Excavation-Impact Failure Thresholds for the Shaanxi-Beijing Line 4 Gas Pipeline: A Finite-Element Study

Hongwei Rao

doi:10.63313/SD.9013

Authors

Hongwei Rao School of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu 610500, China Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.63313/SD.9013

Keywords:

Natural Gas Pipeline, Third-Party Damage, Excavation Impact, Finite-Element Analysis, X80 Steel, Failure Threshold

Abstract

The Shaanxi-Beijing Line 4 gas pipeline is a strategic supply route serving Beijing and surrounding areas. Much of the 1,098 km alignment crosses rural land, where excavation, agricultural work, and vehicle traffic repeatedly trigger the distributed warning system. This condensed study screens these third-party activities and focuses on the most credible immediate threat: direct contact between an excavator tooth and a pressurized buried pipe. A three-dimensional finite-element model representing the tooth-pipe-soil interaction was developed in ABAQUS for an X80 steel pipe with a 1,220 mm outside diameter, a minimum wall thickness of 18.4 mm, and an operating pressure of 12 MPa. Model validation against the analytical pressure stress produced a 1.4% difference. The simulation identified load thresholds of approximately 450 kN for the onset of plastic deformation, 698 kN for localized necking, and 1,446 kN for puncture. These thresholds support graded alarm response and field intervention, while their use should remain limited to the modeled geometry, material data, and boundary conditions.

References

[1] The trunk line of Shaanxi-Beijing Line 4, the natural-gas 'artery' supplying Beijing, becomes fully connected. 2022(1) [in Chinese].

[2] Guo, X. Quantitative Risk Assessment and Decision Methods for Third-Party Damage to Oil and Gas Pipelines. Doctoral dissertation, China University of Petroleum (Beijing), 2018 [in Chinese].

[3] Xiang, W., & Zhou, W. Bayesian network model for predicting probability of third-party damage to underground pipelines and learning model parameters from incomplete datasets. Reliability Engineering & System Safety, 205, 2021.

[4] Qin, G., Gong, C., & Wang, Y. A probabilistic-based model for predicting pipeline third-party hitting rate. Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 148, 333-341, 2021.

[5] Qiu, Z., Liang, W., Wang, X., et al. Quantitative risk assessment of third-party damage to natural gas pipelines based on fuzzy comprehensive assessment. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 842, 012048, 2017.

[6] Muhlbauer, W. K. Pipeline Risk Management Manual. Gulf Professional Publishing, 1996.

[7] Cui, Y., Quddus, N., & Mashuga, C. V. Bayesian-network and game-theory risk assessment model for third-party damage to oil and gas pipelines. Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 134, 2019.

[8] Su, C. Finite-Element Simulation of Third-Party Excavation Damage to Gas Transmission Pipelines. Master's thesis, Zhejiang Ocean University, 2020 [in Chinese].

[9] Brooker, D. C. Numerical modelling of pipeline puncture under excavator loading. Part I: Development and validation of a finite-element material-failure model. International Journal of Pressure Vessels and Piping, 80(10), 715-725, 2003.

[10] Brooker, D. C. Numerical modelling of pipeline puncture under excavator loading. Part II: Parametric study. International Journal of Pressure Vessels and Piping, 80(10), 727-735, 2003.

[11] Brooker, D. C. Denting of pressurised pipelines under localised radial loading. International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, 46(12), 1783-1805, 2004.

[12] Yang, X., Zhu, B., & Guo, J. Mechanism of third-party damage to natural-gas transmission pipelines. Oil-Gas Field Surface Engineering, 40(4), 65-70, 2021 [in Chinese].

[13] Lu, H., & Li, J. Causes and preventive measures for third-party pipeline damage. Natural Gas Industry, 25(12), 118-120, 2005 [in Chinese].

[14] Duan, H. Prevention strategies for third-party damage to oil and gas pipelines. Guangzhou Chemical Industry, 48(10), 141-142, 155, 2020 [in Chinese].

[15] Champavere, R., Dezobry, J., Philibert, C., et al. The pipe aggression rig: A comprehensive means for studying pipe resistance to third-party damage. 11th PRCI/EPRG Joint Technical Meeting, Arlington, Virginia, 1997.

[16] Battelle Columbus Laboratories. Line Pipe Resistance to Outside Force. Report for the American Gas Association Pipeline Research Committee, Columbus, Ohio, 1994.