Geometry Monitoring of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline
An important aspect of the ongoing operation of the buried sections of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) is the curvature imposed on the pipeline by differential settlement of the surrounding soil as a result of thawing of ice-rich subsurface soils. High pipe curvature is a source of concern since it can potentially lead to wrinkling of the pipe wall and/or tensile fracture of the pipe at girth welds. Alyeska Pipeline Service Company has monitored pipeline settlement using different techniques since start up of the line in 1977. This paper provides a brief historical overview of how the techniques used to monitor pipe settlement have evolved over the life of TAPS. The paper also provides a discussion of the how the pipe geometry is currently monitored using the BJ Pipeline Inspection Services (BJ) Geopig® "smart" pig. The discussion includes a brief description of the Geopig measurements which are numerically processed to obtain the three-dimensional pipeline displacement and curvature (bending strain) profiles. Several illustrations of this technology are presented. The paper concludes with a summary of how Alyeska's state-of-the art pipeline geometry monitoring program is used to help make decisions related to maintaining the structural integrity of TAPS.
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Availability:
- Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9780784406212
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Supplemental Notes:
- © 2002 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Corporate Authors:
American Society of Civil Engineers
1801 Alexander Bell Drive
Reston, VA United States 20191-4400 -
Authors:
- Hart, James D
- Powell, Graham H
- Hackney, David
- Zulfiqar, Nasir
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Conference:
- 11th International Conference on Cold Regions Engineering
- Location: Anchorage Alaska, United States
- Date: 2022-5-20 to 2022-5-22
- Publication Date: 2002
Language
- English
Media Info
- Media Type: Web
- Pagination: pp 110-121
- Monograph Title: Cold Regions Engineering: Cold Regions Impacts on Transportation and Infrastructure
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Curvature; Differential settlement; Monitoring; Petroleum pipelines; Soil structure interaction; Underground structures
- Identifier Terms: Trans Alaska Pipeline
- Geographic Terms: Alaska
- Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Maintenance and Preservation; Pipelines;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01881275
- Record Type: Publication
- ISBN: 9780784406212
- Files: TRIS, ASCE
- Created Date: Apr 26 2023 9:18AM