MSc Subsea & Pipeline Engineering

The MSc Subsea & Pipeline Engineering program is designed for graduates in naval architecture, offshore engineering, mechanical engineering, and related disciplines who wish to gain advanced knowledge of subsea systems, designs, and installation. This includes systems and equipment such as pipelines, wellheads, drilling rigs, riser and mooring systems.

Key Facts

• Start date: January & September
• Accreditation: RINA / IMarEST
• Study mode and duration: MSc: 12 months full-time
• The University of Strathclyde is ranked 1st in Europe & 3rd in the world for Marine/Ocean Engineering (Shanghai Rankings Academic Ranking 2022)

Why this Course?

This course is for graduates who want to gain advanced knowledge of subsea systems, designs, and installation. It covers systems and equipment such as pipelines, wellheads, drilling rigs, riser and mooring systems.

Accreditation

This course is accredited by the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA) and The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology, (IMarEST) on behalf of the UK Engineering Council.

What you’ll Study

The programme consists of three components:

1. Instructional modules
2. Group project
3. Individual project (MSc only)

Group Project

You’ll be part of a group of three to five people in ‘consultant teams’ for 10 weeks addressing a practical engineering problem. You’ll then have the opportunity to present the report to a panel of industrial experts.

Individual Project (MSc only)

MSc students will take on an individual dissertation on a topic of their own interest. The aim of the individual project is to develop your research skills and to combine many of the aspects learned from other modules within a specific topic.

Facilities

We have excellent teaching facilities including:

• Catalina – our departmental racing yacht
• Kelvin Hydrodynamics Lab – the largest ship-model experiment tank in any UK university
• Towing/wave tank exclusively for teaching purposes
• Marine engine laboratory
• Cutting-edge computer facilities
• Industry standard software

Student Competitions

NAOME supports and promotes students in various competitions and awards, from cash bursaries for top performing students to the highest of awards from international organisations.

Course Content

A typical selection of classes offered on the programme are outlined below. Please note that these classes may be subject to change.

• Semester 1
• Semester 2
• Electives

Finite Element Analysis of Floating Structures

This module aims to provide you with a theoretical and practical knowledge of the finite element method and the skills required to analyse marine structures with ANSYS graphical user interface (GUI).

Marine Pipelines

This module aims to provide you with an in-depth insight into marine pipelines, emphasising the overall design process, pipeline hydraulics analysis, installation methods, environmental loading and stability, materials selection, and corrosion prevention.

Risk & Reliability Engineering

This module aims to introduce the principles of risk management and reliability engineering and solve relevant engineering problems through widely applied methods and tools.

Design & Construction of FPSOs

This module aims to introduce the shipbuilding technologies and equipment used in the construction of FPSO vessels. It will also provide an introduction to the ship design process as applied to FPSO vessels.

Dynamics of Fixed & Floating Offshore Structure

The module will teach the overview of basic design concepts.

Marine Pipeline Integrity

The aims of this module are to enable you to identify the key threats to marine pipeline systems, introduce the basic engineering tools and principles used in the integrity assessment of pipelines, develop skills in the assessment of cracks, dents and corrosion defects in pipelines under static and dynamic loading conditions.

Maritime Safety & Risk

This module aims to demonstrate how the principles and methods of risk analysis are undertaken and reflected in safety assessment.

Group Design Project

The overall aim of the module is to provide you with an enriched experience in the selection, conceptualisation and designing of a novel vessel or an offshore asset.

Advanced Marine Structures

This module aims to provide you with an understanding of the response of surface ships, at both a global and a local level. Structural analysis and design will both be discussed.

Theory & Practice of Marine Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)

This module aims to introduce you to the theoretical background of marine CFD using the finite volume method.

Learning & Teaching

There are two teaching semesters of 11 weeks each. Course modules are delivered in the form of formal lectures supported with tutorials and laboratory experiments when needed.

Guest Lectures

During term time, we arrange seminars in which industry experts visit the department and present to students.

Assessment

There are two types of method for module assessment. One is course work assessment only, the other is exam assessment.

Entry Requirements

• Academic requirements: Normally a first-class or second-class honours degree (or international equivalent) in a relevant subject.
• English language requirements: If English is not your first language, please visit our English language requirements page for full details of the requirements in place before making your application.

Fees & Funding

All fees quoted are for full-time courses and per academic year unless stated otherwise.

• Scotland: £10,800
• England, Wales & Northern Ireland: £10,800
• Republic of Ireland: If you are an Irish citizen and have been ordinary resident in the Republic of Ireland for the three years prior to the relevant date, and will be coming to Scotland for Educational purposes only, you will meet the criteria of England, Wales & Northern Ireland fee status.
• International: £27,500

Careers

Offshore hydrocarbon activities are moving into areas of water depths exceeding 2000m. Subsea drilling, production and control systems are becoming much more important. Therefore, subsea engineers are in great demand world-wide.

• Job titles include:
  • Drilling Fuel specialist
  • I-Drill Engineer
  • Junior Riser Engineer
  • Subsea Engineer
  • Well Engineer
  • Project Engineer
• Employers include:
  • 2H Offshore
  • Aker Solutions
  • BP
  • ENI Saipem
  • Subsea7
  • Talisman Energy
  • Technip
  • Schlumberger

Glasgow

Glasgow is Scotland's biggest & most cosmopolitan city. Our campus is based right in the very heart of Glasgow. We're in the city centre, next to the Merchant City, both of which are great locations for sightseeing, shopping and socialising alongside your studies.

Course content

A typical selection of classes offered on the programme are outlined below. Please note that these classes may be subject to change.

Semester 1

Semester 2

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Risers & Mooring Lines

This module aims to:

give an overview of the current deep-water oil and gas developments around the world and the technical challenges in terms of riser and mooring line design

demonstrate methods for modelling and analysing risers and mooring lines

This module covers:

oil & gas field development options: platform types, marine riser systems, current design trends and deep-water challenges

riser systems: flexible pipe structure, typical configurations, top-tensioned vertical risers, hybrid risers.

flow assurance: multi-phase flow, deposition of solids, thermal management

riser analysis: governing equations, boundary conditions, natural frequency

mooring lines: typical mooring configuration, material and construction, anchors and ancillary equipment, static mooring line analysis

vortex induced vibration: drag, vortex shedding, surface roughness, lift, Strouhal number, VIV assessment, fatigue life calculation

On completion of the module you're expected to have

an overview of mooring lines and marine risers for deep-water floating offshore platforms

an understanding of the generic hydrodynamic issues

a grasp of the analytical
umerical methods for analysing risers and mooring lines

You'll carry out the coursework individually using the knowledge taught during lectures and computer lab sessions.

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Subsurface Technology

This module aims to:

engender an appreciation of the role and importance of oil and gas within the global energy mix and climate change

introduce the basic engineering principles of drilling for hydrocarbons in on- and off-shore locations

provide knowledge of drilling systems, developing skills in fluid flow, drill string design and casing design for drilling systems

increase knowledge and understanding of the role of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) in future developments in subsurface technology

The module covers:

the “Energy Conundrum” and history of oil well drilling: analysis of the role of hydrocarbons in the energy economy and a historical overview of the drilling process

petroleum geochemistry and geology: description of petroleum systems and trapping mechanisms and an introduction to petroleum surveys; wire line logs and seismic surveys

the oil well: an introduction to the different types of rig design, a description of the oil well including details of the hoisting tackle, drilling bits, the role of drilling mud and an overview of how to drill a well

drill string design: principles of drill string design

casing design: types of casing and principles of casing design; casing point selection and an introduction to the concept of fracture gradient

drilling hydraulics: principles of fluid flow in pipes, annular flow and flow through nozzles

directional drilling: principles of different drilling types (straight and directional) and the calculation of nozzle sizing

introduction CCS: introduction to CCS including capture, transportation and storage

At the end of this module you'll be able to:

analyse energy and climate change statistics and draw conclusions relating to the role of hydrocarbons

describe and identify the key components in hydrocarbon drilling

solve engineering design problems relating to drilling engineering

discuss the principles of and present arguments for the use of CCS in subsurface technology

Assessment is via a written examination at the end of the semester.

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Marine Pipelines

This module aims to provide you with an in-depth insight into marine pipelines, emphasising the overall design process, pipeline hydraulics analysis, installation methods, environmental loading and stability, materials selection, and corrosion prevention.

This module covers:

design overview and process; Diameter and wall thickness; Installation methods; Operation and integrity management; Environmental conditions; Dynamic loading; Lateral stability; Scour; Free span; Trenching

internal fluids; Single and two-phase flows; Pressure and thermal profiles; Wax; Hydrate; Thermal insulation; Flow assurance; Drag reduction

materials and corrosion; Pipeline material; Steelmaking; Manufacture of linepipe for onshore and offshore applications; Internal corrosion; Corrosion detection and control; External corrosion and mitigation

On completion of the module, you're expected to:

have an overview of marine pipelines with regard to their design, installation, operation, and maintenance

gain an understanding of some fundamentals of marine pipeline design and analysis

apply analysis tools for pipeline hydraulics, multi-phase flows and thermal protection

identify the differences between pipe grades and pipe manufacturing methods

identify risk areas for internal and external corrosion in marine pipelines and describe the methods for corrosion inspection and control and select appropriate mitigation methods

Assessment will be in the form of coursework.

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Finite Element Analysis of Floating Structures

This module aims to provide you with a theoretical and practical knowledge of the finite element method and the skills required to analyse marine structures with ANSYS graphical user interface (GUI).

This module covers:

introduction to finite element analysis and ANSYS GUI

truss elements and applications

solid elements and applications

beam elements and applications

plane stress, plane strain and axisymmetry concepts

plane elements and applications

plate & shell elements and applications

assembly process and constructing of the global stiffness matrix

At the end of this module you'll be able to:

understand the basics of finite element analysis

understand how to perform finite element analysis by using a commercial finite element software

understand specifying necessary input parameters for the analysis

understand how to visualize and evaluate the results

There is one exam and one coursework assignment. The exam is during the exam period of the first semester. Exam has a weight of 70% and coursework assignment has a weight of 30%.

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Maritime Safety & Risk

This module aims to demonstrate how the principles and methods of risk analysis are undertaken and reflected in safety assessment. Risk analysis offers a variety of methods, tools and techniques that can be applied in solving problems covering different phases of the life cycle of a vessel (design, construction, operation and end-of-life) and, as such, this module will also elaborate on the practicalities of its application to a range of marine scenarios.

This module covers:

safety, risk and risk analysis; key terminology; lessons learnt from past experience; human factors.

formal safety assessment

hazard Identification

frequency analysis and consequence modelling

quantitative risk assessment methods

risk control and decision support, cost benefit analysis

human Factors and Safety culture in the maritime

industry guest lectures addressing topical issues related to maritime safety and risk

At the end of this module you'll be able to:

understand the concepts and importance of safety, risk and of all requisite fundamentals enabling quantification of risk in the maritime context

utilise methods and tools undertaking fundamental studies, specific to any component, system or function and in general first-principles implementation to life-cycle design

understand and have experience of the use of risk analysis in the marine field via related case studies (risk-based ship design, operation and regulation).

be able to appreciate components of a formal safety assessment and apply it for indicative problems of maritime operations

Assessment and feedback are in the form of one final exam (during Semester-2 diet) and two coursework assignments (assignment-one focusses on accident investigation, assignment-two is a safety assessment case study).

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Dynamics of Floating Offshore Installations

This module aims to provide knowledge in order to understand the factors influencing the dynamic behaviour of floating offshore structures due to environmental forces. It also aims to develop skills in order to predict the dynamic motion response of floating offshore platforms.

This module will teach the following:

Overview of basic design concepts; environmental design considerations; wave, wind and current induced motions and loads; second-order wave induced forces and responses of floating and complaint structures; soil-structure interaction.

On completion of the module the you're expected to be able to:

predict the environmental forces and resulting motions of semi-submersibles, floating production, storage and offloading systems, tension leg platforms, SPAR buoys and fixed lattice and gravity type platforms

determine the soil-structure interaction for the design of a foundation for a gravity base structure

Assessment and feedback is in the form of an exam: problem-solving on prediction of wave excitation forces on and resulting motions of floating structures and/or the assessment of a foundation of a gravity base structure.

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Marine Pipeline Integrity

The aims of this module are to:

enable you to identify the key threats to marine pipeline systems

introduce the basic engineering tools and principles used in the integrity assessment of pipelines

develop skills in the assessment of cracks, dents and corrosion defects in pipelines under static and dynamic loading conditions

increase knowledge and understanding of pipeline inspection techniques and to enable the selection of the most appropriate technique for the identified threats to the pipeline

This module covers:

Introduction to Pipeline Structural Analysis: Identification of threats and failure modes for pipeline systems. Application of risk assessment to integrity management planning.

Fracture Mechanics: The theory of fracture mechanics as it relates to pipeline systems; the application of international codes and standards for the assessment of cracks in pipeline systems; ductile and brittle fracture propagation in pipeline systems.

Fatigue Analysis: The theory of pipeline fatigue, including S-N and fracture mechanics approaches for determining fatigue life and cycle counting methods for determining fatigue loading.

Dent Assessment: Analysis of dent and dent/gouge defects in pipelines under dynamic and static loading.

Corrosion Assessment: The application of deterministic and probabilistic corrosion assessment methods to marine pipelines and the use of sentence plots to determine repair plans for corrosion defects.

Pipeline Inspection Techniques: The use of external and internal tools for the detection, identification and sizing of defects in pipelines (e.g. AUVs, ROVs, divers, in-line and tethered inspection tools); the use of monitoring techniques for the CP system.

Repair and Maintenance Strategies: Determination of appropriate repair and maintenance strategies for pipelines and the selection of appropriate inspection intervals.

At the end of this module you'll be able to:

analyse pipeline integrity data and draw conclusions relating to the key threats on the pipeline

select appropriate assessment methods, codes and standards for the key threats to the pipeline system

solve engineering problems relating to pipeline structural integrity

discuss the principles of pipeline inspection techniques and select the appropriate inspection technique for the identified threats to the pipeline system

Assessment is via two written examinations at the end of the semester.

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Underwater Vehicles

This module is aimed to introduce you to a comprehensive understanding of underwater vehicles as opposite to surface vehicles. This module will cover various kind of underwater vehicles, ranging from mega submarines to working-class remotely operated vehicles (ROV) till the state-of-the-art autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), from a naval architecture’s perspective of view to tackle the challenges in resistance & propulsion, manoeuvring, sensing, and underwater navigation, etc.

This module covers:

introduction to underwater vehicle: submarine, torpedo, remotely operated vehicles (ROV), autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), underwater glider, wave glider

underwater environment: ocean wave, current, temperature, salinity, internal wave

resistance of underwater vehicle: axisymmetric body design, surface to volume ratio, super cavitation

propulsion of underwater vehicle: marine propeller, contra-rotating propeller, ducted propeller, rim-driven propeller; pump jet, kort nozzle, vectored propulsion

manoeuvring of underwater vehicle: rudders, fins, buoyancy control, ballast

underwater navigation: Inertial Navigation System/Doppler Velocity Log (INS/DVL)

underwater communication: acoustic, radio frequency, optical communication

On completion of the module you're expected to be able to:

achieve a comprehensive understanding of design and development of underwater vehicles and the associated sub-system on-board

gain the ability to select, design and model the specified underwater vehicles and to evaluate the performance of the designed underwater vehicle

understand the operation of underwater vehicle, familiarise with the on-board payload, understand the buoyancy control, the pressure compensator, underwater navigation, etc

Assessment is 50% group project and 50% final essay.

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Group Design Project

The overall aim of the module is to provide you with an enriched experience in the selection, conceptualisation and designing of a novel vessel or an offshore asset. The group projects will also include a thorough market review, concept and focused design studies and techno-economic analysis in a simulated design project environment. It will also provide you with an opportunity to present their project outputs to a panel involving academic/industry staff.

This module covers:

development of a broad but nevertheless critical review of prospects for techno-economic growth in maritime related activities in a particular context/area of the world

proposal and evaluation of specific design-related activities with a view to developing a design project to a concept level but with substantial calculations in at least one design objective

demonstration of analytical ability and understanding of engineering principles and problem-solving techniques, creativity and self-reflection

the ability to present and defend the design choices to a panel.

At the end of this module you'll be able to:

identify and prioritize the key-design issues along with their basic interrelations in the context of naval architecture

materialize a design project according to a given timeline through design steps along the key-design-issues priority path

work efficiently and openly in a collaborative context involving different cultures and expertise

choose at each design step the proper rationally-based computation methods

Assessment and feedback are in the form of either design report or presentation. There will be five tasks: each task may include the submission of a design report or an oral presentation followed by questions from the lecturers and the advisory groups.

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Chat to a student ambassador

If you want to know more about what it’s like to be an Engineering student at the University of Strathclyde, a selection of our current students are here to help!

Our Unibuddy ambassadors can answer all the questions you might have about courses and studying at Strathclyde, along with offering insight into their experiences of life in Glasgow and Scotland.

Chat now!

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Learning & teaching

There are two teaching semesters of 11 weeks each.

Course modules are delivered in the form of formal lectures supported with tutorials and laboratory experiments.

You’re required to attend an induction prior to the start of the course.

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Guest lectures

During term time, we arrange weekly seminars in which leaders and pioneers of the maritime, oil and gas and marine renewables industries visit the department and present to students. This is a great way of supplementing your education with the latest developments and gaining industry contacts for your future career.

Industrial visits are also made to a variety of companies.

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Assessment

There are two types of method for module assessment. One is course work assessment only, the other is exam assessment. For examined modules the final assessment mark consists of 30-40% course work marks and 60-70% exam marks.

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Student competitions

The Department of Naval Architecture, Ocean & Marine Engineering supports and promotes students in various competitions and awards, from cash bursaries for top performing students to the highest of awards from international organisations.

In recent years, our students have been triumphant in the following high profile competitions:

Science, Engineering & Technology Student of the Year (SET Awards)

Best Maritime Technology Student (SET Awards)

Double winner of BP’s Ultimate Field Trip Competition

Strathclyder of the Year

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Careers

Offshore hydrocarbon activities are moving into area of water depths exceeding 2000m. Subsea drilling, production and control systems are becoming much more important. Therefore, subsea engineers are in great demand world-wide.

---

Job titles include:

Drilling Fuel specialist

I-Drill Engineer

Junior Riser Engineer

Subsea Engineer

Well Engineer

Project Engineer

---

Employers include:

2H Offshore

Aker Solutions

BP

ENI Saipem

Subsea7

Talisman Energy

Technip

Schlumberger

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Glasgow is Scotland's biggest & most cosmopolitan city

Our campus is based right in the very heart of Glasgow. We're in the city centre, next to the Merchant City, both of which are great locations for sightseeing, shopping and socialising alongside your studies.

Life in Glasgow

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Overview:

• Founded in 1796 as Anderson's Institution
• Received its Royal Charter in 1964, becoming the University of Strathclyde
• Consistently ranked among the top 10 universities in the UK for engineering and technology
• Home to the Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC), a world-leading research center in metal forming
• Notable alumni include Sir James Black (Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine), Sir David Murray (former CEO of Rangers Football Club), and Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell (astrophysicist)

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Student Life:

• Over 23,000 students from over 100 countries
• 150+ student clubs and societies, including sports teams, cultural groups, and academic societies
• Student support services include counseling, health, and disability support
• Campus facilities include a sports center, library, and student union

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Academics:

• Offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs in engineering, science, business, law, and social sciences
• Faculty includes world-renowned experts in their fields
• Teaching methodologies emphasize hands-on learning and industry engagement
• Academic support services include tutoring, writing centers, and language support
• Unique academic programs include the Strathclyde MBA, which is ranked among the top 100 MBAs in the world

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Top Reasons to Study Here:

• Excellent reputation for teaching and research, particularly in engineering and technology
• Strong industry connections and opportunities for internships and placements
• Specialized facilities such as the AFRC and the Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences
• Vibrant student life with a diverse and inclusive community
• Located in the heart of Glasgow, a vibrant and cosmopolitan city

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Services:

• Counseling and mental health support
• Health center with a range of medical services
• Accommodation services with a variety of on-campus and off-campus options
• Library resources with over 1 million books and journals
• Technology support including IT services and free Wi-Fi
• Career development services with support for job searching, CV writing, and interview preparation