Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants

Ground movements can be very detrimental to buried pipelines that are extensively used in oil and gas industry. Although pipeline failures caused by ground movements are not frequent, they often result in major spills that could be extremely costly in damage control and clean ups. Current technologies provide advanced tools to identify areas with high probability of ground movements and their expected direction and magnitude. A practical and advanced mitigation measure can help pipeline industry to prevent pipe rupture due to ground movements in one hand and to protect the environment and the public on the other hand. This research project investigates a novel mitigation method to prevent pipeline failure due to ground movements using a special type of orthotropic buffers employed in areas susceptible to ground movements. Our research project focuses on four key objectives: 1) evaluate, using numerical finite element simulations, the influence buffering elements on the stability response of buried pipelines under the displacement caused by ground movements; 2) assess, by means of field testing, the stability response of buried pipelines enhanced by buffering; 3) develop a validated numerical dataset to predict the local and global response of buried pipelines under compressive forces; and 4) propose design formulations and modeling techniques to simulate the pipe response under various combinations of ground movement. To achieve these aims, the research team will perform field tests and employ numerical modelling. We will also provide improved modeling and design recommendations to practitioners for their daily work, resulting in increased safety and reliability for pipelines. The proposed solution can remarkably increase pipe capacity to sustain large magnitudes of displacements caused by natural forces such as earthquakes, slope failures, slope creeps, fault slips, etc.