Role of geotechnical engineering in assuring the integrity of buried pipeline systems

Buried pipeline systems form a major part of global infrastructure that threads the human-made physical environment, contributing to the health, safety, and welfare of communities. Satisfactory performance of these pipeline systems, therefore, has become a key factor in assuring a sustainably built environment since any significant disruption to them often translates into undesirable impacts on economies or the living conditions of citizens. Geotechnical engineering has a dominant role to play in ensuring satisfactory performance of buried pipelines. Adequate knowledge of site-specific soil and groundwater conditions is critical to the design of pipelines, as well as ensuring good predictions of their field performance. Quantification of anticipated geotechnical hazards and evaluation of their impacts are other important considerations in assessing the long-term performance of buried pipelines. The interaction between buried pipes and surrounding soil is complex. Therefore, approaches ranging from those based on simplified assumptions to sophisticated numerical modeling techniques need to be employed in solving soil-pipe interaction problems. The overall goal is to reduce the risk of damage to buried pipelines from geotechnical hazards. A spectrum of options such as isolation from the hazard, accommodation of the hazard, or mitigation of the hazard using ground improvement can be considered in this regard

Seismic risk assessment for oil and gas pipelines

Abstract: Buried pipeline systems form a key part of global lifeline infrastructure, and any significant disruption to the performance of these systems often translates into undesirable impacts on regional businesses, economies, or the living conditions of citizens. This chapter addresses the considerations associated with the seismic risk assessment of pipelines providing transmission of natural gas or liquid hydrocarbons, and pipelines that are part of a gas distribution system serving a region. Particular reference is made with respect to philosophy, approaches, and technologies adopted in designing and operating pipelines to minimize pipeline damage during earthquakes. Document type: Part of book or chapter of boo

Drained Peak and Residual Interface Shear Strengths of Fine-Grained Soils for Pipeline Geotechnics

This study presents the results of interface torsional ring shear tests conducted at intermediate normal stress levels that are usually prevalent at soil-pipeline interfaces under near-shore conditions. Four normally consolidated soils of different plasticity and five solid surfaces with diverse roughness were utilized in this single-stage shear testing program. The drained peak and residual soil and interface shear strengths were measured and compared with the relevant data available in literature. The analyses and interpretation of the study results revealed that the drained peak and residual interface efficiencies (i.e., the ratio between soil and interface friction angles) are almost equal. These efficiencies can be estimated using one simple correlation that is valid regardless of the effective normal stress range. The correlation helps in the preliminary estimation of pipe-fine-grained soil shearing resistance when the beta (or effective stress) approach is adopted. - 2019 American Society of Civil Engineers.The funding provided by the Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF), Qatar, under Project No. NPRP 5-488-2-194, for this research work is deeply appreciated.Scopu