www.sciencealert.com.au/features/20081208-17782-3.html -
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Published on: 8/12/2008
Last Visited: 8/26/2008
Professor Mark Cassidy is the cluster leader and director of UWA's Centre for Offshore Foundation Systems (COFS).COFS has large research initiatives that tackle the challenges associated with developing oil and gas reserves in deep water.This includes expertise in the design of pipelines.
For example, Professor Cassidy says industry will need to predict loading conditions on the pipe, when and where it might buckle or displace, and how much resistance the pipe will experience.One of the tasks that COFS will be doing for the cluster is developing models that engineers can use to predict pipeline behaviour under these stresses.
"We need to provide industry with the ability to evaluate and plot the best route for the pipeline," Professor Cassidy says.
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"We need to ensure that the tools we provide to industry can build, monitor and maintain a pipeline to withstand the rigours of the harsh marine environments and avoid this disaster scenario altogether," Professor Cassidy says.