e
m
p
e
r
a
t
u
r
e
(
C
)
E:\thesis\mathcad\Endexpnasion 3 of 10
Water depth
WD
800m
800m
|
\
|
|
.
:=
KPw
0km
2km
|
\
|
|
.
:=
WD k ( ) linterp KPw WD , x
k
, ( ) :=
P
o
k ( )
water
g WD k ( ) :=
External Pressure
Internal Pressure P
in
k ( ) P
op
cont
g WD k ( ) + :=
P k ( ) P
in
k ( ) P
o
k ( ) :=
Pressure Difference with KP
Thermal Force N
thermal
k ( ) E A
s
T
k
:=
Poisson Effect Force
N
poisson
k ( ) P k ( ) A
s
D
o
t
wall
( )
2t
wall
(
(
:=
End Cap Force N
Endcap
k ( )
4
P
in
k ( )
( )
D
in
2
P
o
k ( )
( )
D
o
2
:=
N
eff
k ( ) N
lay
N
Endcap
k ( ) N
poisson
k ( ) + N
thermal
k ( ) + :=
Effective Axial Force with KP
F
anchor
D
in
t
wall
E T
op
T
amb
( )
1 2 ( )
P
op
D
in
2
(
(
+ := F
anchor
8.09 MN =
Restraining Force: F
friction
axial
W
submerged
( )
1 m :=
W
submerged
3.345 10
3
1
m
N =
F
friction
1.673 10
3
N =
L
anchor
F
anchor
axial
W
submerged
( )
:= L
anchor
4.837 km =
Since the Restraining Force (Friction Force) cannot attain the Fully constraint Axial Force
(Anchoring Force), then pipeline is termed a Short Pipeline (fully mobilised)
Short Pipeline: Pipeline which will never develop the full constrain force
Effective Axial Force - Fully mobilized Pipeline
Maximum Friction Force at the mid-line:
F
MAXfriction
axial
W
submerged
W
cont
+
( )
L
2
:=
F
MAXfriction
2.613 10
6
N =
E:\thesis\mathcad\Endexpnasion 4 of 10
F
HOTfriction
k ( )
axial
W
submerged
W
cont
+
( )
x
k
1 ( ) :=
Friction Force with Length at the hot end:
Friction Force with Length at the cold
end:
F
COLDfriction
k ( )
axial
W
submerged
W
cont
+
( )
x
k
L ( ) :=
The Frictional Restrained Force along the Pipeline full
Length:
F
Restfriction
k ( ) if F
HOTfriction
k ( ) F
COLDfriction
k ( ) > F
HOTfriction
k ( ) , F
COLDfriction
k ( ) ,
( )
:=
N
effSHORT
k ( ) if N
eff
k ( ) F
Restfriction
k ( ) < F
Restfriction
k ( ) , N
eff
k ( ) ,
( )
:=
0 0.5 1 1.5 2
10000000
8000000
6000000
4000000
2000000
0
Fully constrain
Effective Force
Effective Axial Force for 2km Flowline
KP distance (km)
F
o
r
c
e
(
N
)
EFFECTIVE FORCE FOR A 559 x 19.1mm Pipe of 10km
Pipelength
n 6 := KP
Lstep
0.001km :=
L
longKpL
n 1
10km :=
i 0 n 1 .. :=
Kp
0
0m = j 0 1 , 10000 .. :=
x
i
Kp
0
KP
Lstep
, L
longKpL
n 1
.. := T
j
5C ( ) 90C ( ) e
0.0000492476 j
+ :=
x
j
j 1 m :=
E:\thesis\mathcad\Endexpnasion 5 of 10
0.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 10.0
50.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
Design Temperature Profile - 10km Pipeline
KP distance (km)
T
e
m
p
e
r
a
t
u
r
e
(
C
)
Water depth
nw 2 :=
iw 0 nw 1 .. :=
WDL
800m
800m
|
\
|
|
.
:=
KPLw
0km
10km
|
\
|
|
.
:=
WDL j ( ) linterp KPLw WDL , x
j
, ( ) :=
N
critical
3.010 MN :=
P
oL
j ( )
water
g WDL j ( ) :=
External Pressure
Internal Pressure P
inL
j ( ) P
op
cont
g WDL j ( ) + :=
PL j ( ) P
inL
j ( ) P
oL
j ( ) :=
Pressure Difference with KP
Thermal Force N
thermalL
j
E A
s
T
j
:=
Poisson Effect Force
N
poissonL
j ( ) PL j ( ) A
s
D
o
t
wall
( )
2t
wall
(
(
:=
N
EndcapL
j ( )
4
P
inL
j ( )
( )
D
in
2
P
oL
j ( )
( )
D
o
2
:=
End Cap Force
Effective Axial Force with KP N
FULL
j ( ) N
lay
N
EndcapL
j ( ) N
poissonL
j ( ) + N
thermalL
j
+ :=
Friction Force with Length at the hot end: F
HOTfrictionL
j ( )
axial
W
submerged
W
cont
+
( )
x
j
1 ( ) :=
E:\thesis\mathcad\Endexpnasion 6 of 10
Friction Force with Length at the cold end:
F
COLDfrictionL
j ( )
axial
W
submerged
W
cont
+
( )
x
j
x
10000
( ) :=
The Frictional Restrained Force along the Pipeline full Length:
F
RestfrictionL
j ( ) if F
HOTfrictionL
j ( ) F
COLDfrictionL
j ( ) > F
HOTfrictionL
j ( ) , F
COLDfrictionL
j ( ) ,
( )
:=
N
EFF
j ( ) out N
FULL
j ( ) F
RestfrictionL
j ( ) N
FULL
j ( ) < if
F
RestfrictionL
j ( ) otherwise
:=
0 2 4 6 8 10
1 10
7
8 10
6
6 10
6
4 10
6
2 10
6
0
Effective Axial Force
Plot of Effective Axial Force
KP distance (km)
F
o
r
c
e
(
M
N
)
0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000
10000000
8000000
6000000
4000000
2000000
0
Critical Buckling Force
Effective Axial force
N
critical
N
EFF
j ( )
j
E:\thesis\mathcad\Endexpnasion 7 of 10
0 2 4 6 8 10
1.5 10
7
1 10
7
5 10
6
0
Fully constrained axial force
Effective Force
Friction Force
Effective Axial Force of a Long Pipeline
KP Distance (km)
A
x
i
a
l
F
o
r
c
e
(
N
)
N
FULL
3028 ( ) 7.274 MN =
F
RestfrictionL
3028 ( ) 7.912 10
6
N =
N
FULL
7469 ( ) 6.079 MN = F
RestfrictionL
7469 ( ) 6.613 10
6
N =
VAP
1
3272m := VAP
2
7210m :=
VIRTUAL ANCHOR POINT
From the Tables and datas above, it can deduced that the virtual Anchor Point for the Long
pipeline where - Fully Constrained Axial Force Equals the Frictional Force are:
VAP
1
= KP 3.272 -
VAP
2
= KP 7.210 -
Therefore, the anchor Length for the long pipeline are now:
L_anchor (1) = The distance betwen KP
0
and VAP
1
L_anchor (2) = The distance betwen KP
n-1
and VAP
2
For the Long Pipeline
L
anchorHotEnd
VAP
1
Kp
0
:= L
anchorColdEnd
L
longKpL
n 1
VAP
2
:=
Anchor Length at the hot end:
Anchor Length at the cold End:
L
anchorHotEnd
3.272 km = L
anchorColdEnd
2.79 km =
E:\thesis\mathcad\Endexpnasion 8 of 10
For the Short Pipeline
F
anchor
D
in
t
wall
E T
op
T
amb
( )
1 2 ( )
P
op
D
in
2
(
(
+ :=
*
F
anchor
8.09 MN =
F
friction
axial
W
submerged
:=
F
friction
1.673
1
m
kN =
L
anchor
F
anchor
F
friction
:= L
anchor
4.837 km =
Since the anchor length 6.417km is greater than the length of the pipeline (2km), this is a prove that
this is a short Pipeline having insufficient friction to attain the full constrain Axial Force. Hence, it is
Fully mobilised.
F
frictional
F
friction
1 m :=
Total Frictional Force F
frictional
1.673 10
3
MN =
END EXPANSION CALCULATION
Based on the Long Pipeline analysis, the end expansion can be deduce as the following for
each ends:
The Expansion at the Hot end:
expansionHOT
3028
0
j
N
FULL
j ( ) F
RestfrictionL
j ( )
( )
1 m
E A
s
=
:=
expansionHOT
1.714m =
expansionCOLD
10000
7469
j
N
FULL
j ( ) F
RestfrictionL
j ( )
( )
1 m
E A
s
=
:=
The Expansion at the Cold
end:
expansionCOLD
0.936 m =
For Short Pipeline analysis, the end expansion can be deduce as the following for each ends:
expansionHOTshort
1000
0
k
N
eff
k ( ) F
Restfriction
k ( )
( )
1 m
E A
s
=
:=
expansionHOTshort
0.99m =
expansionCOLDshort
2000
1000
k
N
eff
k ( ) F
Restfriction
k ( )
( )
1 m
E A
s
=
:=
expansionCOLDshort
0.902m =
E:\thesis\mathcad\Endexpnasion 9 of 10
EXPANSION OFFSET DESIGN
The expansion offset is configured to transfer the expansion displacement into a bending stress, below the
code allowable. Typical offset configurations include 'L, 'U" or "Z shaped spools.
For an L-shaped spool the bending is idealised as a pinned / fixed cantilever and the allowable stress is
taken from the combination of hoop, end-cap and longitudinal (incl. temperature stress):
Maximum allowable bending stress:
Bending
F
anchor
A
s
:=
The minimum Spool length for an L shaped spool according Subsea7 guideline is given as:
L
min
2.25 E D
o
expansionHOT
Bending
:=
L
min
42.275m =
Temperature de-rated steel Yield Stress
T
d
0C 1C , 200C .. := SMYS T
d
( )
SMYS T
d
50C s if
SMYS 3
T
d
50C
( )
5
(
(
MPa
C
(
(
50C T
d
< 100C s if
SMYS
T
d
100C
( )
2.5
(
(
MPa
C
30MPa +
(
(
otherwise
:=
0 50 100 150 200
350
400
450
500
De-rated Steel Yield Stress
Temperature (C)
S
M
Y
S
(
M
P
a
)
SMYS T
op
( )
423 MPa =
E:\thesis\mathcad\Endexpnasion 10 of 10
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
A21|P a g e
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
A21|P a g e
APPENDIX A2
HOBBS CRITICAL BUCKLING FORCE
st
7850kg m
3
:=
SMYS 450MPa :=
E 2.07 10
5
MPa :=
1.17 10
5
C
1
:=
0.3 :=
inscoat
910kg m
3
:=
conc
2400.kg m
3
:=
E:\thesis\mathcad\Hobbs Analysis 1 of 10
Operating Parameters:
Sea Water Density
Max Content Density
Design Pressure
Operating Pressure
Hydrotest Pressure
water
1027kg m
3
:=
cont
900kg m
3
:=
P
d
15MPa :=
P
op
15MPa :=
P
hyd
0MPa :=
T
amb
5 C :=
Sea water Ambient Temperature
T
op
95 C :=
Operating Temperature
External Loads:
M
b
0kN m :=
Bending moment
Axial Force
N
a
0kN :=
Residual Lay Tension
Soil Properties:
Axial Friction Factor
Lateral Friction Factor
Safety Factors:
Usage Factor for Hoop stress
Usage Factor for Longitudinal stress
N
lay
0kN :=
axial
0.5 :=
lateral
0.8 :=
h
0.72 :=
L
0.8 :=
Parameter Calculations:
Internal Diameter
Effective Pipe Diameter
Cross-sectional Area of Steel Pipe
Cross-sectional Area of external coating
Cross-sectional Area of Concrete coating
Mass of Steel Pipe
Mass of External coating
Mass of concrete coating
Mass of Content
Mass of water Content
D
in
D
o
2 t
wall
:=
D
eff
D
o
2 t
ext.coat
t
conc
+
( )
+ :=
A
s
4
D
o
2
D
in
2
|
\
|
.
|
\
|
.
:=
A
ext
4
D
o
2 t
ext.coat
+
( )
2
D
o
2
:=
A
conc
4
D
o
2 t
ext.coat
+ 2 t
conc
+
( )
2
D
o
2 t
ext.coat
+
( )
2
:=
M
st
A
s
st
:=
M
ext.coat
A
ext
inscoat
:=
M
conc
A
conc
conc
:=
M
cont
4
D
in
2
cont
:=
M
water
4
D
in
2
water
:=
E:\thesis\mathcad\Hobbs Analysis 2 of 10
Mass in water (Bouyancy Mass)
Total Mass in air
M
bouyancy
4
D
eff
2
water
:=
M
air
M
st
M
conc
+ M
ext.coat
+ :=
Submerged Mass
Weight of Dry Pipe
Weight of Content
Weight of Submerged Pipe
Temperature Difference
Moment of Inertia of Steel Pipe
cross section
Sectional Modulus of Steel Pipe
M
submerged
M
air
M
bouyancy
:=
W
dry
M
air
g :=
W
cont
M
cont
g :=
W
submerged
M
cont
g M
ext.coat
g + M
st
g + M
conc
g + M
bouyancy
g :=
W
submerged
3.345
1
m
kN =
T T
op
T
amb
:=
I
s
D
o
4
D
in
4
|
\
|
.
64
:=
Z
s
I
s
D
o
2
:=
EFFECTIVE AXIAL FORCE CALCULATION
559 x 19.1mm PIPE OF 2km Pipe Length 1.
Kp
0
0m :=
n 6 := KP
step
100m := k 0 2000 .. :=
Kp
n 1
2000m :=
T
k
5C ( ) 90C ( ) e
0.0000911607 k
+ :=
x Kp
0
KP
step
, Kp
n 1
.. :=
x
k
k 1 m :=
Water depth
WD
800m
800m
|
\
|
|
.
:=
KPw
0km
2km
|
\
|
|
.
:=
WD k ( ) linterp KPw WD , x
k
, ( ) :=
P
o
k ( )
water
g WD k ( ) :=
External Pressure
Internal Pressure P
in
k ( ) P
op
cont
g WD k ( ) + :=
P k ( ) P
in
k ( ) P
o
k ( ) :=
Pressure Difference with KP
Thermal Force N
thermal
k ( ) E A
s
T
k
:=
E:\thesis\mathcad\Hobbs Analysis 3 of 10
Poisson Effect Force
N
poisson
k ( ) P k ( ) A
s
D
o
t
wall
( )
2t
wall
(
(
:=
End Cap Force N
Endcap
k ( )
4
P
in
k ( )
( )
D
in
2
P
o
k ( )
( )
D
o
2
:=
N
eff
k ( ) N
lay
N
Endcap
k ( ) N
poisson
k ( ) + N
thermal
k ( ) + :=
Effective Axial Force with KP
F
anchor
D
in
t
wall
E T
op
T
amb
( )
1 2 ( )
P
op
D
in
2
(
(
+ := F
anchor
8.09 MN =
Restraining Force: F
friction
axial
W
submerged
( )
1 m :=
W
submerged
3.345 10
3
1
m
N =
F
friction
1.673 10
3
N =
L
anchor
F
anchor
axial
W
submerged
( )
:= L
anchor
4.837 km =
Since the Restraining Force (Friction Force) cannot attain the Fully constraint Axial Force
(Anchoring Force), then pipeline is termed a Short Pipeline (fully mobilised)
Short Pipeline: Pipeline which will never develop the full constrain force
Effective Axial Force - Fully mobilized Pipeline
Maximum Friction Force at the mid-line:
F
MAXfriction
axial
W
submerged
W
cont
+
( )
L
2
:=
F
MAXfriction
2.613 10
6
N =
F
HOTfriction
k ( )
axial
W
submerged
W
cont
+
( )
x
k
1 ( ) :=
Friction Force with Length at the hot end:
Friction Force with Length at the cold
end:
F
COLDfriction
k ( )
axial
W
submerged
W
cont
+
( )
x
k
L ( ) :=
The Frictional Restrained Force along the Pipeline full
Length:
F
Restfriction
k ( ) if F
HOTfriction
k ( ) F
COLDfriction
k ( ) > F
HOTfriction
k ( ) , F
COLDfriction
k ( ) ,
( )
:=
N
effSHORT
k ( ) if N
eff
k ( ) F
Restfriction
k ( ) < F
Restfriction
k ( ) , N
eff
k ( ) ,
( )
:=
E:\thesis\mathcad\Hobbs Analysis 4 of 10
EFFECTIVE FORCE FOR A 559 x 19.1mm Pipe of 10km
Pipelength
n 6 := KP
Lstep
0.001km :=
L
longKpL
n 1
10km :=
i 0 n 1 .. :=
Kp
0
0m = j 0 1 , 10000 .. :=
x
i
Kp
0
KP
Lstep
, L
longKpL
n 1
.. := T
j
5C ( ) 90C ( ) e
0.0000492476 j
+ :=
x
j
j 1 m :=
Water depth
WDL
800m
800m
|
\
|
|
.
:=
nw 2 :=
iw 0 nw 1 .. :=
KPLw
0km
10km
|
\
|
|
.
:=
WDL j ( ) linterp KPLw WDL , x
j
, ( ) :=
N
critical
2.017 MN :=
P
oL
j ( )
water
g WDL j ( ) :=
External Pressure
Internal Pressure P
inL
j ( ) P
op
cont
g WDL j ( ) + :=
PL j ( ) P
inL
j ( ) P
oL
j ( ) :=
Pressure Difference with KP
Thermal Force N
thermalL
j
E A
s
T
j
:=
Poisson Effect Force
N
poissonL
j ( ) PL j ( ) A
s
D
o
t
wall
( )
2t
wall
(
(
:=
N
EndcapL
j ( )
4
P
inL
j ( )
( )
D
in
2
P
oL
j ( )
( )
D
o
2
:=
End Cap Force
Effective Axial Force with KP N
FULL
j ( ) N
lay
N
EndcapL
j ( ) N
poissonL
j ( ) + N
thermalL
j
+ :=
Friction Force with Length at the hot end: F
HOTfrictionL
j ( )
axial
W
submerged
W
cont
+
( )
x
j
1 ( ) :=
Friction Force with Length at the cold end:
F
COLDfrictionL
j ( )
axial
W
submerged
W
cont
+
( )
x
j
x
10000
( ) :=
E:\thesis\mathcad\Hobbs Analysis 5 of 10
The Frictional Restrained Force along the Pipeline full Length:
F
RestfrictionL
j ( ) if F
HOTfrictionL
j ( ) F
COLDfrictionL
j ( ) > F
HOTfrictionL
j ( ) , F
COLDfrictionL
j ( ) ,
( )
:=
N
EFF
j ( ) out N
FULL
j ( ) F
RestfrictionL
j ( ) N
FULL
j ( ) < if
F
RestfrictionL
j ( ) otherwise
:=
N
FULL
3028 ( ) 7.274 MN =
F
RestfrictionL
3028 ( ) 7.912 10
6
N =
N
FULL
7469 ( ) 6.079 MN = F
RestfrictionL
7469 ( ) 6.613 10
6
N =
VAP
1
3272m := VAP
2
7210m :=
BUCKLING PROGRAMMING
0 1 2 3
0
1
2
3
"Direction" "Minimum" "Median" "Maximum"
"Axial" 0.3 0.45 0.5
"Static Lateral" 0.6 0.7 0.8
ynamic Lateral" 0.43 0.85 1.28
:=
REF
2
HOBBS LATERAL BUCKLING ANALYSIS
Inserting the Constants for lateral Buckling modes
K
0 1 2 3 4 5
0
1
2
3
4
5
"Mode" "K1" "K2" "K3" "K4" "K5"
1 80.76
-5
6.39110 0.5
-3
2.40710
-2
6.93810
2 39.478
-4
1.74310 1
-3
5.53210 0.109
3 34.06
-4
1.66810 1.294
-2
1.03210 0.143
4 28.2
-4
2.14410 1.608
-3
1.04710 0.148
"infinity" 39.478
-5
4.70510
-5
4.70510
-3
4.49510
-2
5.06610
:=
REF
1
E:\thesis\mathcad\Hobbs Analysis 6 of 10
Case 1: Infinite mode Lateral buckling with lateral friction of = 0.8
Lateral Friction
Ref 1, Equat. 22
Buckle Wave Length L
buckle
2.7969 10
5
E I
s
( )
3
2 3 ,
W
submerged
( )
2
A
s
E
(
(
(
0.125
:=
L
buckle
55 m =
L
buckle
0.5 28m = L
buckle
1.5 83m =
n
x
0.5 := m
x
2.5 :=
Accordning Hobbs recommendation the Buckle wave length will be manipulated within a range of 20
values between 0.5 of buckle wave length to 1.5 of the wavelength
L
bw
n
x
L
buckle
m
x
L
buckle
n
x
L
buckle
( )
20
(
(
n
x
L
buckle
+
(
(
, m
x
L
buckle
.. :=
Ref 1, Equat. 20
P
buckle
L
bw
( )
K
5 1 ,
E I
s
L
bw
2
:=
Reduced Axial Force within Buckle
Axial force due to Thermal expansion Ref 1, Equat. 21
P
o_infinity
L
bw
( )
P
buckle
L
bw
( )
4.705 10
5
A
s
E
2 3 ,
W
submerged
E I
s
\
|
|
.
2
L
bw
6
+ :=
The Buckle Amplitude
y
max
L
bw
( )
K
5 4 ,
2 3 ,
W
submerged
E I
s
L
bw
4
:=
Case 2: All Buckling modes of mode 1 - 4
Mode 1
The Reduced force within the Buckle in mode 1: P
bucklemode1
L
bw
( )
K
1 1 ,
E I
s
L
bw
2
:=
The Axial Force for mode:
P
omode1
L
bw
( )
P
bucklemode1
L
bw
( )
K
1 3 ,
2 3 ,
W
submerged
L
bw
1 K
1 2 ,
A
s
E
2 3 ,
( ) W
submerged
L
bw
5
E I
s
( )
2
+
(
(
(
0.5
1.0
(
(
(
(
+
... :=
E:\thesis\mathcad\Hobbs Analysis 7 of 10
The Buckle Amplitude
y
maxmode1
L
bw
( )
K
1 4 ,
2 3 ,
W
submerged
E I
s
L
bw
4
:=
Mode 2
The Reduced force within the Buckle in mode 2:
P
bucklemode2
L
bw
( )
K
2 1 ,
E I
s
L
bw
2
:=
The Axial Force for mode:
P
omode2
L
bw
( )
P
bucklemode2
L
bw
( )
K
2 3 ,
2 3 ,
W
submerged
L
bw
1 K
2 2 ,
A
s
E
2 3 ,
( ) W
submerged
L
bw
5
E I
s
( )
2
+
(
(
(
0.5
1.0
(
(
(
(
+
... :=
The Buckle Amplitude
y
maxmode2
L
bucklewave
( )
K
2 4 ,
2 3 ,
W
submerged
E I
s
L
bucklewave
4
:=
Mode 3
The Reduced force within the Buckle in mode 3:
P
bucklemode3
L
bw
( )
K
3 1 ,
E I
s
L
bw
2
:=
P
omode3
L
bw
( )
P
bucklemode3
L
bw
( )
K
3 3 ,
2 3 ,
W
submerged
L
bw
1 K
3 2 ,
A
s
E
2 3 ,
( ) W
submerged
L
bw
5
E I
s
( )
2
+
(
(
(
0.5
1.0
(
(
(
(
+
... :=
y
maxmode3
L
bw
( )
K
3 4 ,
2 3 ,
W
submerged
E I
s
L
bw
4
:=
Mode 4
The Reduced force within the Buckle in mode 4:
P
bucklemode4
L
bw
( )
K
4 1 ,
E I
s
L
bw
2
:=
P
omode4
L
bw
( )
P
bucklemode4
L
bw
( )
K
4 3 ,
2 3 ,
W
submerged
L
bw
1 K
4 2 ,
A
s
E
2 3 ,
( ) W
submerged
L
bw
5
E I
s
( )
2
+
(
(
(
0.5
1.0
(
(
(
(
+
... :=
y
maxmode4
L
bw
( )
K
3 4 ,
2 3 ,
W
submerged
E I
s
L
bw
4
:=
E:\thesis\mathcad\Hobbs Analysis 8 of 10
50 100 150
2000000
4000000
6000000
mode 1
mode infinity
mode 2
mode 3
mode 4
Hobbs Lateral Buckling for 19.10mm WT Pipe
Buckle Wave Length (m)
A
x
i
a
l
F
o
r
c
e
(
N
)
min_mode_1 3.605MN :=
min_mode_2 3.48MN :=
min_mode_3 3.417MN := min_mode_4 3.4107MN :=
min_mode_infy 4.238MN :=
MinCritivcalBuckleForce min min_mode_1 min_mode_2 , min_mode_3 , min_mode_4 , min_mode_infy , ( ) :=
MinCritivcalBuckleForce 3.411 MN =
Therefore the minimum force for which a buckle can exist in a straight line is given by
the Hobbs Force:
N
Hobbs
MinCritivcalBuckleForce :=
N
Hobbs
3.411 MN =
Based on SAFEBUCK GUIDELINE: A pipeline is is not susceptible to buckling if the inequality
below can be established
N
max
N
critical
s
..........................................................REF 2
max.axial
1 3 ,
:=
E:\thesis\mathcad\Hobbs Analysis 9 of 10
N
fmax
max.axial
W
submerged
L
2
:=
N
FULL
F
anchor
:=
For short Pipeline, the maximum for in the system: N
maxshort
min N
FULL
N
fmax
,
( )
:=
For Long Pipeline, the maximum for in the system is the fully constrain force : N
maxlong
N
FULL
:=
Considering only the Long Pipeline of KP 10
N
max
N
maxlong
:= N
max
8.09 MN =
Given the critical buckling force associated with Pipeline out of straightness (OOS) as:
minlateral
2 1 ,
:=
Minimum Radius of Curvature of Nominally Straight Pipe: R 1000m :=
N
OOS
minlateral
W
submerged
R :=
The critical buckling force is defined according to SAFEBUCK GUIDELINE as:
N
critical
min N
OOS
N
Hobbs
,
( )
:= N
critical
2.007 MN =
N
max
8.09 MN =
Since
N
max
N
critical
>
The Long Pipeline of 559 X 19.1mm is Susceptible to Lateral Buckling
For the Short Pipeline of 2km Length:
N
maxshort
1.673 MN = N
critical
2.007 MN =
N
maxshort
N
critical
s
Hence, the short Pipeline is not Susceptible to Lateral Buckling
E:\thesis\mathcad\Hobbs Analysis 10 of 10
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
A31|P a g e
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
A31|P a g e
APPENDIX A3
PIPELINE WALKING
Pipeline Walking
SUSCEPTIBILITY TO PIPELINE WALKING
References:
Description :
The Mathcad analysis worksheet presented in this report is used for Pipeline end expansion calculation of a rigid
pipeline under thermal and pressure loading. The purpose is to deduce the maximum expansion that an end
connection can take during maximum loading. The Calculations are based on Subsea 7 Pipeline expansion
guideline: CEO1PD-P-GU-126 and DNV-OS-F101
Assumtions:
Linear thermal profile with constant gradient throughout the heat-up
Pressure is assumed to be zero
References:
Hobbs, R. E., 'In Service Buckling of heated pipelines', Journal of Transport Engineering, Vol 110, No. 2, March 1984
Carr, M., Bruton, D., & Baxter, D., 'Safe Design of Pipeline with Lateral Buckling', SAFEBUCK III, DESIGN GUIDELINE.
July, 2011
Units: MPa 1N mm
2
g 9.81m s
2
MN 1 10
6
N
Pipeline Data:
D
o
559mm :=
Pipeline Outside Diamter
Wall Thickness
t
wall
19.1mm :=
t
ext.coat
5mm :=
External Coating Thickness
Concrete Coating Thickness
Length of Pipeline
Material Properties:
Pipeline:
Pipe Steel Density
SMYS Steel Pipe
Steel young's Modulus
Steel Pipe Thermal Expansion Coefficient
Steel Poisson Ratio
Insulation or Coating:
Insulation or Coating Density
Concrete Coating Density
Operating Parameters:
Sea Water Density
Max Content Density
Design Pressure
Operating Pressure
Hydrotest Pressure
t
conc
55mm :=
L 2000m :=
st
7850kgm
3
:=
SMYS 450MPa :=
E 2.0710
5
MPa :=
1.1710
5
C
1
:=
0.3 :=
inscoat
910kgm
3
:=
conc
2400.kgm
3
:=
water
1027kgm
3
:=
cont
900kgm
3
:=
P
d
15MPa :=
P
op
15MPa :=
P
hyd
0MPa :=
Pipeline_Walking.xmcdC:\Users\SS7N1342\Desktop\THESIS backup\MATHCAD\ 1 of 5
T
amb
5 C :=
Sea water Ambient Temperature
T
op
95C :=
Operating Temperature
Residual Lay Tension N
lay
0kN :=
Soil Properties:
Axial Friction Factor
Lateral Friction Factor
axial
0.5 :=
lateral
0.8 :=
Parameter Calculations:
Internal Diameter
Effective Pipe Diameter
Cross-sectional Area of Steel Pipe
Cross-sectional Area of external coating
Cross-sectional Area of Concrete coating
Mass of Steel Pipe
Mass of External coating
Mass of concrete coating
Mass of Content
Mass of water Content
Mass in water (Bouyancy Mass)
Total Mass in air
D
in
D
o
2 t
wall
:=
D
eff
D
o
2 t
ext.coat
t
conc
+
( )
+ :=
A
s
4
D
o
2
D
in
2
|
\
|
.
|
\
|
.
:=
A
ext
4
D
o
2 t
ext.coat
+
( )
2
D
o
2
:=
A
conc
4
D
o
2 t
ext.coat
+ 2 t
conc
+
( )
2
D
o
2 t
ext.coat
+
( )
2
:=
M
st
A
s
st
:=
M
ext.coat
A
ext
inscoat
:=
M
conc
A
conc
conc
:=
M
cont
4
D
in
2
cont
:=
M
water
4
D
in
2
water
:=
M
bouyancy
4
D
eff
2
water
:=
M
air
M
st
M
conc
+ M
ext.coat
+ :=
Submerged Mass
Weight of Dry Pipe
Weight of Content
Weight of Submerged Pipe
Temperature Difference
M
submerged
M
air
M
bouyancy
:=
W
dry
M
air
g :=
W
cont
M
cont
g :=
W
submerged
M
cont
g M
ext.coat
g + M
st
g + M
conc
g + M
bouyancy
g :=
W
submerged
3.345
1
m
kN =
T T
op
T
amb
:=
Effective Area
A
eff
4
D
eff
( )
2
:=
Pipeline_Walking.xmcdC:\Users\SS7N1342\Desktop\THESIS backup\MATHCAD\ 2 of 5
SUSCEPTIBILITY TO PIPELINE WALKING
Thermal Transient
Using SAFEBUCK guideline, the pipeline is not susceptible to walking if the axial friction force exceeds the
following value:-
f
E A
eff
T
( )
L
> .........................................................................................................................REF 2
f = Axial Friction force
The constant = Parameter for walking due to thermal transient equation
The parameter can be obtained from the relation below:
2
3
8
2
6 +
q
L
T
+ 0 =
If the system is susceptible, the walking displacement per cycle can be estimated from the relations below:
f L
2
8 E A
s
=
|
\
|
|
|
.
.............................................................................................. whenf
f
6
s
L
2
16E A
s
24f
f f
4 f
( )
=
(
(
(
.............................................................................................. whenf
f
6
>
The axial friction due to the temperature gradient
f
E A
s
q
=
q
\
|
|
.
=
According to SAFEBUCK guideline, the maximum level of walking occurs when:
f
3
8
f
= .............................................................................................. REF....2
Susceptibility Check
i 1 3 .. :=
q
35
20
|
\
|
|
.
C
km
:=
Given
q
35
C
km
:=
We can obtain the corresponding parameter as follows:
2
3
8
2
6 +
q
1
L
T
+ 0 =
q
0
L
T
0.778 = y
q
0
L
T
:=
k
y
6
8
2
|
\
|
|
|
|
|
.
:= polyroots k ( ) :=
0.112
1.181
2.931
|
\
|
|
|
.
=
E A
eff
T
( )
L
4.433
46.608
115.68
|
\
|
|
|
.
1
m
kN =
Pipeline_Walking.xmcdC:\Users\SS7N1342\Desktop\THESIS backup\MATHCAD\ 3 of 5
f
axial
W
submerged
:=
f 1.673
1
m
kN =
Using SAFEBUCK guideline, the pipeline is not susceptible to walking if the axial friction force exceeds the
following value:-
f
E A
s
T
( )
L
>
Hence, the 2km flowline will be susceptible to walking with an axial friction coefficient of 0.5
We can also see that the length of the pipeline has a strong factor in determining the susceptibility of pipeline.
The axial friction due to the temperature gradient
f
E A
s
q
=
f
E A
s
q := f
2.746
1.569
|
\
|
|
.
1
m
kN =
f
6
0.458
0.262
|
\
|
|
.
1
m
kN =
f 1.673
1
m
kN =
Since
f
f
6
>
The walking displacement per cycle can be estimated from the relations below:
L
2
16E A
s
24f
f f
4 f
( )
:=
A
s
0.032m
2
=
The walking displacement per cycle can for different thermal gradient considered are as
follows:
q
35
20
|
\
|
|
.
C
km
=
39.623
12.032
|
\
|
|
.
mm =
Pipeline_Walking.xmcdC:\Users\SS7N1342\Desktop\THESIS backup\MATHCAD\ 4 of 5
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
A41|P a g e
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
A41|P a g e
APPENDIX A4
LOCAL BUCKLING CHECK
DNV-OS-F101
DNV-OS-F101 and DNV-RP-F110 Structural checks of pipeline
1 - Input
Design moment
M
sd
0.15kN m :=
Design effective axial force
S
sd
15 kN :=
Internal pressure
p
ip
345bar :=
External pressure
p
ep
0bar :=
Minimum internal pressure
p
min
0bar :=
Yield strength
R
t05
450MPa :=
Tensile strength
R
m
535MPa :=
Strain at yield strength point
rt05
0.005 :=
Strain at tensile strength limit
rm
0.180 :=
Outer diameter of pipe
D 559mm :=
Wall thickness of pipe
t
w
19.1mm :=
Corrosion allowance
t
corr
5mm :=
Specified minimum yield strength
SMYS 450.0MPa :=
at 100degC derarting
Specified minimum tensile strength
SMTS 700.0MPa :=
at 100degC derarting
Young's modulus
E 207000MPa :=
Functional load factor
f
1.1 :=
Safety class resistance factors
sc
1.14 :=
Seabed condition factor
c
0.9 :=
Pressure load factor (OS-F101 - 2000)
pr
1.05 :=
Material resistance factor
m
1.15 :=
Material reduction factor
u
0.96 :=
Resistance strain factor
e
2.5 :=
Axial strain resistance factor
ax
3.5 :=
Concrete strain intention factor
cc
1.25 :=
2 - Load controlled combined buckling check in accordance with
DNV-OS-F101 - 2007
Design wall thickness
t t
w
t
corr
14.1mm = :=
Design internal pressure
p
i
p
ip
345 bar = :=
p
e
p
ep
0 bar = :=
cloadcheck "The combined loading buckling criterion is applicable"
D
t
45 s p
ip
p
ep
> . if
"The combined loading buckling criterion is not applicable" otherwise
:=
cloadcheck "The combined loading buckling criterion is applicable" =
C:\Users\SS7N1342\Desktop\THESIS 1 of 4
Design yield stress:
f
y
SMYS
u
432 MPa = :=
Design tensile stress:
f
u
SMTS
u
672 MPa = :=
The pressure containment resistance
f
cb
min f
y
f
u
1.15
,
|
\
|
|
.
432 MPa = :=
p
b
2 t
D t
f
cb
2
3
25.8 MPa = :=
Plastic capacities for a pipe
S
p
f
y
D t ( ) t 10427.2 kN = :=
M
p
f
y
D t ( )
2
t 1808.6kN m = :=
Normalised moment
M
sdn
M
sd
f
c
M
p
0.0001 = :=
Normalised effective force
S
dn
S
sd
f
c
S
p
0.0014 = :=
Normalised pressure
q
h
p
i
p
b
2
3
1.157 = :=
0.5
D
t
15 < if
60
D
t
90
15
D
t
s 60 s if
0
D
t
60 > if
0.23 = :=
p
1
p
i
p
e
p
b
2
3
< if
1 3 1
p
i
p
e
p
b
\
|
|
.
p
i
p
e
p
b
2
3
> if
1.228 = :=
c
1 ( )
f
u
f
y
+ 1.126 = :=
C:\Users\SS7N1342\Desktop\THESIS 2 of 4
Utilisation in accordance with DNV-OS-F101 - 2007
UF1
m
sc
M
sd
f
c
c
M
p
sc
f
c
S
sd
c
S
p
\
|
|
.
2
+
(
(
(
p
p
i
p
e
c
p
b
\
|
|
.
2
+ 2.126 = :=
UF2
m
sc
M
sdn
sc
S
dn
c
|
\
|
|
.
2
+
(
(
(
p
p
i
p
e
c
p
b
\
|
|
.
2
+ 2.126 = :=
Maximum allowable moment:
M
bsmax
c
sc
1
p
p
i
p
e
c
p
b
\
|
|
.
2
m
sc
S
dn
2
(
(
(
M
p
f
c
0 1664.7i + ( ) kN m = :=
2 - Displacement controlled combined buckling check in accordance
with DNV-OS-F101
cloaddischeck "The displ. contr. buckling criterion is applicable"
D
t
45 s p
ip
p
ep
> . if
"The displ. contr. buckling criterion is not applicable" otherwise
:=
cloaddischeck "The displ. contr. buckling criterion is applicable" =
Yield strength / tensile strength ratio:
h
R
t05
R
m
0.841 = :=
Girth weld factor:
gw
1
D
t
20 s if
1
D
t
20
|
\
|
|
.
0.01 20
D
t
< 60 < if
0.6 otherwise
0.804 = :=
Design compressive strain - pi >pe:
c
0.78
t
D
0.01
|
\
|
|
.
1 5.75
p
min
p
e
p
b
+
|
\
|
|
.
h
1.5
gw
0.0124 = :=
sd
c
cc
0.004 = :=
C:\Users\SS7N1342\Desktop\THESIS 3 of 4
3 - Axial strain limit - DNV-RP-F110
Ramberg-Osgood hardening parameter:
n
ro
log
rm
R
m
E
rt05
R
t05
E
\
|
|
|
|
|
.
log
R
m
R
t05
|
\
|
|
.
23.926 = :=
Compressive axial strain limit:
cr
4
3
1
n
ro
t
D
0.007 = :=
d
cr
ax
0.002 = :=
4 - Ratcheting criterion in accordance with Klever et. al.
Hoop stress (Barlow's formula):
h
p
i
p
e
( )
D
2 t
683.9 MPa = :=
Ratcheting design factor:
f
3
0.7 :=
Limit strain wrt. ratcheting:
m
ra
h
SMYS
1.52 = :=
rl
SMYS 1 0.75m
ra
2
f
3
2
0.75 m
ra
2
+
|
\
|
.
E
0.00428i = :=
C:\Users\SS7N1342\Desktop\THESIS 4 of 4
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
A41|P a g e
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
B1|P a g e
APPENDIX B: ANSYS SCRIPT
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
B21|P a g e
APPENDIX B1
LATERAL BUCKLING ANSYS SCRIPT
Lateral_buckling_model.txt
!##########################################################################################################
!# #
!# Title : Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline #
!# #
!# Company : Subsea 7 Norway #
!# Date : March 2013 #
!# Originator: Ifenna Obele #
!# Master Student in Offshore Tech. University of Stavanger, Norway #
!##########################################################################################################
! #
!Filename: Lateral_Buckling_model #
!Description: The response analysis of lateral buckling on HT/HP subsea pipeline #
!triggered by horizontal out-of-straightness on a flat seabed. #
!##########################################################################################################
*SET,model_id,'Lateral_Buckling_model'
/TITLE,%model_id%
/FILNAM,%model_id%
/ESHAPE,1 !Display elements as solids
/TRIAD,rbot !Display XYZ triad in right bottom corner
/PSYMB,NDIR,1 !Display nodal coord. system if other than global
/UNITS,MKS !MKS system (m, kg, s, deg C).
!###########################################################################################################
!Defining parameters
!Units are [m] [N] [KG] [S] [deg]
!###########################################################################################################
pi=4*ATAN(1.0) !Pi
g=9.81 !Gravitational Acceleration (ms^-2)
WD=200 !Water Depth (m)
RADc=100 !RAdius of Curvature in a normally straight pipe
igap=0 !Initial gap between pipeline and seabed
bgap=0 !Gap between pipe to the peakseabed profile
/PREP7 !Enter model creation preprocessor
!ANTYPE,0,NEW !0=STATIC
ACEL,,g !Define gravity
ET,1,PIPE288 !Pipe elements
SECTYPE,1,PIPE !Define pipe Section type
SECDATA,559E-3,19.1E-3 !Define Pipe Section:Outer Dia. and Wall Thickness [M]
ET,2,TARGE170 !Seabed element
ET,3,CONTA175 !Contact elements
!###########################################################################################################
!Defining PIPELINE DATA
!###########################################################################################################
Page 1
Lateral_buckling_model.txt
!#PHYSICAL DATA
OD=559E-3 !Pipe Outer Diameter (m)
twall=19.1E-3 !Pipe Wall Thickness (m)
Din=OD-2*twall !Pipe Internal Diameter (m)
L=2000 !Pipe Model Length (m)
!
t_ext=5E-3 !External Coating Thickness (m)
t_conc=55E-3 !Concrete Coating Thickness (m)
!#OPERATIONAL DATA
D_w=1027 !WaterDensity (kgm^-3)
D_cont=900 !Content Density (kgm^-3)
D_st=7850 !Pipe steel Density (kgm^-3)
P_des=15E6 !Design Pressure (Nm^-2)
P_op=15E6 !Operational Pressure (Nm^-2)
P_hyd=0E6 !Hydrotest Pressure
T_amb=5 !Ambient Temperature
T_op=95 !Operating Temperature
!N_Ray=0 !Residual Lay Tension
!#MATERIAL PROPERTIES
MPTEMP,1,0,95 ! Define temperatures for Young's modulus
MP,EX,1,207E9 !Young's Modulus (Nm^-2)
MP,ALPX,1,1.17E-5 !Thermal expansion Coefficient (1/deg)
MP,PRXY,1,0.3 !Poisson Ratio
!MP,DENS,1,D_st
D_ext=910 !Insulation or Coating Density (kgm^-3)
D_conc=2400 !Concrete coating density (kgm^-3)
!------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
! SEABED DATA
!------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
!DEFINE SEABED SOIL FRICTION
FRICLAX=0.5 ! Soil friction coefficient in axial direction
FRICLLAT=0.8 ! Soil friction coefficient in lateral direction
TB,FRIC,2,,,ORTHO ! Define orthotropic soil friction
TBDATA,1,FRICLAX,FRICLLAT
!############################################################################################################
!**RELEVANT CONNECTING EQUATION
!############################################################################################################
D_eff=OD+2*(t_ext+t_conc) ! Effective Pipe Diameter (m)
Ast=pi*(OD**2-Din**2)/4 ! Cross-sectional Area of Pipe Steel (m^2)
Page 2
Lateral_buckling_model.txt
Ast_ext=pi*((OD+2*t_ext)**2-OD**2)/4 ! Cross-sectional Area of External Coating (m^2)
Ast_conc=pi*((OD+2*t_ext+2*t_conc)**2-(OD+2*t_ext)**2)/4! Cross-sectional Area of Concrete Coating (m^2)
M_st=Ast*D_st ! Pipe Steel Mass (Kg/m)
M_ext=Ast_ext*D_ext ! External Coating Mass (Kg/m)
M_conc=Ast_conc*D_conc ! Concrete Coating Mass (Kg/m)
M_cont=pi*(Din**2)*D_cont/4 ! Content Mass (Kg/m)
M_water=pi*(Din**2)*D_w/4 ! Water Mass (Kg/m)
M_bouy=pi*(D_eff**2)*D_w/4 ! Buoyancy Mass (Kg/m)
M_air=M_st+M_ext+M_conc ! Pipeline Total Mass (Kg/m) (weight on air)
M_sub=M_air-M_bouy ! Submerged Mass (Kg/m) (weight in water)
W_cont=M_cont*g ! Content Weight (N/m)
W_water=M_water*g ! Flooded Weight (N/m)
W_sub=M_sub*g ! Empty Pipe Submerged Weight (N/m)
DEN_equiv=M_sub/Ast ! Submerged pipe Equivalent Density (kg/m^3)
D_insul=((t_ext*D_ext)+(t_conc*D_conc))/(t_ext+t_conc) ! Insulation Eqv. Density (Corr. & Concr. Coat.)
(N/m)
t_insul=t_ext+t_conc ! Insulation thickness (Corr. & Concr. Coat.) (m)
A_insul=Ast_ext+Ast_conc ! Insulation Area (Corrosion coat.& Concrete
Coat.)(m^2)
!############################################################################################################
!**UPDATE WEIGHT ON PIPELINE !EQUIVALENT DENSITY APPLIED TO SUBMERGED WEIGHT
!############################################################################################################
MP,DENS,1,DEN_equiv ! Pipe Material density (Kg/m^3)
SECCONTROLS,M_cont ! overrides default section properties.added mass: Content(kg/m)
!############################################################################################################
!**STRESS-STRAIN CURVE** STRAIN HARDENING
!############################################################################################################
TB,KINH,1,2,4 !Activates a data table for nonlinear material properties
!KINH Multilinear kinematic hardening using von Mises or Hill plasticity.
TBTEMP,20.0 !Temperature = 20 deg
TBPT,,0.0,0.0 !Strain=0.00,Stress=0.00
TBPT,,0.002174,450E6 !Elastic: Strain = 0.0217%, Stress = 450E6 (Nm^-2)
TBPT,,0.020,450E6 !Yield Strain: strain = 2.0%, stress = 450E6 (Nm^-2)
TBPT,,0.060,535E6 !Plastic strain: strain = 6.0%, stress = 535E6 (Nm^-2)
TBTEMP,100.0 !Temperature = 100 deg for material data
TBPT,,0.0,0.0 !Strain=0.00,Stress=0.00
TBPT,,0.00203,420E6 !Elastic: Strain = 0.0203%, Stress = 420E6 (Nm^-2)
TBPT,,0.020,420E6 !Yield Strain: strain = 2.0%, stress = 420E6 (Nm^-2)
TBPT,,0.060,505E6 !Plastic strain: strain = 6.0%, stress = 535E6 (Nm^-2)
TBLIST,KINH,1 !Lists the material data tables.
/XRANGE,0,0.01 !Specifies a linear abscissa (X) scale range of TBPLOT
Page 3
Lateral_buckling_model.txt
TBPLOT,KINH,1 !Displays the Data table
!###########################################################################################################
!**ELEMENT REAL CONSTANT
!###########################################################################################################
!# FOR PIPELINE !
!###############!
KEYOPT,1,1,0 ! Temperature Through wall gradient
!KEYOPT,1,3,0 ! linear shape functions
KEYOPT,1,4,1 ! Thin Pipe Theory
KEYOPT,1,6,0 ! Internal and External pressure cause loads on end caps
KEYOPT,1,7,0 ! Output control for section forces/moments and strains/curvatures
KEYOPT,1,8,0 ! Output control at integration points (1=Maximum and minimum
stresses/strains)
KEYOPT,1,9,2 ! Maximum and minimum stresses/strains + plus stresses and strains
at each section node
KEYOPT,1,15,0 ! One result for each section integration point
!################
!# SEABED !
!################
!R,22,,,1,0.2 ! Define Normal Contact Stiffness Factor and Penetration Tolerance
Factor
! (use ANSYS default)
KEYOPT,3,10,2 ! Set option 10 (Contact Stiffnes Update) for element type 3 to 2
(Each substep based on mean
! stress of underlying elements from the previous substep (pair
based))
! Update stiffness automaticly based on maximum penetration
heatstep3n.mac
NSUBST,15
allsel
solve
save
!/EOF
!---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------
TIME,4
/stitle,1,Heatstep 4
heatstep4n.mac
Page 6
Pipeline_walking_model.txt
NSUBST,15
allsel
solve
save
!/EOF
!---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------
TIME,5
/stitle,1,Heatstep 5
heatstep5n.mac
NSUBST,15
allsel
solve
save
!/EOF
!---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------
TIME,6
/stitle,1,Heatstep 6
heatstep6n.mac
NSUBST,15
allsel
solve
save
!/EOF
!---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------
TIME,7
/stitle,1,Heatstep 7
heatstep7n.mac
NSUBST,15
allsel
solve
save
!/EOF
!---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------
TIME,8
/stitle,1,Heatstep 8
heatstep8n.mac
NSUBST,15
allsel
solve
Page 7
Pipeline_walking_model.txt
save
!/EOF
!---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------
TIME,9
/stitle,1,Heatstep 9
heatstep9n.mac
NSUBST,15
allsel
solve
save
!/EOF
!---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------
TIME,10
/stitle,1,Heatstep 10
heatstep10n.mac
NSUBST,15
allsel
solve
save
!/EOF
!---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------
TIME,11
/stitle,1,Heatstep 11
heatstep11n.mac
NSUBST,15
allsel
solve
save
!/EOF
!---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
TIME,12
/stitle,1,Heatstep 12
heatstep12n.mac
NSUBST,15
allsel
solve
save
!/EOF
!---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
Page 8
Pipeline_walking_model.txt
TIME,13
/stitle,1,Heatstep 13
heatstep13n.mac
NSUBST,15
allsel
solve
save
!/EOF
!---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
TIME,14
/stitle,1,Heatstep 14
heatstep14n.mac
NSUBST,15
allsel
solve
save
!/EOF
!---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
TIME,15
/stitle,1,Heatstep 15
heatstep15n.mac
NSUBST,15
allsel
solve
save
!/EOF
!---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
TIME,16
/stitle,1,Heatstep 16
heatstep16n.mac
NSUBST,15
allsel
solve
save
!/EOF
!---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TIME,17
/stitle,1,Finalheatstep
finalheatstepn.mac
NSUBST,15
allsel
Page 9
Pipeline_walking_model.txt
solve
save
!/EOF
!---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TIME,18
/stitle,1,First cycle -cooldown
bf,pipenodes,temp,20
NSUBST,15
allsel
solve
save
!/EOF
! !Second Cycle
!#################################################################################################################################
TIME,19
/stitle,1,Heatstep 2
heatstep2n.mac
NSUBST,15
allsel
solve
save
!/EOF
!--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TIME,20
/stitle,1,Heatstep 3
heatstep3n.mac
NSUBST,15
allsel
solve
save
!/EOF
!---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TIME,21
/stitle,1,Heatstep 4
heatstep4n.mac
NSUBST,15
allsel
solve
save
!/EOF
!--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 10
Pipeline_walking_model.txt
TIME,22
/stitle,1,Heatstep 5
heatstep5n.mac
NSUBST,15
allsel
solve
save
!/EOF
!---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TIME,23
/stitle,1,Heatstep 6
heatstep6n.mac
NSUBST,15
allsel
solve
save
!/EOF
!------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TIME,24
/stitle,1,Heatstep 7
heatstep7n.mac
NSUBST,15
allsel
solve
save
!/EOF
!---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TIME,25
/stitle,1,Heatstep 8
heatstep8n.mac
NSUBST,15
allsel
solve
save
!/EOF
!-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TIME,26
/stitle,1,Heatstep 9
heatstep9n.mac
NSUBST,15
allsel
solve
save
Page 11
Pipeline_walking_model.txt
!/EOF
!---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TIME,27
/stitle,1,Heatstep 10
heatstep10n.mac
NSUBST,15
allsel
solve
save
!/EOF
!------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TIME,28
/stitle,1,Heatstep 11
heatstep11n.mac
NSUBST,15
allsel
solve
save
!/EOF
!-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TIME,29
/stitle,1,Heatstep 12
heatstep12n.mac
NSUBST,15
allsel
solve
save
!/EOF
!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TIME,30
/stitle,1,Heatstep 13
heatstep13n.mac
NSUBST,15
allsel
solve
save
!/EOF
!------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TIME,31
/stitle,1,Heatstep 14
heatstep14n.mac
NSUBST,15
Page 12
Pipeline_walking_model.txt
allsel
solve
save
!/EOF
!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TIME,32
/stitle,1,Heatstep 15
heatstep15n.mac
NSUBST,15
allsel
solve
save
!/EOF
!------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TIME,33
/stitle,1,Heatstep 16
heatstep16n.mac
NSUBST,15
allsel
solve
save
!/EOF
!-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TIME,34
/stitle,1,Finalheatstep
finalheatstepn.mac
NSUBST,15
allsel
solve
save
!/EOF
!-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TIME,35
/stitle,1,First cycle -cooldown
bf,pipenodes,temp,20
NSUBST,15
allsel
solve
save
!/EOF
!------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 13
Master Thesis: Lateral Buckling and Axial Walking of Surface Laid Subsea Pipeline
B31|P a g e