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Sciences in Cold and Arid Regions ›› 2020, Vol. 12 ›› Issue (2): 59-70.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1226.2020.00059.

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Thermal influence of ponding and buried warm-oil pipelines on permafrost: a case study of the China-Russia Crude Oil Pipeline

YanHu Mu1,MingTang Chai1(),GuoYu Li1(),Wei Ma1,Fei Wang1,2,YaPeng Cao1,2   

  1. 1.State Key Laboratory of Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
    2.University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
  • Received:2019-10-01 Accepted:2019-12-26 Online:2020-04-30 Published:2020-04-27
  • Contact: MingTang Chai,GuoYu Li E-mail:cmt620422@163.com;guoyuli@lzb.ac.cn

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Abstract:

Buried pipelines are widely used for transporting oil in remote cold regions. However, the warm oil can induce considerable thermal influence on the surrounding frozen soils and result in severe maintenance problems. This paper presents a case study of the thermal influence of ponding and buried warm-oil pipelines on permafrost along the China-Russia Crude Oil Pipeline (CRCOP) in Northeast China. Since its operation in 2011, the operation of the warm-oil pipelines has led to rapid warming and thawing of the surrounding permafrost and development of sizable ponding along the pipeline route, which, in return, exacerbates the permafrost degradation. A field study was conducted along a 400-km long segment of the CRCOP in permafrost regions of Northeast China to collect the location and size information of ponding. A two-dimensional heat transfer model coupled with phase change was established to analyze the thermal influence of ponding and the operation of warm-oil pipelines on the surrounding permafrost. In-situ measured ground temperatures from a monitoring site were obtained to validate the numerical model. The simulation results show that ponding accelerates the development of the thaw bulb around the pipeline. The maximum thaw depth below the pipeline increases from 4 m for the case without ponding to 9 m for the case with ponding after 50 years of operation, and ponding directly above the pipe induces the maximum thaw depth. Engineering measures should be adopted to control the size or even eliminate surface water-rich ponding for the long-term performance of buried warm-oil pipelines.

Key words: ponding, heat transfer modeling, oil pipeline, permafrost, thaw depth

Figure 1

Location of the China-Russia Crude Oil Pipeline and Permafrost Distribution in China"

Figure 2

Four types of ponding based on its location relative to the pipelines: (a) between the two lines, (b) outside of the second line, (c) on both sides of the second line, and (d) on top of the second line"

Figure 3

Distribution of ponding occurrences based on the position (a) and length (b)"

Figure 4

Layout of boreholes (T1 and T2) and thermistor cablesat the monitoring site and assumed ponding"

Figure 5

Schematic diagram of four physical model scenarios: (a) outside the second line, (b) between the two lines, (c) on both sides of the second line, and (d) on top of the second line"

Figure 6

The measured oil temperature and the fitting result"

Table 1

Thermo-physical parameters used in thermal modelling"

Itemρ (kg/m3)W0Cf (J/(kg?K))Cu (J/(kg?K))λf (J/(m?h?K))λu (J/(m?h?K))
Water1,000-4,1182,1177,9201,944
Black peat45050%8901,0306,3002,600
Silty clay1,50035%1,2751,7306,0223,932
Gravel1,80015%9821,2736,5525,760
Weathered granite1,80015%9821,2736,5525,760
Insulation300%1,2501,250126126

Figure 7

Comparison between the measured data and model results for boreholes T1 and T2"

Figure 8

Evolution of permafrost temperature in borehole T1 without (a) and with (b) ponding"

Figure 9

Evolution of permafrost temperature in borehole T2 without (a) and with (b) ponding"

Figure 10

Evolution of the maximum thaw depth around the pipelines without ponding"

Figure 11

Evolution of the maximum thaw depth around the pipelines with ponding outside the second line"

Figure 12

Evolution of the maximum thaw depth around the pipelines with ponding between the two pipelines"

Figure 13

Evolution of the maximum thaw depth around the pipelines with ponding on both sides of the second line"

Figure 14

Evolution of the maximum thaw depth around the pipelines with ponding on top of the second line"

Figure 15

Variation of the permafrost thaw depth below the second line with time"

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