Analyses of Pipelines for Deep Horizontal Directional Drilling Installation

Rotimi Oladunjoye Owowa^{1, 2}, Chinwuba Victor Ossia^2, and Christopher O. Akhigbemidu³

¹Mechanical Integrity Group, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Escravos, Delta state, Nigeria

²Offshore Technology Institute, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

³ProjectMasters Nigeria Limited, East-West Road, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Cite this paper:
Rotimi Oladunjoye Owowa, Chinwuba Victor Ossia and Christopher O. Akhigbemidu. Analyses of Pipelines for Deep Horizontal Directional Drilling Installation. American Journal of Mechanical Engineering. 2016; 4(4):153-162. doi: 10.12691/ajme-4-4-4

Abstract

This study examines the generic forces responsible for failure in pipelines installed by horizontal directional drilling (HDD), and proposes limiting load and stress criteria in order to prevent collapse, buckling or shear during installation and operation. Design equations from relevant codes and procedures were solved and integrated to create a common platform for analyzing installation loads, collapse and buckling forces in HDD pipelines. A comprehensive user friendly installation analysis tool which allows for multiple design settings, including buoyancy control has been developed in Microsoft Excel^® platform. A pipeline with 1km HDD river-crossing was simulated and analyzed using the design tool. The results were analyzed and compared with that of existing commercial tools for HDD design. Since the results meet all specified design criteria, within the stated assumptions, it was found safe to proceed with the installation of the case study with a pulling load of 1000kN, using a 100-ton (≈ 10x10⁴N) HDD rig without risk of failure. Finally, this work has therefore provided a tool for quick estimation of limiting load and stress criteria for deep buried pipeline installations in order to prevent failure during installation and operation of such pipelines.

Keywords:
horizontal directional drilling deep buried pipelines combined installation stress factor ovality

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