It is well known that no criterion about seismic design for risers is available, and relevant research has not been reported. A comprehensive study of riser dynamics during earthquakes is performed in this paper. A dynamic model for seismic analysis of risers is developed in accordance with the working environment of the risers and the influence of inertia force of the pipelines. The dynamic equations for the developed model are derived and resolved on the basis of the energy theory of beams. Numerical simulation for an engineering project in the Bohai Oil Field, China shows that the fundamental frequency of the riser plays the major role in the seismic responses, and for platforms in shallow water in Bohai Bay, the risers demonstrate a much lower stress response due to prominent differences between the riser frequency and the earthquake wave frequency. The presented model and its corresponding method for seismic analysis are practical and important for riser design resistant to earthquake waves. It is well known that no criterion about seismic design for risers is available, and relevant research has not been reported. A comprehensive study of riser dynamics during earthquakes is done in this paper. A dynamic model for seismic analysis of risers is developed in accordance with the working environment of the risers and the influence of inertia force of the pipelines. The dynamic equations for the developed model are derived and resolved on the basis of the energy theory of beams. Numerical simulation for an engineering project in the Bohai Oil Field, China shows that the fundamental frequency of the riser plays the major role in the seismic responses, and for for platforms in shallow water in Bohai Bay, the risers demonstrate a much lower stress response due to prominent differences between the riser frequency and the earthquake wave frequency. presented model and its corresponding method for seismic analysis are practical and important for riser design resistant to earthq uake waves.