Full-Scale Tests of Axial Friction on Pipelines in Rock Berms

摘要

Offshore pipelines for transport of hot oil and gas are exposed to thermal expansion/contraction during startup of and shutdown of production. A method for controlling the feed-in of pipe to locations with lateral or upheaval buckling is to install berms of crushed rock providing axial locking. To improve the basis for an optimized design of the axial locking berms, a full-scale axial friction test program has been performed. This paper presents the test setup, rock materials, pipe properties and the results from the friction test. Recommendations are given for friction coefficients between crushed rock and uncoated steel pipes and pipes coated with concrete and poly propylene.