Designing Cross-country pipelines for Saudi...
Transcript of Designing Cross-country pipelines for Saudi...
Introduction
• Presently over 275 individual pipelines, totaling approximately 22,000 kilometers of pipe, carry a wide variety of crude oil, gas, and hydrocarbon products between GOSP’s and downstream processing and terminal facilities.
• These pipelines have diameters that vary from 6” to 56” and range in age from new to over 70 years.
• Existing pipeline corridors are congested with pipelines and it is a challenge to construct a new one.
Project
• The project is to identify the layers and factors affecting route of cross-country pipelines which going to be used in GIS to help in designing new pipelines.
• The project will be limited to:
• Saudi Arabia
• Designing standards of Saudi Aramco
Case Study
• In the past, stakeholders focused more on choosing the shortest, most direct route. This will save in the capital cost.
• Several other factors apart from cost have to be considered in the route selection process:
• Geophysical
• Environmental
• Political
• Economic
• Social
• regulatory factors
Case Study
• Some of the commonly used variables include the following:
• Shortest distance from Source to Market
• Least grading (removal of tress etc)
• Cost associated with right of way
• Slope of terrain
• Number of stream, road, and railroad crossings
• Substrate (rock, soils etc)
• Existing laws and regulations (wetlands)
• Proximity to Population centers
• Utilization of existing utility corridors and easements
• Other engineering factors
Research
• Focused areas will be:
• Type of layers should be constructed to be used in GIS application.
• Saudi Aramco engineering standards related to cross-country pipeline design.
Pipeline network in northern area
This map shows Pipelines network in northern area (by Saudi Aramco)
Area Classification
• Based on population concentration, the area classification will be determined.
Spacing between parallel pipelines & overhead power lines
• There are minimum horizontal spacing between any pipeline and overhead power line.
• Based on the power line voltage the minimum spacing will be determined.
• Minimum vertical spacing is not less than 9 m.
Pipeline crossing overhead power lines
• Minimum crossing angle is between 45 and 135 degrees.
• Minimum spacing between power line poles and any pipeline not less than 15 m.
Sectionalizing Valves Location
• Based on the product and area classification the location and the number of sectionalizing valves will be determined.
Emergency Isolation Valves
• Location of EIV will be located at both ends of any pipeline.
• EIV shall be located based on population index
classification.
Summary
• Following Layers and factors should be identified:
• Geographical layer • Elevation
• Geographical features
• Type of soil
• Lakes and agriculture lands
• Area classification layer
• Existing roads
• Existing overhead power lines
• Existing pipelines
• Existing facilities
• Future approved facilities
• Lands ownership