Pipelines installed using the trench and bury method are prone to damage from fishing activities, dropped objects and other unavoidable hazards. Reports from U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement and industry statistics indicate that about 2/3rds of oil-spills come from Pipelines, and not Platforms or Wells. More than 937 Pipelines and Well Jumpers were damaged by hurricanes Andrew, Rita and Katrina, and roughly three-quarters of a million gallons of petroleum products was spilled. The age of the Pipelines was reported to be less of an issue than diameter with most spills coming from small bore Pipelines.
There are numerous problems associated with current installation methods; seabed preparation, seabed movements, landslides, drill cuttings, WW armaments, Well Jumper fatigue, Pipelines ruptured, Pipeline end load management, the environmental impact. With Subterranean Pipelines many of these issues will be mitigated. The safety benefits are huge. No trenching through fishing sensitive areas, the Pipeline will have a dual barrier, leading to far less risk of spills in production, and creating a far safer subsea installation in environmentally sensitive areas such as the arctic, and the possibility to gain Relief Well Access without the 3 month delay.