The term Landfall refers to the point where a subsea or offshore pipeline reaches land. This process is crucial in the construction of pipelines that connect offshore facilities with onshore infrastructure. Landfall design and installation are complex operations that require advanced techniques to minimize environmental impact and ensure pipeline integrity.
Landfall Design and Construction Techniques
For the installation of pipelines in a Landfall, several specialized techniques are used:
Direct Pipe: This technology combines the best of microtunneling and HDD, allowing the installation of pipelines in difficult terrain with high precision. It is ideal for short and medium crossings, and its methodology ensures rigorous control throughout the drilling process.
Microtunneling: This is a trenchless method that uses a remotely guided tunnel boring machine to install the pipeline. This approach is suitable for urban land or sensitive areas, as it minimises the disturbance to the environment and allows for installation in areas where other techniques would be unfeasible.
HDD (Horizontal Directional Drilling): This method is common for installing pipelines under rivers, roads and other obstacles. HDD allows for a pilot hole to be drilled followed by enlarging the hole to place the pipeline, offering an effective solution for long and complex crossings.
