The buoyancy of a pipeline depends upon the weight of the pipe, the weight of the volume of water displaced by the pipe, the weight of the liquid load carried by the pipe and the weight of the backfill. As a conservative analytical practice, consider the pipeline empty for two reasons; so, the weight of the liquid will be considered as an additional safety factor and the possibility of the pipeline not being in use during a period of time.
This calculation is used to determine downward forces and weights of a specified pipe resulting in the proper spacing of weights to counter the buoyance forces. The calculation does not account/allow for depth of water or burial.