Abstract: The physical environment where the Sudan oil pipeline is located from Heglig oilfield to Port Sudan is introduced. It makes the research on the distribution law and engineering characteristics of Sudanese swelling clay along the pipeline route, presents the plasticity index, volume change, relations of swelling pressure vs swelling potential of swelling clay, as well as the statistical results of primary physical mechanics characteristics of swelling clay. It is pointed out that the po- tential hazard of swelling clay to pipeline must be fully recognized. In the paper, the detail pipeline design and countermeasures against the swelling clay have been put forward.