Progress in Investigating Pipe-Soil-Fluid Interaction: The STABLEpipe JIP

The subsea pipeline industry has recognised for over two decades that sediment transport, scour and liquefaction mechanisms have potentially significant impact on the validity and accuracy of existing pipe-soil interaction models under extreme metocean conditions. This is highlighted in the recently-published DNV-RP-F109 code in Sections 4.4-4.5. Appendix B of the code also discusses the need for specific models to be used in calcareous soils. The STABLEpipe JIP is presently in Phase 2, with the objectives of undertaking research activities which could achieve a step change in the science and engineering of subsea pipeline stability design. A summary of the proposed work and present status of the JIP will be presented.