Assessment of the impact of ice gouging on the Arctic marine pipeline systems

To consider the methods of assessing the impact of ice gouging phenomenon on subsea oil and gas pipelines, the authors analyzed Russian and foreign codes and standards in the field of offshore pipeline systems design, construction and operation, and also considered in detail scientific approaches to investigate this issue. Within the framework of the analysis of peculiarities of offshore pipelines operation in areas with ice gouging, systematization of experience gained from pipeline systems operation in freezing waters was carried out, and methods of pipeline protection from damages caused by drifting ice formations were considered. The assessment of ice induced gouges formation and distribution features is performed. It is shown that the assessment methods presented in current codes and standards to determine the ice gouging impact on marine pipelines do not allow to directly take into account the ice-soil interaction. The feasibility of developing criteria for determining the minimum required burial depth for subsea pipelines in areas with ice gouging is determined. The directions of further research to ensure safe and failure-free operation of subsea pipeline systems in freezing water areas are presented.