During the operation of the China-Russia Crude Oil Pipeline (CRCOP), buried pipelines traversing permafrost regions often encounter challenges such as frost heaving, thaw settlement, and other permafrost disasters.  

In addition, oil temperature of the CRCOP has been steadily rising over the years. Therefore, effectively mitigating thaw settlement disasters induced by high oil temperatures has become paramount for ensuring the stable operation of the CRCOP. 

A research team led by LI Guoyu from the Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) introduces a novel inverted T-shaped crushed-rock pipeline embankment (ITCPE) structure.  

This structure utilizes the pipe's inherent heat to enhance convection, thereby more efficiently dissipating heat from the pipeline and cooling the permafrost.  

The study was published in Energy on Feb. 10. 

Researchers conducted long-term numerical predictions to assess the thermal impacts of the ITCPE, unprotected pipeline embankment (UPE), and traditional horizontal crushed-rock pipeline embankment (THCPE) structures during pipeline operation.  

The results show that neither the insulated buried pipeline structure, nor the UPE, nor the THCPE adequately address the thaw settlement. However, the novel ITCPE structure demonstrates notable effectiveness in mitigating thaw settlement, which significantly maintains the artificial permafrost table beneath the pipeline embankment over a 50-year operational period.  

This study not only furnishes valuable technical backing for the CRCOP but also furnish guidance for the design and maintenance of pipeline projects in permafrost regions worldwide. 

Contact: 

CAO Yapeng 

E-mail: caoyapeng@lzb.ac.cn