TIE-IN TECHNIQUES FOR SUBSEA PIPELINES

Under peculiar sea condition and complicated land features and geological situation at the sea floor, tie-in techniques for subsea pipelines are essential to target the issue of how to joint the newly-developed pipeline with the previously-built subsea pipeline while ensuring oil and gas supply high-efficiently and safely. Therefore, this paper analyzed the status quo and the research and development on tie-in techniques for subsea pipelines worldwide, and also gave out a broad overview of measurement methods of linear dimension for spools, alignment methods of deepwater pipelines and tie-in methods of subsea pipelines including mechanical connection method, underwater welding method, and hot tapping method. In addition, this paper put forward key techniques on tie-in technique for subsea pipelines, and the future development of tie-in technique for the deepwater pipelines.