Statpipe experience reveals techniques for seabed problems
Design and construction problems posed by severe permanent seabed irregularities along the Statpipe route in the North Sea required careful route planning to avoid pipeline damage and extensive intervention work later. Experiences from the Statpipe project will prove useful for future pipeline construction on the Norwegian Shelf where even more severe seabed irregularities lie north of 62/sup 0/ N. This first of two articles categorizes the major seabed irregularities encountered and recounts design approaches to solving consequent pipelay problems. The Statpipe pipeline system consists of four pipeline legs and totals 842-km subsea and 40-km onshore lines. Two pipelines cross the Norwegian Trench at about 300 m water depth: a 289-km, 30-in. line from Statfjord to the landfall at Kalsto, and a 208-km, 28-in. line from Kalsto to riser platform 16/11S in block 16/11. One 155-km, 36-in. pipeline goes from Heimdal field to 16/11S, and another 191-km, 36-in. line links 16/11S to riser platform 2/4S which is bridge-connected to the Ekofisk field complex. The two 36-in. lines and parts of the 30-in. and 28-in. lines are laid on the North Sea Plateau, west of the Norwegian Trench, in relatively shallow water (70-150 m) on a regular seabed. These represent traditional North Sea pipeline problems only. On the other hand, the two lines crossing the Norwegian Trench have been a challenge both because of the water depth and because of the wide areas of severe seabed irregularities.
- Research Organization:
- Den norske stats oljeselskap A.S., (Statoil) Stavanger
- OSTI ID:
- 5717552
- Journal Information:
- Oil Gas J.; (United States), Vol. 84:17
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
03 NATURAL GAS
42 ENGINEERING
NATURAL GAS
TRANSPORT
PETROLEUM
PIPELINES
CONSTRUCTION
DESIGN
DEPTH
NORTH SEA
NORWAY
OFFSHORE SITES
ONSHORE SITES
PLANNING
ROUTING
SEA BED
ATLANTIC OCEAN
DIMENSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
EUROPE
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
SCANDINAVIA
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
WESTERN EUROPE
022000* - Petroleum- Transport
Handling
& Storage
032000 - Natural Gas- Transport
Handling
& Storage
420205 - Engineering- Transport & Storage Facilities- (1980-)
423000 - Engineering- Marine Engineering- (1980-)