Gibraltar Strait crossing: Free span analysis optimizes subsea pipeline
- SAIPEM S.p.A., Milan (Italy). Engineering Dept.
The laying of pipes has reached hundreds of meters and the Transmediterranean Gasline laid by Saipem at a water depth over 600 meters still represents a milestone. Saipem has gathered experiences, from which rather advanced calculation tools and procedures have been implemented to get maximum performance from laying vessels and to get solutions to be applied to cross typical hazardous area. The Gibraltar Submarine Gas Pipeline comprises two, 22 inches nominal diameter submarine pipelines laid in the Western Corridor of the Strait of Gibraltar in the winter 1994--1995. Extreme water depths, rugged seabed profiles, slopes up to 30{degree}, high currents velocities and opposing currents along the water column created the hazards to the pipelines and fully tested the capabilities of the contractor. One major concern was optimization of design route to successfully lay the pipelines, minimize excessive free span lengths and overstress along the pipeline. The scope of this paper is to present the concepts which guided the Gibraltar Strait Crossing installation design and the criteria developed in order to optimize the on-bottom stress condition as regards the structural integrity of the pipeline.
- OSTI ID:
- 400916
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9606279-; ISBN 0-7918-1494-7; TRN: IM9650%%322
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 14. international conference on offshore mechanics arctic engineering (OMAE), Florence (Italy), 16-20 Jun 1996; Other Information: PBD: 1996; Related Information: Is Part Of OMAE 1996 -- Proceedings of the 15. international conference on offshore mechanics and arctic engineering. Volume 5: Pipeline technology; Murray, A. [ed.] [Nova Gas Transmission, Calgary, Alberta (Canada)]; Bruschi, R. [ed.] [Snamprogetti, S.p.A., Fano (Italy)]; PB: 612 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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