Pipelines in permafrost: geotechnical issues and lessons12010 R.M. Hardy Address, 63rd Canadian Geotechnical Conference.

Abstract

Geotechnical input to the design, construction, and operations of pipelines in permafrost may differ significantly from that for pipelines in temperate terrain. The general remoteness and terrain fragility of permafrost regions are key issues that challenge the geotechnical input. Specific geotechnical issues that necessitate input include pipeline routing, slope stability, thaw settlement and frost heave, ditching, buoyancy control, upheaval buckling. and others. This paper examines the history of pipeline development in Canada north of the 60th latitude and highlights some key design issues and some of the technical developments over the past 40 years of design, construction, and operations of pipelines in permafrost regions. Advances have been made in areas such as geothermal modeling, slope stability assessments, terrain mapping technologies, thaw settlement and frost heave prediction, and predicting and monitoring pipeline strain demand.