Dynamic Geohazard Risk and Decision Support Platform

Overview

Main Objective

The project will develop a web-based, GIS-enabled recommendation tool for identifying and assessing the impact of geohazards in cast iron and non-cast iron oil and gas pipelines. The tool will—

• Follow industry standards and best practices.
• Incorporate satellite-based radar geohazard detection and monitoring technology.
• Be cloud-based to enable efficient scaling to pipeline systems of any size.

Public Abstract

The project will research and document mechanical design standards associated with geohazard and other load environments to create a rubric and associated software library usable by a GIS system. A pipeline attribute model will be derived so that it can be used to identify hazards and create recommendations for operators. An satellite radar-based ground motion capability will be adapted and combined with seismic network data feeds and fault line maps to create a dynamic geohazard threat geodatabase. From this geohazard geodatabase and pipeline attribute models, load case scenarios will be crafted and detection made for excursions against allowable limits. From this, recommendations will be made from a series of cost estimating libraries and a cloud-based report database will store recommendations for access by a client GIS system. The client GIS system will connect to the aforementioned acceptable limt, geohazard and costing intelligence to give operators a web-based situational awareness feed into their system. The project will culminate into an integration and backtesting effort wherein the tool is compared and finetune against actuals and past actions by operators to replace and rehabilitate their pipelines.

Anticipated Results: The end result of the proposed project will be a web-based, GIS tool that helps operators identify areas impacted by geohazards based on previous events or forecasted hazards using satellite radar-based ground motion insights as well as other geospatial data. In consulting with mechanical design code, geotechnical engineering, geohazards, and costing SMEs and academic leaders, this tool will incorporate best practices and best-in-class geospatial technologies to aid operators in avoiding geohazard incidents and make recommendations on remediation. The project team intends to fully commercialize this tool by co-marketing with its channel partners and selling tool access to operators.

Potential Impact on Safety: The proposed project will improve pipeline safety and operations by providing operators with the ability to overlap past and forecast future geohazard risk. With this capability, they will be able to make better choices with regards to rehabilitation, replacement or triage of existing cast iron and non-cast iron pipelines. A reduction in casualties and property damage as well as a decrease in the environmental impact oil and gas systems have on our communities. It is expected that this tool will help all stakeholders become less reactive and more proactive to allowable limit excursions caused by geohazards.

Relevant Files & Links