A Review of Jet Trenching for Subsea Pipelines and Power Cables Protection: Advances in Theory, Experimentation and Numerical Simulation

Abstract

The remarkable growth of marine renewable energy (e.g., offshore wind farms) and deep-sea resource development has led to a significant rise in the deployment of subsea pipelines and power cables. However, these pipelines and cables are at risk from natural disasters and human activities, which threaten their integrity and functionality. Pipeline and cable trenching and burial have become prevalent protection. Hydraulic jet trenching is a widely used technique with the advantages of structural simplicity, operational efficiency and low maintenance requirements. This paper reviews the fluid dynamic behaviors of hydraulic jets and summarizes key findings on the working principle of hydraulic jets from existing experimental and numerical studies. Current research primarily focuses on key parameters influencing scour pit morphology during jetting, such as jet velocity, jet distance, nozzle, sediment properties, jet duration, and moving speed. Upon reviewing the current findings, this paper offers insights into advancing jet technology and optimizing trenching strategies for protecting subsea infrastructures in both conventional and emerging marine industries.

Keywords

Hydraulic jet trenching / Subsea pipelines and power cables / Jet parameters / Experimentation / Numerical investigation

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