OFFSHORE PIPELINE

FREE SPANNING
TABLE OF CONTENTS

SESSION #1:
 Introduction
 Limiting Span Criteria
 Code and Standards
 Data Requirements
 Determination of Intervention
 Methods of Intervention
 Long Term Span Maintenance

SESSION #2:
 Determination of Permissible Span and Stresses
 Static Stress
 Vortex Shedding
 Bar Buckling
 Fatigue
 Case Study
SESSION #1
Session #1
INTRODUCTION

Pipeline laid on an uneven seabed will tend to form of free span rather than follow the
bathymetric features. A span length can either be shorter than the allowable limits
length (not effect the structural integrity) or it can be longer than the allowable limits
(presenting a point of potential failure).
Session #1
LIMITING SPAN CRITERIA

There are four (4) span length criteria which provide the limiting span conditions for
comparison with the pipeline configuration.
• Static stress
• Vortex shedding induced vibration
 In-line
 Cross flow
• Bar buckling
• Fatigue
Session #1
CODE AND STANDARDS

The following codes and standards provide guideline or limiting criteria with respect to
pipeline free span:
• DNV 1981 “Rules for Submarine Pipeline Systems”
• DNV RP-F105 “Free Spanning Pipelines”
• ASME B31.8 “Gas Transmission and Distribution Piping Systems”
Session #1
DATA REQUIREMENTS

The data required to perform a free span analysis can be broken down into three groups:
• Pipe data
 Pipe outside diameter
 Pipe wall thickness and density
 Mill tolerance of steel pipe
 Corrosion allowance
 Young’s modulus for steel pipe
 Poissons’s ratio for steel pipe
 Coefficient of thermal expansion for steel pipe
 Specified Minimum Yield Strength for Steel pipe
 Residual lay tension
 Logarithmic decrement of structural damping
 Corrosion coating thickness and density
 Concrete coating thickness and density
 Marine growth thickness and density
Session #1
DATA REQUIREMENTS
• Operational data
 Design pressure
 Design temperature
 Content density
 Hydrotest pressure
• Environmental data
 Water depth
 Design wave height
 Design wave period
 Wave direction
 Steady current velocity
 Steady current direction
 Steady current height
 Density of seawater
 Kinematic viscosity of seawater
 Seawater temperature
 Soil stiffness
Session #1
DETERMINATION OF INTERVENTION

To determine intervention requirements, there span lengths are then compared to the
maximum allowable span length.
For convenience, the allowable span lengths may be divided into two categories:
• Temporary
• Permanent
The intervention of free spanning are depend on the following phase:
• Design phase
• Construction phase
 Pre-lay
 Post lay
Session #1
METHODS OF INTERVENTION

• The various methods of interventions are as follows:

• Pre-sweeping
• Trenching
• Rock dumping
• Mattresses
• Sandbags
• Grout-bags
• Mechanical Supports
• Pipeline Anchoring
Session #1
LONG TERM SPAN MAINTENANCE

• Monitoring
Generally, subsea pipelines are inspected annually.
The purpose of periodic inspection are as follows:
 To check the actual span length
 To check damage on existing span
 To locate any new spans that may have formed
 To check the condition of previous intervention
• Spans Acceptance Criteria
During periodic inspection, pipeline span length shall be compared to the
permanent allowable span limits.
• Intervention
Spans which are considerably larger than the allowable limit may require
immediate intervention work to minimize the risk.
SESSION #2
Session #2
DETERMINATION OF PERMISSIBLE SPAN AND STRESSES

Allowable span length for a pipeline are calculated based on each of the following
criteria:
• Static Stress
• Vortex Shedding
 In-Line
 Cross Flow
• Bar Buckling

Each criteria hall generally be calculated for the following load cases:
• Empty (Installation Condition)
• Water filled
• Hydrotest
• Operating
Session #2
STATIC STRESS
Pipeline span is due to self weight and lateral hydrodynamic loading
Hydrodynamic Loading (Morison's Equation)

Where:
ρw : seawater density
Dt : total diameter of pipe
CD : coefficient of drag
CI : coefficient of inertia
VC : current velocity
Vw : wave induced velocity
φ : wave phase
TZ : wave period
Session #2
END CONDITION
• Generally, end condition is
assumed as fixed – pinned
condition.
• The fixed-pinned assumption
may not be accurate when a
pipeline spans between two
rock ridges.
• Value for the frequency factor
and Euler constant.
Session #2
STATIC STRESS
Total load

Where:
q : vertical load due to self weight

The maximum bending moment by qmax acting alone is given by

Where:
L : span length
Session #2
STATIC STRESS
The bending moment in a span due to the combination of qmax and axial compression
is given by:
Where:
K = (P/EI)1/2
P =Axial compressive load
E = Young’s Modulus
I = Section moment of area
Session #2
STATIC STRESS
Maximum bending stress:

Total longitudinal stress:

Where:
σT = -E x α x T (Thermal Stress)
T = Temperature difference
α = coefficient of thermal expansion
σν = ν x σH (Poisson’s Stress)
ν = Poisson’s ratio
σH = (Hoop Stress)

Von Misses Stress

(τ (shear stress assumed to be zero with regard to spanning)
Allowable Bending Stress, the lowest root of:
Session #2
VORTEX SHEDDING – IN-LINE
For in-line motion the reduced velocity, VR, for the on-set of in-line oscillation is
determined from the relation between VR and stability parameter Ks

Where:
Me = effective mass of pipeline
δ = logarithmic coefficient of structural
damping

Where:
Wsub = submerged weight of pipeline
Ca = coefficient of added mass
Session #2
VORTEX SHEDDING – IN-LINE
Excitation frequency of a span:

Where:
V = flow velocity normal to the pipe

Allowable span length

Where:
C = end fixity constant
= 22.2 for fixed – fixed
= 15.4 for fixed – pinned
= 9.9 for pinned -pinned
 Session #2
VORTEX SHEDDING – CROSS FLOW
Reduced velocity for cross flow oscillation is depend on Reynold’s number Re:

Where:
Vapp = appropriate velocity
(determined by Keuleugen Carpenter Number)

Tw = significant wave period

Vw = significant wave velocity
ν = kinematic viscosity of seawater

For a given KC number, wave velocity component can be generally determined from
the following:
KC > 40, then Vapp = Vc + Vw (wave and current)
KC < 40, then Vapp = Vc (current only)
Session #2
BAR BUCKLING
DNV 1981 gives the formula for calculating the effective axial force with respect to bar
buckling:

Where:
N = axial force in the pipe
Pi = internal pressure
Pe = external pressure
Span length for bar buckling:

Where:
N = constant on end fixity
= 4.0 (Fixed – Fixed)
= 2.05 (Fixed – Pinned)
=1.0 (Pinned – Pinned)
Session #2
FATIGUE

DNV 1981 provides a section dedicated to fatigue analysis. The code requirement is
for the total fatigue usage factor to be less than 30% for pipelines with inspection
access and 10% for pipeline without inspection access. The total fatigue usage factor is
obtained using Miner’s rule, which states that:

Where:
S = number of stress blocks
ni = number of stress cycles in stress block
Ni = number of cycles to failure at constant stress range
Session #2
FATIGUE
Session #2
FATIGUE
The fundamental natural frequency may be approximate by (Refer to DNV RP-F105):
Session #2
FATIGUE
Screening Fatigue Criteria
In-Line Cross Flow
Session #2
FATIGUE
The fatigue damage assessment is based on the accumulation law by Palmgren-Miner

The number of cycles to failure at stress range S is defined by the SN Curve of the form:
Session #2
FATIGUE
Session #2
FATIGUE
Session #2
FATIGUE
Session #2
FATIGUE
Fatigue Life
Session #2
CASE STUDY
Pipe Data
Session #2
CASE STUDY

Coating Data
Session #2
CASE STUDY
Operational Data

Tidal Data

Water Depth = 57m

Session #2
CASE STUDY
Wave Data

Current Data

Marin Growth Data

Session #2
CASE STUDY
Hydrodynamic Coeff.

Soil Data
Session #2
CASE STUDY
Fatigue Limit State

ULS Limit State