Report Card on the Development of Pipeline Stress Analysis and Soil-Pipeline Interaction

December 19, 2024 1:00 pm

The study of pipeline-soil interaction started over 100 years ago. Initially it was focused on how soil loads interact with buried utility pipes and culverts. In the 1970s computer based (via dial-up modem) soil-spring models were used to assess the buried pipeline response on the Trans-Alaska oil pipeline. Since then, there have been many significant developments, including standard references (such as ALA (2005)) that provide guidance to pipeline stress analysts and designers.

Since recent years there have been several important advances in understanding how buried pipelines and soils interact, which has improved pipeline designs. There remain several areas that still need more research and development. This presentation will present one report card on pipeline-soil interaction modelling and present continuing challenges for our industry.

About the Speaker

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Jim Oswell

Principal Engineer, Naviq Consulting Inc.

Jim Oswell is a geotechnical engineer based in Calgary Alberta. For over 40 years he has been involved in both permafrost engineering and the geotechnical aspects of pipelines. His consulting experience includes pipeline projects in Canada, United States (including Alaska), Ecuador, Colombia, China, Russia and Malaysia. This work including input to pipeline-soil interaction modelling, routing, slope stability and other geohazard management, geohazard mitigation, and forensic investigations of loss-of-containment events. He is the author of the textbook “Soil mechanics for pipeline stress analysis”.

About the Moderator

Carrie Murray M.Eng., P.Eng
Technical Discipline Lead - Geotechnical, Senior Geotechnical Engineer, Senior Principal, Stantec

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