An Analysis of the Performance of a Warm-oil Pipeline in Permafrost, Inuvik, N.W.T.

Abstract

The data collected at a warm-oil test pipeline at Inuvik. N.W.T. are analyzed making use of the theory of thaw–consolidation proposed by Morgenstern and Nixon. The observed pore pressures, settlements, and rate of melting in the thawing permafrost foundation have been compared with their corresponding theoretical predictions. Bearing in mind the natural variability of ice-rich permafrost deposits, the agreement between prediction and observation is extremely encouraging. As the data collected at this test facility form the only completely documented case history of a thawing foundation in permafrost published to date, this comparison between theory and actual performance is valuable in establishing a level of confidence in the application of the theory of thaw–consolidation.