Structural Analysis of Deep-Water Pipelines

The depletion of most onshore and near shoreoff-shore oil reserves has shifted the focus ofpetroleum exploration and production to deep wateroff-shore word wide. Owing to the greater depths anddifferent type of related physical environment andassociated risks involved i.e. deep-water, the futurepipelines need to be designed and analyzed with adifferent approach as compared to those onshore. Thework presents a comprehensive yet concise structuralanalysis methodology of a deep water pipeline. Theparameter investigated is expected-but-unforeseeableaxial change in length coupled with deflection as aresult of a conceptual before-service hydrostatictesting of a fairly long deep-water pipeline section.Various simple, plausible and most commonlyconfronted physical scenarios and situations inoff-shore pipeline laying are presented withdifferent possible corresponding loading schemes and,analyzed and discussed before delineating theconclusions. It has been endeavored to implement bothanalytical and numerical solution where ever possiblesupported by consistent background theory foradequate understanding.