Shallow Water Pipelines in the Persian Gulf: A Discussion of Engineering and Environmental Aspects

The production of oil and gas provides important revenue for the countries around the Persian Gulf. There are therefore already many pipelines installed in the region and many more are planned. In addition to the hydrocarbon transportation pipelines there are important potable water pipelines and outfall/intake pipes. A common aspect of all these pipelines is thet they at some stage must traverse the shallow waters in the coastal regions. Design and construction of pipelines in shallow water bring its own engineering and environmental challenges. Whereas deep-water pipeline problems tend to be generic, ie idependent of the specific environment, every shallow water pipeline route is unique and will require spicific engineering and environmental solutions. Furthermore it is in the shallow coastal regions thet we find some of the most sensitive habitats. In this paper we discuss some of the challenges and their potential solutions, with emphasis on the types of conditions found in the persian Gulf.