Which foundation options are available to secure the pipeline termination?

Which foundation options are available to secure the pipeline termination?

Driven Pile: Despite their load capacity, good position precision and low fabrication cost, driven piles are generally not considered because of the high mobilization cost for a deepwater subsea pile driving hammer.

Plate Anchors: InterMoor’s, a moorings and anchors brand in Acteon’s Engineering, Moorings and Foundations division, Suction Embedded Plate Anchor (SEPLA) may be considered, especially for their excellent position precision, but are typically not selected for this application because there are no installation time savings compared to a suction pile.

Drag Embedment Anchors: These may be inconvenient in the case of a congested seafloor, but are effective in less-developed areas.

Suction Piles: Although a higher cost is incurred at fabrication because of their heavy weight and large diameter, their superior holding capacity and positioning accuracy largely make up for it, and are regularly utilized for pipeline holdback.

What considerations are necessary to design a pipeline end termination (PLET) suction pile?

Soil Data: Gathered from geotechnical surveys, soil weight and strength parameters help determine the overall pile geometry of length, diameter, and wall thickness

Installation Method: A properly-designed suction pile will account for deployment method, be it a pipelay or anchor handling vessel, and the differential pressure when required for pumping into the seafloor.

Attachment Method: Physical hardware of the rigging connection between the pipeline and the suction anchor pile.

Expected Loads & Lifespan: The size, length, and use of the pipeline will affect these.

When selecting foundations for pipeline applications, several interconnected factors come into consideration. Selecting the best supplier to design, fabricate, and install the best solution will help eliminate extra expense and exposure.