This document provides an overview of subsea pipeline systems engineering and key factors in pipeline routing. It discusses the primary functions and key elements of pipeline systems. It also outlines the major phases of pipeline projects and the systematic approach used, including project execution plans, design basis, and auxiliary plans. Finally, it discusses many important considerations for pipeline route selection, including political, environmental, physical environment, and seabed characteristics factors.

1. Shawn Kenny, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Assistant Professor
Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
Memorial University of Newfoundland
spkenny@engr.mun.ca
ENGI 8673 Subsea Pipeline
Engineering
Lecture 02: Pipeline Systems Engineering and
Routing Considerations

2. 2 ENGI 8673 Subsea Pipeline Engineering – Lecture 02© 2008 S. Kenny, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Lecture 02 Objective
To provide an overview of subsea pipeline
systems engineering and key factors in
pipeline routing

3. 3 ENGI 8673 Subsea Pipeline Engineering – Lecture 02© 2008 S. Kenny, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Pipeline Systems Primary Function
Product Transport
Liquid hydrocarbons
Natural gas
Natural gas liquids
Water
Chemicals
Key Elements
Product type
Delivery rate
Operating pressure
Distance from field development to market
Current and future demand/capacity

4. 4 ENGI 8673 Subsea Pipeline Engineering – Lecture 02© 2008 S. Kenny, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Pipeline Transportation Systems
Flowlines
Field development to
a subsea manifold or
production facility
Gathering Lines
Connecting multiple
flowlines to a
production facility
Export Pipeline
Transport from a
production facility to
domestic or
international market

5. 5 ENGI 8673 Subsea Pipeline Engineering – Lecture 02© 2008 S. Kenny, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Project Phases

6. 6 ENGI 8673 Subsea Pipeline Engineering – Lecture 02© 2008 S. Kenny, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Systematic Approach
Management
Project execution plan
Technical
Development plan
Design basis
Safety plan
Auxiliary
Project summary
Economic benefits plan
Environmental impact assessment
Socio-economic impact assessment

7. 7 ENGI 8673 Subsea Pipeline Engineering – Lecture 02© 2008 S. Kenny, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Project Execution Plan
Overview
Early stage, live document, project wide
Client objectives, drivers and risk tolerance
Primary Components
Project scope and deliverables
Organizational hierarchy, roles and responsibilities
Execution strategies for engineering, quality,
procurement, construction, commissioning and safety
Project schedule
Integrated communication protocols and decision
making processes

8. 8 ENGI 8673 Subsea Pipeline Engineering – Lecture 02© 2008 S. Kenny, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Design Basis
Overview
Early stage, live document, project wide
Clear, complete and authoritative reference
Primary Components
Pipeline system overview
Operational parameters
Environmental and physical data
Materials engineering
Design issues and constraints
Design methodology and philosophy

9. 9 ENGI 8673 Subsea Pipeline Engineering – Lecture 02© 2008 S. Kenny, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Major Design Issues
Product Characterization
Route Selection
Materials Selection
Hydraulic Analysis
Mechanical Design
Coatings
Components and Assemblies
Constructability and Intervention
Operation, Inspection and Repair
Decommissioning and Abandonment

10. 10 ENGI 8673 Subsea Pipeline Engineering – Lecture 02© 2008 S. Kenny, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Major Cost Factors
Linepipe Tonnage
Material
Transportation
Length
• Alignment &
heading changes
Example
≈ US$25k / WT(mm)-D(m)-L(km)
762mm OD; 100km; 17.1mm⇒22.2mm WT
≈ US$10M differential
Ref: SEIC (2005)

11. 11 ENGI 8673 Subsea Pipeline Engineering – Lecture 02© 2008 S. Kenny, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Major Cost Factors (cont.)
Vessel Selection
Performance
Water depth range
Tension limits
Construction Vessel Time
Alignment, heading angle
Stinger change-out
Platform, landfall approach
Crossings, interactions
Monitored, restricted
lay operations
Ref: Saipem (2006)
Castoro Sei

12. 12 ENGI 8673 Subsea Pipeline Engineering – Lecture 02© 2008 S. Kenny, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Major Cost Factors (cont.)
Route Intervention Activities
Dredging
Trenching
Pre-sweeping
Rock dumping
Span correction
Ref: Saipem (2006)

13. 13 ENGI 8673 Subsea Pipeline Engineering – Lecture 02© 2008 S. Kenny, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Route Selection – Overview
Pipeline Route Characterization
Landfall and platform approaches
Length, kilometer post and
intermediate stations
Changes in alignment and elevation
profile
System Environment
Characterization
Political and social factors
Physical and environmental factors
Engineered systems

14. 14 ENGI 8673 Subsea Pipeline Engineering – Lecture 02© 2008 S. Kenny, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Route Selection – Critical Activity
Upfront Planning and Assessment
Desk study
• “Ounce of prevention >> pound of cure”
Utilize available resources
• Regulator and operator experience & lessons learned
• Government departments & agencies
• New technologies, data acquisition & historical archives
Uncertainty
• Prioritize and plan for engineering surveys

15. 15 ENGI 8673 Subsea Pipeline Engineering – Lecture 02© 2008 S. Kenny, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Route Selection – Politics
Landfall and Platform Approaches
Ref: Saipem (2006)
Ref: Lanan (2007)
Ref: BHP (2005)

16. 16 ENGI 8673 Subsea Pipeline Engineering – Lecture 02© 2008 S. Kenny, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Route Selection – Politics
Regional and International Scope
Political, civil or military instability
Jurisdictions &
regulations
Archaeological,
historical
significance
Examples
• Black Sea
• Europipe
• Oman–India
• Medgaz
• Vancouver
Island &
Georgia Strait
Ref: Saipem (2006)

17. 17 ENGI 8673 Subsea Pipeline Engineering – Lecture 02© 2008 S. Kenny, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Route Selection – Remote Sensing
Ref: Hansen (2005)
Ref: Google (2005)

18. 18 ENGI 8673 Subsea Pipeline Engineering – Lecture 02© 2008 S. Kenny, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Route Selection – Existing Data
Ref: EnCana (2002)

19. 19 ENGI 8673 Subsea Pipeline Engineering – Lecture 02© 2008 S. Kenny, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Route Selection – Sensitive Areas
Environmental
Significant or sensitive ecosystem
• Wetlands, estuaries,
northern environments
Resident habitat
Breeding grounds
Migration patterns
Cumulative effects
Military Zones
Ref: EnCana (2002)

20. 20 ENGI 8673 Subsea Pipeline Engineering – Lecture 02© 2008 S. Kenny, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Route Selection – Seabed Characteristics
Bathymetry & Slope
Soil Properties
Type
Index & strength
Spatial distribution
W
F
Ref: NOAA (2005)
Ref: BCOG (2001)

21. 21 ENGI 8673 Subsea Pipeline Engineering – Lecture 02© 2008 S. Kenny, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Route Selection – Seabed Characteristics
Significant Features
Ref: Hydro (2005)
Ref: Hansen (2005)

22. 22 ENGI 8673 Subsea Pipeline Engineering – Lecture 02© 2008 S. Kenny, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Route Selection – Seabed Characteristics
Seabed Mobility
Sediment transport
Sandwave migration
Scour
Ref: Heap (2004)

23. 23 ENGI 8673 Subsea Pipeline Engineering – Lecture 02© 2008 S. Kenny, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Route Selection – Seabed Hazards
Seismic
Faulting
Liquefaction
Mass
Slides
Spreads
Falls
Flows
Subsurface
Shallow gas
• Pockmarks
• Subsidence
Subsea vents
• Pinnacles
Ref: Trifunac et al. (2002)
Ref: BCOG (2001)

24. 24 ENGI 8673 Subsea Pipeline Engineering – Lecture 02© 2008 S. Kenny, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Route Selection – Physical Environment
Currents
Systems, tidal,
delta, loop
Surface
Waves
Wind induced
• Shallow water, breaking
• Bathymetry, refraction,
wave crest orthogonality
Internal
• Pycnocline [density]
ø (water temp., salinity)
Ref: NASA (2005)

25. 25 ENGI 8673 Subsea Pipeline Engineering – Lecture 02© 2008 S. Kenny, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Route Selection – Physical Environment
Seabed Use and Obstacles
Oil and gas industry developments
Communications
Mobile and fixed gear fishing zones
Shipping traffic lanes
Military exercise zones
Military/civilian dumping grounds
Mining, dredging zones
Expected or anticipated future operations,
developments
Shipwrecks

26. 26 ENGI 8673 Subsea Pipeline Engineering – Lecture 02© 2008 S. Kenny, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Route Selection – Physical Environment
Unique Features – Ice Gouging

27. 27 ENGI 8673 Subsea Pipeline Engineering – Lecture 02© 2008 S. Kenny, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Route Selection – Physical Environment
Unique Features – Ice Gouging

28. 28 ENGI 8673 Subsea Pipeline Engineering – Lecture 02© 2008 S. Kenny, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Route Selection – Physical Environment
Unique Features –
Strudel Scour
Ref: MMS (2005)

29. 29 ENGI 8673 Subsea Pipeline Engineering – Lecture 02© 2008 S. Kenny, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Route Selection – Physical Environment
Unique Features
– Permafrost
Ref: NRCan (2005)

30. 30 ENGI 8673 Subsea Pipeline Engineering – Lecture 02© 2008 S. Kenny, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Reading List
1. Chaudhuri, J and Nash, I. (2005).
Medgaz: the ultra-deep pipeline. Pipeline
World, June, 10p.
[2005_Pipeline_World_06_Medgaz_Pipe
line.pdf]

31. 31 ENGI 8673 Subsea Pipeline Engineering – Lecture 02© 2008 S. Kenny, Ph.D., P.Eng.
References
BCOG (2001). BC Offshore Oil & Gas Technology Update. JWEL Project No. BCV50229,
October 19, 2001
BHP (2005). http://www.bhpbilliton.com
EnCana (2002). Development Plan – Revised Volume 2, Deep Panuke Offshore Gas
Development Project, 142p.
Google (2005). earth.google.com
Hansen, B. (2005). How Hydro’s Ormen Lange Project Can Contribute to the Development of
the Russian Arctic. Proc., IBC Arctic Oil and Gas Development Conference, Challenges and
Opportunities – The Technology Solution, London, UK.
Heap, A. (2004). “Shifting sands the clue to the vanishing seagrasses.” AusGEO, 75
September, p.32-34.
Hydro (2005). http://www.hydro.com/ormenlange/en
Lanan, G. (2007). Offshore Arctic Pipeline Operations. Proc., IBC Offshore Oil and Gas in Arctic
and Cold Waters Conference, Stavanger, Norway
Saipem (2006). http://www.saipem.eni.it/index.asp
SEIC (2005). http://www.sakhalinenergy.com/
Trifunac, M.D., A. Hayir and M.I. Todorovska (2002) “Was Grand Banks event of 1929 a slump
spreading in two directions?” Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 22, pp.349-360.
MMS (2005). www.mms.gov
NASA (2005). http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/
NOAA (2005). Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, US Department of Commerce, http://www.oar.noaa.gov/
NRCan (2005). http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/inter/index_e.html