Overview to Subsea

System
Research by:
V. Menchavez
JWPS Journeyman Welding &
Piping Services

Well head Platform

Riser
Pipeline crossing

Process Platform

Expansion Spool Piece

To shore

Grouted Supporting bag

Export lines

Well head
Existing line

Subsea mainfold

Tie in

Riser

Flowlines or Pipelines

Well head
Figure 1.1 Subsea System & Flowlines

Introduction
Subsea Pipelines are used for the transportation
of offshore Hydrocarbons from one Platform to
another and or Platform to Shore

DIFFERENT TYPES OF OFFSHORE PRODUCTION UNITS

Pipelines are used for a number of purposes in the development of

offshore hydrocarbon resources These include e.g.:

Export (transportation) pipelines

Pipeline bundles.
Flowlines to transfer product from a platform to export lines
Water injection or chemical injection Flowlines
Flowlines to transfer product between platforms
Subsea manifolds and satellite wells;

SUBMARINE PIPELINE SYSTEMS

PIPELINE
Pipeline is defined as the part of a pipeline system which is
located below the water surface at maximum tide (except for
pipeline risers)
Pipeline may be resting wholly or intermittently on, or buried
below, the sea bottom

PIPELINE COMPONENTS
Any items which are integral part of pipeline system such as
flanges, tees, bends, reducers and valves
PIPELINE SYSTEM
An inter connected system of submarine pipelines, their risers,
supports, isolation valves, all integrated piping components,
associated piping system and the corrosion protection system

Risers
A Riser is a conducting pipe connecting sub-sea wellheads, templates or
pipelines to equipment located on a buoyant or fixed offshore structure.
Types of riser
Rigid riser
- for shallow water
Catenary steel riser - for deep water
Flexible riser
- for deep and shallow water
Riser clamp
Riser are supported/guided from the jacket members through
clamps

Types of Clamp
Hanger clamp
Fixed clamp
Adjustable clamp

Riser Clamp (Welding to Jacket member)

Restrained lines
Pipelines which cannot expand or contract in the longitudinal
direction due to fixed supports or friction between the pipe and soil
Unrestrained lines
Pipelines without substantial axial restraint. (Maximum one fixed
support and no substantial friction).
FL 1

FL 22

FL 3
FL 4

Hanger clamp level

Sea surface level

Riser 1

FL 21

FL 20
FL 19

Riser 2

73.5 m

74 m

FL 5

0.00 m

2
m

FL 2

7.5 m 7.5 m

Platform

2
m 7.5 m 7.5 m

Platform

1:7

1:7
FL 18

Sea bed
14 m 112 m
FL 6

FL 7

562.5 m
FL 8

500 m x 6 nos
FL 9 to 14
Concrete & CTE coating
Monel coating
Paint

562.5 m

112 m 14 m

FL 15

FL 16 FL 17

SUBSEA PIPELINE DESIGN ACTIVITIES

Pipeline Sizing
Pipeline Material Selection
Pipeline Mechanical Design
Pipeline Stability Analysis
Pipeline Span Analysis

Pipeline Crossing Design

Pipeline Cathodic Protection System Design

PIPELINE SIZING

In general it means fixing up the pipeline nominal

diameter (6,10 etc.,) which deals with the important
aspects like...

MAXIMUM FLOW RATE CONDITION

CHECK FOR THE FLOW CONDITION (pressure drop &
flow velocity)
CHECK FOR SECONDARY CRITERIA like .

# Flow regime (mix of hydro carbon, single/multi phase flow)

# Temperature profile
# Erosion velocity

PIPELINE MATERIAL SELECTION

The governing parameters for the particular type of material to
be used are

Temperature

Pressure

Surrounding Environment.

Corrosive elements (CO2 and H2 S)

Carbon steel (Carbon - Manganese Steel) C.S.Nace, C.R.A.

API - 5L of Grade Ranges From X - 42 to X - 80

> X-80 - Toughness and Weldability are limitations

API - 5L X- 52 ,60 & 65 Grades are commonly used.

PIPELINE MECHANICAL DESIGN

The mechanical design of the pipeline is carried to with stand factors like
Internal pressure
External Pressure
Do
Hydrostatic Collapse
Buckle initiation
Di
Buckle Propagation
Po

Po

Po

Pi

ho

ho

PIPELINE SPAN ANALYSIS

Causes of the Pipeline Spans are

Uneven Seabed on Selected route

Pipeline Crossing seabed rock outcrop

Sand Waves

Scour
All these result in spanning and cause
Excessive yielding (Results in High Bending
Moments)
Buckle Initiation and there by Propagation

Longitudinal loads
Unsupported length

PIPELINE STABILITY
Pipeline once installed at the sea bed should be sufficiently stable
to avoid any overstressing, deterioration of coating etc., due to
wave and current generated movements

PIPELINE STABILITY

Vertical stability

Lateral stability

Vertical stability

Sinking in to the sea bed during maximum fluid density

condition.
Floating of Buried Pipeline during Empty condition & Soil
Liquefaction.
The Pipe sinkage is determined as the depth at which the applied
pipe pressure equals the soil bearing resistance.
Soil deformation(pipe sinkage),is given by:

= D/2-[(D/2)2 (B/2)2]1/2
Where,
D = Overall pipe outside diameter including pipe coatings
B = Projected contact area between pipe and soil =P/qu
Where,
qu = CNC +1/2B N
qu = Ultimate bearing capacity of soil
P = Pipe submerged weight including pipe coatings and in water
filled condition per unit length.

Lateral stability
It is the capacity to resist the lateral forces due to

Environmental loads.
Forces to be considered for Lateral stability analysis
Submerged weight WS
Lateral resistance R
Friction m
Drag force FD
Lift force FL

The stability criterion is expressed as

(Ws - FL) m (FD + FI) S

Where,
S
Ws
FL
FD
FI
m

=
=
=
=
=
=

safety factor (1.1)

submerged weight of pipeline/unit
length, for nominal wall thickness
(t), N/m
hydrodynamic lift force, N/m
hydrodynamic drag force, N/m
hydrodynamic inertia force, N/m
lateral coefficient of friction between
pipe and seabed.

Methods of Pipeline stabilization

Increase Pipeline wall thickness

Provide Concrete Weight Coating
Lay the Pipeline in Open trench
Trench and bury the Pipeline
Provide Concrete Mattress over Pipeline
Stabilize Pipeline by Rock dumping

Increase in
Pipewall thickness

Providing
Concrete coating

Sea bed
Trench wall

Natural fill
Buried pipe- Natural Fill

Jetted in pipe

Tremie concrete

Armor rock

Back fill
Bedding

Buried pipe- Armor Cover

Bedding

Buried pipe- Concrete Cover

Stabilization Methods for buried Submarine pipeline

Trenching

Concrete Mattress

Rock dumping

PIPELINE CROSSING ANALYSIS

Crossings are designed to Give a Physical separation

Between The Proposed Line & Existing Line.

To Avoid Interfacing Of Cathodic Protection Between

The Two Lines
A min of 300mm gap is Provided b/w the lines as per the DNVCode.

Crossing analysis methodology

Pipeline Crossing Span Calculation.

Pipeline Dynamic Span Calculation

Number of Supports to be Provided.

Pipeline Crossing Flexibility analysis

Pipeline Crossing Support design against,

>

Bearing capacity

>

Over turning

>

Sliding

>

Settlement

PIPELINE CATHODIC PROTECTION SYSTEM DESIGN

The Subsea pipelines are provided with sacrificial anodes made of
Aluminum or Zinc to protect against marine corrosion
Important parameters for Anode Design
*

Surface area of the Pipeline

Fluid and Anode temperature

Break down

Design service life of Anodes

MAJOR DESIGN CODES AND

STANDARDS

DNV 1981

DNV 2000

API 5L

- Specification for line pipe

BS 8010

- Code of practice for pipeline

- Rules for submarine pipeline system

- Submarine pipeline system

NACE RP 0169 - Recommended practice,control of external

corrosion on underground or submerged
metallic piping.
OISD 141

- Design and construction requirements for

cross country hydrocarbon pipeline.

ASME B 31.8
system.

-Gas transmission and distribution piping

ASME B 31.4

- Pipeline transportation systems for liquid

hydrocarbon and other liquids

Research by:
V. Menchavez
JWPS Journeyman Welding &
Piping Services