Mechanical integrity of offshore pipelines

Pipelines experience mechanical damage (e.g. dent, gouge, local wrinkling) due to external interference (e.g. anchor dragging, third-party) and ground deformation (e.g. slope movement, ice gouging). The type and severity of pipe damage may influence the development of integrity management programs. Assessment of mechanical damage may be of greater significance for pipeline systems located in remote harsh environments that may influence operational, repair and intervention strategies due to remote location and logistical constraints. There is limited engineering guidance and uncertainty for predicting mechanical response of defects and interacting defects; such as dent feature interaction with an adjacent girth weld or dent with gouge feature; and their corresponding effects on pipe integrity and fatigue life. This study addresses this technology gap through the development of calibrated numerical tools, conducting parametric studies and providing empirical equations that can characterize the effects of local damage and applied loads on pipe mechanical response.