Stress Analysis of Oil Pipe Bend in a Hilly Region Under Pigging Conditions

Abstract

Pigging is a significant part of a pipeline system that is required for production and operational maintenance. However, if the bend is not set properly, it is likely to cause congestion, which could cause the pipeline system to deviate from its normal operation or even lead to cracks or explosions due to overloaded stress. Due to the potential risk mentioned above, this report aims to build an oil pipeline model using the finite software CAESAR II and analyze the stress in the bend of an oil pipe under pigging conditions in a hilly region. Based on the comparison of the maximum stress in a pipe bend using different angles, the author concludes that to guarantee the safety and efficiency of the pipeline system, the angle of the pipe bend should be limited within a safe range of 15-40° under pigging conditions.