Weather Impact On Pipeline Temperature Distribution

Abstract

Extreme weather conditions have shown significant impacts on pipeline safety, especially oil and natural gas pipelines. Floods, lightning, and extreme temperatures have been recognized as the most affected reasons for weather-induced pipeline damage. Among them, the extreme air temperatures, either extremely cold or hot, may not induce immediate damage to pipelines but may cause localized corrosion and fractures on pipeline segments impacted by extreme temperatures. Thus, it is of interest to understand how extreme air temperatures would influence the temperature distribution along the pipeline. As most pipelines are buried under soil, the influences of air temperatures on the pipelines are not direct. The property of the soil, the depth of the soil, and the temperature change rate will significantly impact such a temperature penetration. This study investigates and reviews how to convert the air temperature into the temperature distribution on the surface of the pipeline. Such a study can be used for further pipeline risk assessment and prediction.