<p>Landslide hazards represent a critical geological risk factor threatening the safe operation of buried pipelines, yet existing research still lacks systematic understanding of the quantitative mechanisms governing soil arching effects in pipe-soil load transfer. To resolve the aforementioned challenge, this study develops a mechanical pipeline model incorporating three-dimensional (3D) soil arching effects, where the pipeline is partitioned into tension and compression zones based on distinct soil movement patterns in landslide zones; the model’s accuracy is then validated using the finite element strength reduction method (SRM) based on a case study of the China-Myanmar Oil and Gas Pipeline with X70 pipeline steel. Using the numerical model, this study systematically investigates the influence mechanisms of pipeline burial depth, soil strength parameters, and landslide width on pipeline deformation and soil arching effects. The results demonstrate that the axial stress amplitude in the landslide zone increases significantly with greater burial depth and landslide width. The influence of the internal friction angle on pipeline displacement exhibits a marginal effect. When <i>φ</i> exceeds 20°, the pipeline displacement ceases to decrease significantly due to the enhanced pipe-soil interface coupling. The vertical arching factor (VAF) decreases with increasing burial depth and exhibits an abrupt change at the transition between non-landslide and landslide zones. Furthermore, the internal friction angle exerts less influence on soil arching effects than burial depth. This research establishes a novel theoretical framework for analyzing the mechanical behavior of pipelines in landslide-prone areas, while providing scientific basis for optimizing pipeline network design and risk mitigation in complex geological conditions.</p>