Abstract: In accordance to the particularity of subsea pipeline and with reference to the technical standards of DNV-OS-F101 and API Spec 5L,material selection principle for subsea pipeline is summarized based on performance and tolerance of dimension stipulated.According to DNV-OS-F101 supplementary requirements and in reference to the material selection for the deepwater pipeline of project Liwan3-1,the concepts of ratio of thickness to diameter,fracture arrest properties and plastic deformation are proposed in material selection for deepwater pipeline.