Pipeline Stress Analysis
Pipeline stress analysis is a critical part of the pipeline engineering design process, ensuring safe and robust design implementation
As projects move into implementation, it is critical that the final piping configuration has been fully evaluated, including pipeline stress analysis. Our team includes specialists in evaluating pipeline stresses arising from internal pressures, temperature fluctuations, seismic activity, and other environmental or operational forces, and how these stresses and forces interact. We use advanced engineering software backed up by years of experience to identify high stress locations, potential failure zones, and opportunities for design optimisation before problems arise in the field. Our team can work to a wide variety of piping codes and standards, such as EN and the ASME B31 series.
Some projects require additional work beyond ordinary stress analysis. In those cases, we have finite element analysis (FEA) capabilities that allow us to assess particular problems for both piping components and support design. Our understanding of the loading and constraints in these cases allows us to develop optimised solutions.
P&C’s stress analysis work is closely tied to the systems that we deal with on a daily basis:
- Optimising plant and pump station layout to prevent over-stressed piping under all operating conditions
- Determining support requirements for surface piping to manage expansion and reduce support loading
- Designing supports to safely resist transient and bursting disc forces
- Dealing with underground and shaft piping installations
- Analysing vibration issues and equipment and structural interactions
Pipeline Stress Analysis Projects from around the world
P&C completed the detailed design, engineering and commissioning support of the 186 km long phosphate ore pipeline from Khouribga Mine to Jorf Lasfar and the feeder pipeline systems from the process plants to the pump head station. The head station receives ore of different grades from the feeder stations and pumps the ore in separate batches via the main DN 900 diameter pipeline to the terminal that delivers different grades of ore to dedicated storage tanks. A choke station at the terminal ensures that the system remains fully pressurised flow at all times to prevent slack flow.
Commissioned in 2014, the system transports 38 MTA of phosphate ore and is the highest capacity ore slurry pipeline in the world, providing a significant proportion of global phosphate demand.
P&C provides ongoing technical and management support to IMERYS in Brazil that operates a long-distance kaolin transport pipeline. The support includes annual management, training, technical audits, and identification and implementation of technical projects. These projects include ongoing maintenance and system upgrades as required and recently included the detailed design, construction support, and commissioning of a 23 km section of replacement pipeline.
After completing a comprehensive backfill test campaign and developing a backfill strategy as part of the front-end engineering, P&C completed the detailed engineering for the backfill preparation plant and underground distribution system for the Kamoa underground mine. P&C also provided construction and commissioning assistance and developed the backfill management system, as well as providing classroom and practical training for the operators and local workforce.
Paterson & Cooke completed the detailed design of the 219 km long water pipeline from Jorf Lasfar to the Khouribga area. The pipeline will have an annual capacity of 80 million cubic metres when completed. The DN 1300 pipeline will deliver water to a number of OCP operations and potentially other users in the region.
