A Seismic Design Consideration of Oil and Gas Transmission Systems in Taiwan

CTCI Corporation
J.S. Chung *1/ C.L. Liu *2
2003/9/3

*1: Piping engineer of CTCI Corporation *2: Manager of Piping Department of CTCI Corporation

A Seismic Design Consideration of Oil and Gas Transmission Systems in Taiwan

Introduction
Gas and Oil Transmission Systems in Taiwan

Identification of Seismic Hazards

The Codes for Seismic Design Seismic Design Philosophy Damage Control During Earthquake Conclusion and Suggestion

Introduction
Most of energy resources (such as crude oil and natural gas) must be

imported from other countries due to the lack of natural resources in Taiwan.
They are stored in storage tanks and transported to customers by pipeline systems after vaporization and refining. Because of rapid economic gross in Taiwan,today oil and gas transmission systems tend to be undergroundconcentrated and complicated. The leak of tanks with flammable or explosive contents and damage of oil and gas transmission systems due to earthquake may result in a great loss of human

life and property

CTCI corporation is the leading engineering company in Taiwan. Most of the oil and gas transmission systems in Taiwan are designed by CTCI.

Introduction
Earthquakes in Taiwan
Taiwan is located at the border between Eurasian Plate and Phillipine Sea Plate. There are 2200 quakes occurred per year and one of which is disastrous in

Taiwan.
The famous 921 Chi-Chi Earthquake of magnitude 7.3

made 2413 people dead.

Introduction
The Purpose of Seismic Design
To Ensure Structure Integrity To Maintain Functionability

In addition to external loading of pressure,deadweight, soil bearing,thermal load and vibration, it is necessary to consider seismic effects for oil and gas transmission systems.

Gas and Oil Transmission System in Taiwan

Onshore pipelines for gasIt supplies natural gas from CPC Yuan-an terminal through onshore pipeline to customers. Offshore pipelines for gasThe 36 offshore pipeline is approximately 240 km in length from Yuan-an to Tung-shiao and combines with onshore pipeline. Offshore pipelines for oilTo transfer the crude oil from offshore of the Saloon and Ta-Lin-Pu to the tanks through offshore pipelines. Onshore pipelines for oilTo be built along the highway,the pipelines belong to CPC and FPCC.

Identification of Seismic Hazards

Seismic Hazards
TYPE ITEM Transportation Pipelines Ground Shaking Faulting Liquefaction Land slides Tsunami NOTE*1

Pipelines/facilities in Booster Station or Distribution Station or Terminal

Note: 1. Offshore pipelines need to be considered on-bottom stability influenced by tsunami and scouring in the nearshore area. 2. The numbers in the table show the hazard degree for pipeline systems and the number 1 means the maximum dangerous degree.

Identification of Seismic Hazards

Ground Shaking
Ground shaking is a major design consideration for pump stations, tanks and pipeline systems. Ground shaking will induce stress and strain in the piping system due to differential ground movement.

Ground Acceleration

Identification of Seismic Hazards

Fault Movement
The fault movement will induce compression or tension stress of pipelines.They cant withstand this large differential movement by increasing the strength of the structure.

Identification of Seismic Hazards

Soil Liquefaction
Liquefaction is the

transformation of a saturated
cohesion-less soil from a solid to a liquid state as a result of

increased pore pressure and

loss of shear strength. When the soil around a buried

pipeline liquefies, the pipeline

may be upward or downward.

Identification of Seismic Hazards

Land Slides
Land slides always result from seismic shaking and heavy rainfall.

Identification of Seismic Hazards

Tsunami :
It should be considered about on-bottom stability influenced by tsunami and scouring in the nearshore area for offshore pipeline.

Identification of Seismic Hazards

Example:26 inch Natural Gas Pipeline Cross Cho-Shui River
Pipeline systems still keep functionability after 921 Chi-Chi earthquake.

Identification of Seismic Hazards

Example:Tai-chung network Piping Systems for Natural Gas near
the Southern Location of the Wu-Si Bridge 8 & 4 inch low and moderate pressure transmission pipelines were failure after 921 earthquake.
Piping failure due to differential fault movement and ground rupture. Bending failure of piping supported from bridge structure after bridge crushed. Threaded piping joints are easier

to leak than butt welded joints

when subjected to the effect of earthquake.

The Code for Seismic design

The Major Code use for Seismic Design
Facility

Item Code

Piping systems
ASME B31.4 ASME B31.8

Tanks
API 650 API 620

Seismic Design

Guidelines by ASCE/ASME Committee See Note*1,2

API 650 APP.E API 620 APP.L

Note : 1. Since Code B31.4 & B31.8 dont provide calculation method of seismic analysis for pipeline systems, hence guidelines and recommendations by ASCE/ASME committee are used for design. 2. After 921 earthquake, Professors and specialists are invited by the Public Construction Commission to research and provide some recommendations and seismic design guides for lifeline system.

Seismic Design Philosophy-Seismic Design force

Technical Rules and Regulation of Building,R.O.C. (Seismic Zone in Taiwan)
1995 YEAR BEFORE 921 AFTER 921

Three sections High,moderate,low

Four sections (0.33g,0.28g,0.23g,0.18g)

UBC CODE

Two Sections 0.33g(black) ,0.23g(white)

Uniform Building Code specifies Taiwan in seismic zone-4 and it defines 0.4g of ground acceleration to design the structure.

Piping code such as ASME B31.4/B31.8 doesnt specify the seismic intensity for piping systems

Seismic Design Philosophy-Seismic Design force

The

comparison table for seismic design force

Publication Date regulations of building -1995
Technical rules and Technical rules and regulations of building- 1999 UBC-1997

Item

V ZKCIW
Z :Seismic zone

ZIC W 1.4 y Fu

3.0Ca W R

factor(0.6,0.8,1.0) Importance factor=1.5

I:

Seismic Z =0.33g

zone factor factor

C a :Seismic

coefficient(0.44x1.3)

C :Seismic coefficient

Design Base Shear

1 0.15 8 T
K =0.8

V 0.18W

representative of the =1.5(Second Type) inherent overstrength and global ductility C Seismic capacity of coefficient=2.5 lateral-force-resisting y 1.2 systems
Fu 2.27

I Importation

R :Numerical coefficient

V 0.477W

C 1 Fu

V 0.295W

Seismic Design Philosophy-Design Procedure

Design Procedure for Seismic Design of Oil and Gas Transmission Systems
Start
Preliminary Route Selection Geological Investigation Crossing Faulting line N Y Liquefaction Area N Soil Improvement Landslides Area N Seismic Design Finish Y

Countermeasure

Seismic Design Philosophy- Countermeasure for Seismic Design of Piping

Countermeasure for Seismic Design of Piping

Hazards Item

Ground Shaking Fault Movement Soil liquefaction

Landslides

Tsunami To check on-bottom stability of offshore pipelines To determine the burial depth or add concrete weight for offshore pipelines. To check burial depth in the nearshore areas

To design anti-seismic piping support based on ground acceleration. 1. To design rigid guide or anchor Counter-m supports to easure provide more stiffness of piping. 2. To use rubber sheet to increase viscous value of piping systems.

To avoid crossing the fault line. The shut-off valves should be installed at the two sides of the crossing line in case the piping routing must cross the fault line.

To avoid crossing soil liquefaction area To improve soil condition To determine weight of pipeline To determine pipe support spans to design pile structure.

To avoid crossing slope instability areas. To improve slope stability or avoid crossing in small potential areas.

Seismic Design Philosophy- Countermeasure for Seismic Design of Piping

Anti-Seismic Support Design for Aboveground Piping

Seismic Design Philosophy- Countermeasure for Seismic Design of Piping

To Install an Isolation Valves

Seismic Design Philosophy- Seismic Analysis for Pipeline

Seismic analysis models for oil and gas pipelines can be divided into three sections based on location of piping (1)U/G Piping (2)Soil and Piping Interactive Zone (3)A/G Piping.
Pig Station

L
Virtual Anchor Soil Friction Interaction Area Physical Anchor

Underground Piping

Soil and Pipeline Interactive Zone

Aboveground Piping

To use Response Displacement Method to calculate piping strain within 1% To evaluate liquefaction potential required data: soil information, ground acceleration

To consider effects of soils-piping interaction To determine L value To use static accel. method to calculate stress in the piping system within allowable stress. required data: soil data , ground acceleration

To use static accel. method to calculate stress in the piping system within allowable stress. required data: ground acceleration

Seismic Design Philosophy- Seismic Design for Offshore Pipeline

Seismic design for offshore Pipeline To perform seabed investigation in preliminary route selection

stage is necessary to choose a safety route.

Sub-bottom Profiling Soil Investigations Echo Sounder/Bathymetric Data Side -Scan Sonar Magnetic Anomaly Detection The items of seismic analysis for offshore pipeline are same as onshore pipeline

Damage Control During Earthquake

The seismic design for the oil and gas transmission pipelines can withstand a seismic capability to earthquake magnitude of 6(0.33g).If we use actual seismic value (approximately 1g) of 921 earthquake to design pipeline, it is too conservative from economical view due to occurring seldom. To take the following methods to minimize the hazard in the event that a leak or rupture occurs in the pipeline after big earthquakes.
To install a block valve and vent stack To plan a schedule of periodical surveillance and use smart pigs to check the corrosion condition of the pipe wall.

To design monitor control systems such as SCADA system

Damage Control During Earthquake

To Develop a Emergency Repaired Plan for Offshore Pipelines
It is difficult to repair an offshore pipeline due to require to mobilize repair equipment such as lay-barge,mechanical connectors and survey vessel,etc. A small pinhole or puncture in pipeline can use a special clamp to control leakage.But,a full rupture resulting in a shutdown must cut a spool pipe to replace it.

Conclusion and Suggestion

Oil and gas transmission systems damage due to earthquake may cause by liquefactionlandslides fault movement and ground shaking,etc. To ensure safety of pipeline operation, it is necessary to get more geological information along the pipeline routing during design stage. The owner should have a detail emergency plan and operation manual that covers various types of man-made and natural disasters,such as earthquakes, and practice periodically to make the operators acquainted with the procedure if earthquakes occur. Now, new installed pipeline systems have been designed to withstand a seismic capability to earthquake magnitude of 6(0.33g). To ensure the integrity and maintain functionability of existing pipeline systems is considerably difficult during big earthquakes occur. It is necessary to make further assessment of existing pipeline systems. Up to now, there isnt a standard or code to specify the design methods , parameters, and design criteria of the seismic design for the oil and gas pipelines in the industry, excluding of some guidelines provided by Committee of ASCE. The engineers can follow its instruction for seismic design.