Abstract:Slope movement poses a threat to the structural integrity of buried oil and gas pipelines. In order to reduce the probability of catastrophic failure due to pipeline tensile damage, it is necessary to conduct quantitative assessments of pipeline safety. Although useful progress has been made in the investigation and prevention of pipeline slope disasters, current studies mainly estimate the probability of occurrence without accurately predicting the actual failure. This study was based on the slope along the YC027-35 oil pipeline in Yunnan Province. A three-dimensional finite element model of nonlinear contact between pipeline and soil was established using ABAQUS, combined with digital elevation data and geotechnical information obtained from field investigation. Under rainfall conditions, the tensile stress and strain responses of the pipeline were analyzed. The strength reduction method was used to analyze slope stability, which was further assessed using a hazard identification factor. The pipeline failure risk was then evaluated based on the pipeline strain failure criterion combined with in-situ monitoring. The results indicated that under rainfall loading, the slope stability coefficient was Fr = 1.02, indicating an unstable state, which was consistent with the comprehensive index numerical analysis method. When the slope movement reached 0.4 m, the pipeline tensile stress reached the yield stress. When the slope movement increased to 0.75 m, the pipeline strain reached the allowable tensile strain of 1%, indicating the onset of failure. The pipeline stress reached its limit under slope movement, followed by strain yielding. The method of in-situ monitoring combined with finite element numerical simulation adopted in this paper can quantitatively analyze the slope stability and pipeline failure. This study provides a scientific basis for the prevention and mitigation of pipeline-related slope hazards.