PVP2009 – 78017 1 GRE PIPELINE INSTALLATION PROCEDURES – A FIELD CASE STUDY A. Khalaf a , Y. Al‐Tartoor a , A. C. Seibi a* , A. Karrech a* , a Senior Mechanical Engineering Students a* Faculty members in Mechanical Engineering The Petroleum Institute, Mechanical Engineering Program P.O. Box 2533, Abu Dhabi, UAE Tel: (+971‐2) 6075454, Fax: (+971‐2) 6075194 Email: aseibi@pi.ac.ae ABSTRACT Field layout Glass Reinforced Epoxy (GRE) pipeline is generally handled by unskilled workers with limited or no background of the mechanics of pipes subjected to large deformation. This paper, therefore, presents working envelops for field operators to avoid any potential GRE pipe failure during installation through finite element modeling using ANSYS. The finite element models consist of various pipe sizes subjected to typical loading conditions similar to field pipeline layout. The models were used to estimate the pipe deflection and the induced stresses. The analysis was based on the assumption that the pipeline acts as a cantilever beam. The internal normal force, shear force, and bending moment were obtained for each section along the pipe length under study. The maximum normal stress was calculated and compared to the failure strength of GRE for various lifting scenarios. A sensitivity analysis on the various parameters affecting the structural integrity of the pipeline was also performed. It was found that the threshold lifting height causing potential pipe failure is 2 m for all pipe sizes. Moreover, the results showed that the minimum threshold height increases for smaller pipe sizes. NOMENCLATURE M = Bending moment, N.m E = Modulus of elasticity, N/m 2 I = Cross‐sectional moment of inertia, m 4 ID = Pipe inner diameter, m Th = Pipe thickness, m W = Pipe weight, N/m