Analysis of Safe Span Length and Fatigue Life of Submarine Pipelines

Owing to the complex environmental conditions, suspension could induce complicated forces on submarine pipelines and even cause vortex-induced vibration, resulting in fatigue damage of pipelines. Through aiming at the 28-inch submarine pipeline in the East China Sea, the pipeline was segmented according to the similarity, considering the factors of pipe assembly, typhoon, current, wave and seabed topography. The effects of span length on natural frequency in each section of submarine pipeline were analyzed by finite element model. The maximum safe span length allowed by each pipeline section was verified by fatigue cumulative damage theory, and the fatigue life of each pipeline section were predicted. The results showed that each order natural frequency of the pipeline decreased with the increase of span length. The calculated results of empirical formulas were much smaller than those of the FEM analysis. The increase of the gap between the suspended pipeline and the seabed was beneficial to enhance the fatigue life of the suspended pipeline.     

Improved assessments of wave-induced fatigue for free spanning pipelines

For subsea pipeline projects, the costs related to seabed correction and free span intervention are often considerable. Development of reliable methods for fatigue analyses of pipelines in free spans contributes to minimize costs without compromising pipeline integrity. Assessment of wave-induced fatigue damage on multi-span pipelines is investigated, and improved analysis methods are suggested in this paper. A time-domain (TD) algorithm is developed, which accounts for non-linear hydrodynamic loading and dynamic interaction between adjacent spans. The proposed TD approach is employed to evaluate linearized frequency-domain (FD) solutions from recognized design standards and to study the dynamic response of multi-span pipelines to direct wave loading. Differences between multi- and single-span analyses are described for the first time, and the common assumption that the main fatigue damage contribution comes from the fundamental mode is demonstrated not to hold for multi-spans. An improved FD solution capable of predicting multi-mode response is derived and demonstrated to give accurate fatigue life estimates for multi-span pipelines.     

Hydrodynamic Forces and Instability of Submarine Pipelines Under Waves and Currents： A Review

Stability design of submarine pipelines is a very important procedure in submarine pipeline engineering design. The calculation of hydrodynamic forces caused by waves and currents acting on marine pipelines is an essential step in pipeline design for stability. The hydrodynamic forces-induced instabilities of submarine pipelines should be regarded as a wave/ current-pipeline-seabed interaction problem. This paper presents a review on hydrodynamic forces and stability research of submarine pipelines under waves and currents. The representative progress including the improved design method and guideline has been made for the marine pipelines engineering design through experimental investigations, numerical simulations and analytical models. Finally, further studies on this issue are suggested.     

海底滑坡对置于海床表面管线作用力的CFD模拟

海底管线是海洋工程中用于传输原油和天然气等的重要通道,通常放置在海床表面或处于悬跨状态。本文采用计算流体动力学CFD法模拟了不同冲击角度下海底滑坡对置于海床表面的海底管线的作用,得到了管线所受的轴向荷载和法向荷载与滑坡冲击角度之间的关系。同时分析了沿冲击方向管线截面形状与管线所受阻力之间的关系。对已有研究进行拓展延伸,丰富了不同工况下轴向阻力系数和法向阻力系数的计算成果,得出了海底滑坡对置于海床表面管线冲击力的计算公式。     

基于实测资料的杭州湾海底管道裸露悬空历年变化趋势及风险区分析

近岸海底管道受海流影响,原处于掩埋状态的管道易出现裸露及悬空情况,掌握海底管道在位状态变化趋势是对其实施安全管理的关键和基础。以东海杭州湾海域内长距离海底输油管道为例,根据 2008—2021 年连续多年采用声学探测方法获取的管道外检测资料及成果,在统计分析海底管道历年状态变化趋势的基础上,重点分析管道悬空、裸露状态的游移变化情况及悬空段的分布特征;针对管道悬空频现、悬空长度较长的风险区,分析管道悬空的主要特征及管道附近海床冲淤演变情况,为海底管道安全运行管理及悬空段防护决策提供数据支撑,为海底管道检测频率、管道状态变化分析提供案例参考。     

东方1-1海管悬跨分布特征及治理效果分析

海底管道对海上油气田安全生产有着非常重要的作用,对东方1-1海管进行了连续6年的无人有缆遥控水下机器人(remote operatedvehicle,ROV)调查,根据调查数据,分析了海管悬跨的分布特征以及变化情况,按海管悬跨严重程度进行了风险等级分区。结果表明在受水动力影响最大的深水平坦区海管悬跨分布密集,并有逐年加剧趋势,安全风险较大。并对悬跨形成机理和极限悬跨长度进行了分析和阐述。介绍了沙袋支撑和局部抛石填埋悬跨治理方法的原理和优缺点,对比分析了治理效果情况,认为局部抛石治理方法效果优于沙袋治理。     

Effect of different span heights on the pipeline impact forces induced by deep-sea landslides

With the development of marine energy in full swing, an increasing number of pipelines are being installed in deep-sea areas, which inevitably pass through extremely complex topographic conditions, to form natural sections of suspension over submarine canyons. The seabed is easily eroded and shaped by active deep-sea bottom currents and watercourses, resulting in different span heights for pipelines originally laid on the seabed. In particularly, deep-sea geological hazards frequently occur, and submarine landslides seriously threaten the safe operation of the pipelines. To address these problems, an improved numerical analysis method combined with low-temperature rheological models of landslides and the optimization design method of the geometric model, is developed to simulate the landslides’ impacts on pipelines. Based on these, the effect of the span heights on the pipelines’ impact forces induced by deep-sea landslides is systematically investigated, and three modes of the forces on pipelines under the impact of landslides and related mechanism are proposed. Further, the span height ratio is put forward, and four formulas for evaluating the forces on pipeline are established. Through the analysis of calculation results, the lift force coefficient even increases nearly 20 times considering different span heights. This research provides a theoretical basis for the design and protection of deep-sea pipelines.     

高雷诺数下近壁圆柱绕流数值模拟与分析

近壁圆柱绕流问题在海底悬跨管道的研究中具有重要的意义。在绕流阻力、升力以及海底土壤的耦合作用下,海底管道所发生的移位、悬跨等现象对于海底管道的安全运行构成了很大的威胁。正确预测各种绕流条件下管流之间的作用力是保证油气管道安全的首要任务。海底管道在极端海洋环境条件下的管、流相互作用为高雷诺数绕流问题,处于高雷诺数下的绕流模拟比处于低雷诺数下的绕流模拟要复杂很多,它需要更精细的网格以及合适的湍流模型。此文对处于悬跨状态下的海底管道进行数值研究,给出不同间隙比下海流绕流海底管道的流场结构形态,分析了间隙比对绕流阻力和绕流升力的影响,为进一步研究海底悬跨管道的受力和变形提供载荷边界数据。     

考虑阻尼海底悬跨段管道的动力特性及允许悬空长度

以海底悬跨段输液管道为研究对象,考虑管道结构阻尼、流体附加阻尼、管内流体流动及管道轴向力和压强的作用,对其进行受力分析,导出管道振动微分方程,进而得到管道动力特性方程。用Hermit插值函数对管道的动力特性方程进行离散得到有限元表达式,采用复模态分析法,求得管道的自振频率。为防止管道发生横向涡激振动,用约化速度作为控制条件,确定管道允许悬空长度。结果表明,管道允许悬空长度随着内流流速、轴向压力和管内压强的增加而减小,随着轴向拉力的增加而加大。     

海底管道检测与三维点云重建算法

随着海底油气管道的铺设规模越来越大,为防止管道油气泄漏而导致人员伤亡和财产损失,海底管道的日常巡检尤为重要。提出一种基于多波束点云的海底管道检测与三维重建算法,利用高频多波束声纳对水下管道进行成像,对声纳图像采用经典边缘检测算法检测管道边缘,得到相应的点云数据,将点云数据拼接成一组完整的空间点云集合,对点云集合进行三维重建。通过水池试验结果证明,提出的算法流程能够有效地实现水下管道的检测与三维重建,具有较好的工程应用前景。     

海底滑坡作用下滩海管道结构安全分析

海底滑坡作为常见的海洋地质灾害,对海洋油气工程安全产生巨大威胁。海床土体失稳引起滑坡体滑动,会对海底管道产生拖曳作用。基于计算流体动力学方法(CFD)建立海底滑坡体对管道作用的评估模型,采用H-B模型描述块状滑坡体并与试验比较验证,分析不同海床倾斜度滑坡对管道的作用并拟合表达式;研究了海底管道在滑坡作用下的力学响应,并采用极限状态方法开展海底滑坡作用下管道结构极限安全分析,探讨了管道埋地状态时的极限安全界限,建立滑坡作用下管道结构安全分析方法。研究表明:滑坡对管道作用力与海床倾角呈现正相关,而覆土层厚度对作用力影响较小;随着不排水抗剪强度的减小,允许的滑坡宽度和速度均增加,表明土体不排水抗剪强度与引起的拖曳力呈正相关;滑坡土体宽度对极限安全速度影响较大。     

埕岛油田海底管线在位稳定性的计算分析

埕岛油田主要分布粉土和淤泥质软土2类典型的海床.通过建立海床与其上裸置管线相互作用的有限元计算模型,对埕岛油田2类典型海床上裸置管线的在位稳定性进行了数值计算分析,并与现行常用的DNV(挪威船级社)管道设计方法的计算结果进行了对比.分析表明,对于埕岛油田粉土海床上裸置管线的在位稳定性分析,数值计算结果与DNV简化分析方法的结果较为一致;对于埕岛油田淤泥质软土海床上裸置管线的在位稳定性分析,DNV简化分析得到的裸置管线的在位稳定性一般高于相应的数值计算结果.     

Experimental Study on Free Spanning Submarine Pipeline Under Dynamic Excitation

Seismic load has a significant effect on the response of a free spanning submarine pipeline when the pipeline is con-structed in a seismically active region. The model experiment is performed on an underwater shaking tahle to simulate the response of submarine pipelines under dynamic input. In consideration of the effects of the terrestrial and submarine pipeline , water depth, support condition, distance from seabed, empty and full pipeline, and span on dynamic response, 120 groups of experiments are conducted. Affecting factors are analyzed and conclusions are drawn for reference. For the con-trol of dynamic response, the span of a submarine pipeline is by far more important than the other factors. Meanwhile, the rosponse difference between a submarine pipeline under sine excitation and that under random excitation exists in ex-periments.     

Numerical analysis of the impact forces exerted by submarine landslides on pipelines

Submarine pipelines that transport crude oil and natural gas are often in a complex marine geological environment and may become unstable and fail upon impact by submarine landslides. Previous research has mostly focused on the impact forces exerted by submarine landslides on suspended pipelines, but the impact of submarine landslides on pipelines laid on the seafloor at various impact angles, θ, have been relatively infrequently discussed, and the effects of suspended height, H, on the impact forces exerted by submarine landslides on pipelines have not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, based on the Herschel–Bulkley model, the impact forces exerted by a submarine landslide on laid-on or suspended pipelines at various impact angles θ were simulated using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach. Equations for calculating the axial and normal drag coefficients of a submarine pipeline were proposed. The CFD numerical simulation results were rearranged based on the soil mechanics approach. By comparing the parameters, an essentially corresponding relationship was found between the soil mechanics and CFD approaches when the equations were used to calculate the impact forces exerted by a submarine landslide on a pipeline. In addition, a semi-analytical expression for the failure envelope was provided. Furthermore, the effects of H on the forces on a pipeline were discussed, and an equation for calculating the acting forces on a pipeline along the flow direction of a submarine landslide that comprehensively accounts for the effects of θ and H was proposed. The lift force was discussed preliminarily and the results provide a basis for further investigation. The achievement of this study is applicable for selecting locations of submarine pipeline routes and for designing submarine pipelines.     

Effects of Internal Flow on Vortex-Induced Vibration and Fatigue Life of Submarine Pipelines

- With the rapid development of the offshore oil industries, submarine oil / gas pipelines have been widely used. Under the complicated submarine environmental conditions, the dynamic characteristics of pipelines show some new features due to the existence of both internal and external flows. The paper is intended to investigate the vortex-induced vibration of the suspended pipeline span exposed to submarine steady flow. Especially, the effects of the flow inside the pipeline are taken into account. Its influences on the amplitude of pipeline response, and then on the fatigue life, are given in terms of the velocity of the internal flow.     

埕北海域海底管线冲刷稳定性研究

根据埕北海域水下三角洲的工程地质条件和水动力条件,分析海底管线在两种铺设方式情况下的冲刷稳定性。第一种为埋置在一定土层深度处的管线：根据整个埕北海域海底长期冲淤变化规律,利用１９９２～１９９６ 年的实测水深资料得出的冲刷速率,推算出管线被冲出泥面所需的时间。第二种为裸露在海底的管线：根据海流对管线周围沉积物产生冲刷效应,冲刷达到一定程度时处于平衡状态,认为此状态下,海流在该点产生的剪切力等于形成可冲蚀海床沉积物的临界牵引力,据此计算出在管线周围冲刷的最大深度     

航道区碎石层对霍尔锚落锚条件下海底管道防护效果研究

航道中船舶抛锚作业使海底管道可能受意外撞击,造成管道局部损伤甚至失效,进而对油气生产安全和生态环境等造成重大危害。采用碎石层防护是航道区等海域海底管道最常用的防护手段。首先基于大比尺落锚模型试验,观测了霍尔锚下落贯入碎石的3个阶段及其贯入过程中管道的应力应变状态。通过建立光滑粒子流体动力学法（SPH）和有限元法（FEM）耦合的数值模型,针对实际不同吨位通航船舶常用的霍尔锚,研究了其贯入碎石层深度及埋设管道受力和凹陷变形规律。最后分析了不同锚质量、碎石层形状和厚度等因素下埋设管道的响应规律。结果表明：采用暗埋式碎石防护层有利于撞击能量吸收,能更好地防护海底管道受损;且采用3 m以上碎石防护层能有效保护海底管道抵抗各类实际常见霍尔锚的撞击损伤。     

海底管道悬空防护与治理措施浅谈

为了治理一直困扰茂名30万t单点码头的海底管道悬空问题,首先分析了海底管道埋藏状态的识别方法,对国内外海底管线各种悬空治理措施的优缺点和适宜海域进行汇总。在对茂名30万t单点码头海底管道开展了多次路由调查的基础上,针对悬空路段,分别采用人工海草、沉排、碎石回填等不同的防护措施。结果表明,人工海草确实具有明显的降低流速和促进泥沙淤积的功能,但潜水员水下作业工作量较大,不宜在水深大于40 m的海域进行,应避开拖网捕捞海域。水泥沉排在水下较稳定,可有效保护海底管线免受外来损害,但是回淤促淤缓慢。当海床承载力足够时,采用碎石回填办法进行海管维护比较有效,冲刷坑填埋充实,可广泛用于修正悬空。     

舟山册子岛—宁波镇海海底原油管道冲刷的影响因素

局部冲刷引起裸露甚至悬空是造成管道失稳的主要原因之一。舟山册子岛—宁波镇海海底原油管道自2006年运行以来,其赋存状态由全线掩埋逐渐演变为局部裸露甚至悬空的严峻局面,并且有继续恶化的趋势。基于管道2006—2012年历年检测资料,从多个层面分析造成海底管道冲刷的原因,认为造成管道冲刷的基本条件是研究区的自然冲淤规律,极端天气条件、镇海侧的大型围垦工程、舟山连岛大桥建设、长江来沙减少等其他因素的叠加也不可小视。     

海底管道裸露与悬跨维护方法研究

随着辽东湾浅海油气的开发,该海域海底管道的铺设增多。该区域受潮汐、河流等因素影响,海底管道可能出现裸露与悬跨现象,需要人为定期检测与维护。根据辽东湾海南8管道的检测结果,结合海底沉积物、水文等资料,分析了该海区冲刷机制和现今常用的海底管道裸露与悬跨的维护方法在该海域的适用性。