New concept to deal with pipeline expansion

摘要

TRANSPORTING OIL AND gas from high-pressure and high-temperature reservoirs through pipelines is a major challenge. A pipeline laid on or buried in the seabed responds to high pressure and high temperature by expanding, resulting in axial displacement (also known as end expansion), lateral buckling, upheaval buckling, or a combination of these. Such pipeline movements can cause failures and are critical to the integrity of a pipeline. When a pipeline is subject to high pressure and high temperature, its ends expand longitudinally and exert large forces and bending moments onto adjacent tied-in structures connected to it The tied-in structures must be designed to withstand these expansions and forces. Dumping rocks along the pipeline or a giant spool installed at the pipeline end have traditionally been costly alternatives.