Tow methods design guide for the installation of offshore pipelines

Technical Report · Thu Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989

OSTI ID:6928260

The Pipeline Research Committee (PRC) of the American Gas Association (A.G.A.) has contracted R. J. Brown and Associates of America, Inc., to review and evaluate the various tow methods and develop a design guide for the installation of offshore pipelines. The findings of the work performed for this study are presented herein. Limiting parameters for single as well as bundled pipeline configurations are evaluated for surface, near-surface, mid-depth, off-bottom and bottom tow methods of pipeline installation. The evaluation shows that the viable towing methods for construction of offshore pipelines include the mid-depth and bottom tow methods. Buckle collapse criteria should be utilized in the design of deepwater pipelines to achieve low submerged weights with minimum buoyancy requirements. Low submerged weight provides the maximum pipe tow string length, reducing the number of mid-line connections. A cost estimating program in LOTUS 1-2-3 format is included with this study. The costing program generates cost for each tow method based on user specified pipeline parameters. The cost program also includes J-lay estimating capabilities for single pipelines.

• Research Organization: Brown (R.J.) and Associates, Houston, TX (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: AGA
• OSTI ID: 6928260
• Report Number(s): PR-205-913
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
022000 -- Petroleum-- Transport
Handling
& Storage
03 NATURAL GAS
032000* -- Natural Gas-- Transport
Handling
& Storage
COST
DESIGN
DOCUMENT TYPES
EVALUATION
INSTALLATION
OFFSHORE OPERATIONS
PIPELINES
PRESSURIZING
PROGRESS REPORT
SHIPS