Independence trail gas trunkline and challangies of ultra deepwater and harsh environment pipelines

Even as the fossil fuel industry's ability to identify hydrocarbon-bearing sediments beneath the ocean's floor at extreme water depths is improving, the oil and gas transport industry has moved into an increasingly hostile and demanding environment. Consequently, pipe material suppliers and installation contractors are faced with ever more stringent requirements and greater expectations. This paper presents an engineering perspective on the developments that was needed in pipeline manufacturing and offshore installation technology in order to build the Independence Trail Pipeline, the world’s deepest offshore gas trunk line and discuss the causes for that necessity. (AU)