This paper was presented at the 22nd Annual OTC in Houston, Texas, May 7-10, 1990.
This paper was selected for presentation by the OTC Program Committee following review of information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents of the paper,
as presented, have not been reviewed by the Offshore Technology Conference and are subject to correction by the author(s). The material, as presented, does not necessaril'y reflect
any position of the Offshore Technology Conference or its officers. Permission to copy is restricted to an abstract of not more than 300 words. Illustrations may not be copied. The
abstract should contain conspicuous acknowledgment of where and by whom the paper is presented.
551
2 DESIGN OF SUBMARINE PIPELINES AGAINST UPHEAVAL BUCKLING OTC 6335
552
OTC 6335 PALMER, ELLINAS, RICHARDS, GUIJT 3
~L' The resulting plot is universal, and a design formula for the required download
forms a valuable summary, which can include for stability in the operating condition:
both the results of numerical calculations
and then observations from full-scale field
experience and tests. w [1.16 - 4.76 (EIwo/cS )~/P]P( cSwo/EI)l.:;
... (12)
All points that represent a single
imperfection shape will lie on a single where
curve on a ~w against ~L plot. Points that
represent different imperfection shapes Wo is the installation submerged weight;
will lie on different curves, and the EI is the flexural rigidity;
variability between curves will reflect the cS is the imperfection height;
effect of imperfection shape (the hardest P is the effective axial force in
parameter to determine reliably in operation.
practice). The form of equation 5 suggests
that the functional relationship between ~w This equation is used to derive the
and ~L is required value for download for preliminary
design. Preliminary design calculations
apply a spreadsheet, which compares the
~w C~L-4 + d~L-2 ••••••••••••••••• ( 8) required download determined from equation
(12) with the actual load that can be
mobilised, the sum of the pipeline's
where c and d are constants to be submerged weight and the uplift resistance
determined numerically. This is done by of the cover. The research carried out
plotting ~w~L 2 against ~L-2, in Figure 2, on into uplift resistance in the course of
which the points represent the results of this research programme is discussed in
numerical calculations with the UP BUCK detail in a separate paper2. In brief, the
program described below. The rightmost model recommended for design of buried
group of points represents imperfection pipelines is
profiles whose shape is an upheaval
foundation, that is, a foundation in the
shape of a pipeline supported by axial for cohesionless sand, silt and rock
force in a post-upheaval mode. The
remaining points correspond to "prop" q = HD(l + fH/D) ............... (13)
imperfection profiles, whose shape is that
taken up by a pipeline laid across a single
isolated hill in a horizontal profile. The for cohesive clay and silt cover
final relationship turns out to be
bilinear, with one pair of values c and d q cD min[3,H/D] .............. (14)
corresponding to small values of ~L and a
second pair to large values. where
An additional condition occurs when the q is the uplift resistance per unit
profile includes a very short imperfection, length of pipe;
so that the pipeline is only in contact H is the cover depth (from the top of
with the crest of the imperfection. The the pipe to the surface);
length ~L is then immaterial, and this D is the outside diameter of the pipe;
condition forms a cut-off for short is the submerged unit weight of the
imperfections. cover material;
c is the shear strength; and
The results are combined in Figure 3, a f is an uplift coefficient, determined
universal curve which can be used directly experimentally and taken as 0.5 for
for design. The three conditions that dense materials and 0.1 for loose
together give the design download required materials.
for stability are:
UP BUCK makes it possible for the user to A separate calculation determines the
calculate the response of the pipeline to extreme stresses in operation, at the
increasing operating pressure and imperfection and under the axial loads
temperature, and to follow the deformation induced by the operating temperature and
into the post-buckling range. pressure. Although the hoop stress is
r~latively low (183 N/rnrn2, 44 per cent of
Yleld), the longitudinal stress is high
DESIGN EXAMPLE and the von Mises equivalent stress is ave;
yield. This condition is allowed by many
codes, since the pipeline is continuously
The example is a 10-inch oil pipeline, with supported, but the high level of equivalent
s~res~ is an important warning that the
a maximum operating pressure of 15 MPa
~lpellne response to axial loading may be
(2175 psi) and a maximum operating
temperature of 80 deg C. The chosen steel lnfluenced by plasticity, and that it will
grade is API 5LiX60, which corresponds to be prudent to carry out detailed UP BUCK
a specified minimum yield stress (SMYS) of calculations using the plasticity option.
413.7 N/rnrn2. The external anti-corrosion
coating is 2 rnrn of polyethylene. The line Moving now to conceptual design, a series
is to be designed to DnV 1981 rules. of UP BUCK calculations are carried out. In
this phase of the analysis, the pipeline is
The line will be trenched, in order to treated as elastic.
protect it against fishing gear. A review
of existing survey data along a nearby The results of three UP BUCK calculations
pipeline route has established that the are summarised in Figure 5, which plots
seabed is relatively smooth, and that the movement against temperature increase for
maximum expected height of overbends will cover depths of 0.7, 0.8 and 0.9 m above
be 0.2 m. However, it is thought that the peak of the 0.3 m imperfection. If the
trenching might induce additional c,?ver. is 1. m (from the baseline), the
~lpellne ~eglns to lift (at the top of the
imperfections in the bottom profile, and
the design imperfection height is therefore lmperfectlon) at a temperature of about 70
554
OTC 6335 PALMER, ELL INAS, RI CHARDS, GUI J'l' 5
Continuing to detailed design, it has been The remaining strategies can be classified
shown earlier that the pipe is close to into groups. The most promising techniques
plastic yield, and that UPBUCK calculations are listed in table 1.
using the plasticity option are required.
The results show that movements initiate at The first group is based on reducing the
almost exactly the 80 deg C design driving force, the axial compressive force
temperature, but do not exceed 10 mm until in the pipeline. The most direct method is
the temperature has risen to 88 deg C. The to reduce the wall thickness of the line.
instability temperature is 97.3 deg C. This reduces the temperature component of
Figure 6 plots the movement of the pipe at the effective axial force, which is
the peak of the imperfection against the proportional to the wall thickness (and is
temperature, and shows that instability usually the largest component), and leaves
will be accompanied by very large the pressure component almost unchanged.
movements, in which the pipeline will break A reduction in wall thickness can be
above the surface of the cover. However, achieved by increasing the design factor to
there is an adequate temperature increase the highest allowable level, or by
marg in between the operating temperature increasing the grade of steel, or by
and the instability temperature. adopting strain-based design criteria, a
possibility examined below in section 7.
A cover of 1.1 fi, measured from the
baseline, is therefore selected. It A second method is to increase lay tension.
corresponds to 0.8 m cover at the peak of Residual lay tension balances part of the
the 0.3 m imperfection. It happens to compressive force induced by operating, and
coincide with the value reached by the therefore reduces the resultant force. A
simplified method, though this is not difficulty is that residual tension cannot
always the case. be measured directly, but must be
calculated from the lay conditions, and
This cover is only required on the that its continued presence in the line
overbends. If the critical overbends can depends on there being no lateral
be confidently identified from a survey, movements. A third alternative is to
rock need only be dumped on those preheat the line, and to allow it to move
overbends. It will usually be cheaper to to relax compressive forces induced by
devote resources to survey rather than to preheat: the application of this technique
continuous dumping. This design option was to the Sun Oil Glamis flowlines is
recently applied to the stabilisation of described in a separate paper5 •
the Tern and Eider pipelines 4 • If on the
other hand the s.urvey accuracy is not A second group of methods depends on making
sufficient to locate the critical a radical change in the structure of the
over bends , the whole length must be pipeline. One alternative is to replace
covered. one or more single lines by a closed bundle
supported on spacers in a carrier
(Palmer 6 ), or equivalently by a pipe-in-
pipe system in which an internal flowline
is supported in an outer pipe. The
internal lines in the bundle then develop
axial compressive forces in operation, but
those forces can be balanced by tensile
forces in the outer carrier, through end
555
6 DESIGN OF SUBMARINE PIPELINES AGAINST UPHEAVAL BUCKLING OTC 6335
the wall thickness. If the equivalent Plasticity effects will therefore have a
stress requirement is adopted, and the significant influence on upheaval buckling
equi valent stress is limited to 0.96 of of pipelines designed according to strain
SMYS (as in the DnV rules), and the steel criteria. The solution will be sensitive
has an SMYS of 413.7 N/mm2 (corresponding to the details of the stress-strain
to API X60), the minimum wall thickness is relation for the steel, particularly to
12.8 mm. If on the other hand the strain-hardening. These effects are taken
equivalent stress requirement on into account in analysis by the UP BUCK
longitudinal stress is dropped, and the program.
hoop stress is limited to 0.72 of SMYS (as
in many codes), the minimum wall thickness
can be reduced to 9.6 mm. CONCLUSION
5 Craig, loG. and Nash, N.W. Upheaval 9 Putot, C.J .M. Localised buckling of
buckling: a practical solution using hot buried flexible pipelines. Proceedings,
water flushing technique. Proceedings, Twenty-first Annual Offshore Technology
Twenty-second Annual Offshore Technology Conference, Houston, OTC6155 (1989).
Conference, Houston (1990).
10 Putot, C.J .M. and Rigaud, J. Upheaval
6 Palmer, A.C. Are bundles expensive? buckling of buried pressurised
Proceedings, Pipelines for Marginal pipelines. Proceedings, European
Fields Conference, Aberdeen (1988). Seminar on Offshore Pipeline Technology,
Paris (1990).
7 Duxbury, P.G. and Hobbs, R.E.
Helically-laid pipeline bundles. 11 Ellinas, C.P., Supple, W.J. and
Proceedings, Eighth International Vastenholt, H. Prevention of upheaval
Conference on Offshore Mechanics and buckling of hot submarine pipelines by
Arctic Engineering, 2, 9-16 (1989). means of intermittent rock-dumping.
Proceedings, Twenty-second Annual
8 Bournazel, C. Flambage vertical des Offshore Technology Conference, Houston
conduites ensouillees. Revue de (1990).
l'Institut Francais du Petrole, ~, 212-
230 (1982).
I
II a as-laid
,
.. .
'. "
I 8 [
b trenched and buried
.~~
... . .
J
,I
",
c start-up
558
(]i
-'" j -l • -l
8. <)6
0<2,,-1.-19
=<I, \ 8 . 06
<:I,
1:. ~ <J. 06 -I 6
I .. - ~ :=-;
;2"
I .. - 9..:.: - 3':?
.!,
- =-3.
.!,
1.,
2
ratio l.S
. 06 <0 available/required
o downward force
o
. 0..l 'Q
o
S
.0: I c 0.5
0 5 i~ ·co cc..;
~'-
0.5 m cover
en
en
=
temperature
100
_ _- - - - 1 . 1 temperature
deg C
100
deg C
80
80
60 60
40
40
20
.
0.02 0.04
I
0.06
I !
0.08
I
500
N/mm2
Vo" "",,se .
400 i--;:;-;;-;;:-;;;w<ri'~Y;:~i'";:.::;;:s:..:eq~UI~V~al!!e~nt
0.96 SMYS for X60
300 -1------1'-....
200
100
0
.
8 10 12 14 16 mm
wall thickness
-100
-200
10ngztUdinai
-300
hOOp strlSS
longitudinal suess
comoresslve
lonQltudinal ~m8S1
b incremental strell Changes' i~cad by bendlnq from Inltiat statl rlcrlsemed :,y :xunt S
560