Oil and gas pipeline route planning using geo-spatial information system analysis

A prototype of least-cost pipeline routing was performed using various data and GIS analysis. Ahvaz-Marun oil pipeline in the southwest of Iran was chosen for the development of the prototype. The pipeline carries Ethan gas from Marun Petrochemical Company (MPC) to Ahvaz. A model was developed incorporating the length of the pipeline, topography, geology, land use, streams, wetlands, roads and railroad crossings to identify a least-cost pathway. Geo-spatial Information System (GIS) analysis based on a cartographic modeling approach was used for spatial modeling and overlay. Costs associated with terrain conditions, geology and land use were given from actual costs in the section of design of pipeline Iranian National Oil Company (NIOC). The length and cost associated with existing pipelines made using traditional approaches were compared with those of the least-cost pathway obtained through GIS best path analysis using fuzzy logic, index overlay and Boolean overlay techniques. The best results were those obtained using the fuzzy logic approach. The existing path of the pipeline is 34.5 km long, and the least-cost pathway is 35.2 km long. Although longer in length, the least-cost pathway is 29% cheaper than the existing pipeline path. The results of this analysis demonstrate the benefits of integrating geo-spatial data within a GIS environment that has been used as a spatial decision support system for pipeline routing.