Traditionally, on-bottom stability requirement of offshore subsea pipelines is often determined based on simplified forcebalance methods. Despite its’ relative ease of application and quick result time, the predicted requirement for stabilisation in shallow water and/or hostile environment can be overbearing and the practicality to install such pipes and subsequent cost becomes a major issue. This paper describes the approach of using dynamic on-bottom stability analysis as pre-requisite to achieve the requirement for stability of subsea pipeline. It was adopted for the determination of concrete coating weight requirements of a 24-inch pipeline in shallow water offshore Sabah, Malaysia, a maiden application of this approach in Malaysian waters. Citing the above as a case study, several key differences in this approach as opposed to traditional methods will be discussed such as the use of a simulated random sea-state in time-domain, advanced pipe-soil interaction modelling, realtime update of hydrodynamic forces and effects of pipeline stiffness on its overall response. The merits of a dynamic stability design approach will also be highlighted in terms of the final stabilisation requirements and its impact on installation and cost.

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