The Challenge of Crossing the Andes: A Data Base Analysis and Peru LNG Project Description

Author(s):  
Ariel Gasca Cardenas ◽  
Edilberto Gutierrez

As of the date this paper is written pipelines in South America comprises 113000 kms of transmission lines including Oil, Gas, Condensates, and refined products from which approximately 17% (19400 kms) crosses the Andes reaching elevations up to near 5000mts. Rugged terrain combined with the geology, weather conditions (especially rain intensity) and continuous pipe ruptures in the past impose serious challenges for the pipeline industry that makes the design, construction and operation substantially different from other pipelines in the world. The records have shown that the threat of Ground movement/weather-related pipeline ruptures in the Andes plays a significant role since the percentage of the risk associated with geotechnical causes is substantially higher than any other parts such as Europe or United States. Thus the rate of pipeline failures due to natural forces is significant higher than the average industry. Peru LNG is a 406km × 34in gas pipeline transporting natural gas from the jungle side of Peru to the Pacific Coast where a LNG terminal has been installed. Peru LNG’s pipeline currently holds the record of being the highest Gas Pipeline of the world with a maximum elevation of 4901 meters above sea level. Project completion was done in May 2010 and lessons learnt from similar projects were taken into account since project designs. This paper is divided in two parts. First, it compares pipeline ruptures frequencies due to natural forces in the Andes with other pipelines in different terrains based on historical cases compiled by the authors. Secondly, it explains the different phases of Pipeline Project in rugged terrain from the conceptual design until the operations stage and the role of Pipeline Geotechnical Engineers in this process based on PERU LNG’s pipeline experience. It also describes some of the main features of the PLNG pipeline project. A comprehensive flow chart provides general guidance for future pipeline projects in similar conditions.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 4757
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Bączkiewicz ◽  
Jarosław Wątróbski ◽  
Wojciech Sałabun ◽  
Joanna Kołodziejczyk

Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) have proven to be a powerful tool for solving a wide variety of real-life problems. The possibility of using them for forecasting phenomena occurring in nature, especially weather indicators, has been widely discussed. However, the various areas of the world differ in terms of their difficulty and ability in preparing accurate weather forecasts. Poland lies in a zone with a moderate transition climate, which is characterized by seasonality and the inflow of many types of air masses from different directions, which, combined with the compound terrain, causes climate variability and makes it difficult to accurately predict the weather. For this reason, it is necessary to adapt the model to the prediction of weather conditions and verify its effectiveness on real data. The principal aim of this study is to present the use of a regressive model based on a unidirectional multilayer neural network, also called a Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), to predict selected weather indicators for the city of Szczecin in Poland. The forecast of the model we implemented was effective in determining the daily parameters at 96% compliance with the actual measurements for the prediction of the minimum and maximum temperature for the next day and 83.27% for the prediction of atmospheric pressure.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
José Joaquín Jara ◽  
Fernando Barra ◽  
Martin Reich ◽  
Mathieu Leisen ◽  
Rurik Romero ◽  
...  

AbstractThe subduction of oceanic plates beneath continental lithosphere is responsible for continental growth and recycling of oceanic crust, promoting the formation of Cordilleran arcs. However, the processes that control the evolution of these Cordilleran orogenic belts, particularly during their early stages of formation, have not been fully investigated. Here we use a multi-proxy geochemical approach, based on zircon petrochronology and whole-rock analyses, to assess the early evolution of the Andes, one of the most remarkable continental arcs in the world. Our results show that magmatism in the early Andean Cordillera occurred over a period of ~120 million years with six distinct plutonic episodes between 215 and 94 Ma. Each episode is the result of a complex interplay between mantle, crust, slab and sediment contributions that can be traced using zircon chemistry. Overall, the magmatism evolved in response to changes in the tectonic configuration, from transtensional/extensional conditions (215–145 Ma) to a transtensional regime (138–94 Ma). We conclude that an external (tectonic) forcing model with mantle-derived inputs is responsible for the episodic plutonism in this extensional continental arc. This study highlights the use of zircon petrochronology in assessing the multimillion-year crustal scale evolution of Cordilleran arcs.


2013 ◽  
Vol 347-350 ◽  
pp. 1467-1472
Author(s):  
Wen Wei Huang ◽  
Gang Yao ◽  
Xiao Yan Qiu ◽  
Nian Liu ◽  
Guang Tang Chen

Optimization of restoration paths of power system after blackout is a multi-stage, multi-target, multi-variable combinatorial problem in the power system restoration. This paper presents a reasonable model and effectually method. The proposed model is considered as a typical partial minimum spanning tree problem from the mathematical point of view which considering all kinds of constraints. Improved data envelopment analysis (DEA) was used to get the weight which considering line charging reactive power, weather conditions, operation time and betweenness of transmission lines. The improved genetic algorithm method is employed to solve this problem. Finally, an example is given which proves the strategy of the line restoration can effectively handle the uncertainty of the system recovery process, to guarantee the system successfully restored after the catastrophic accidents.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Pittino ◽  
Michael Seeger ◽  
Roberto Azzoni ◽  
Roberto Ambrosini ◽  
Andrea Franzetti

AbstractCryoconite holes, ponds full of melting water with a sediment on the bottom, are hotspot of biodiversity of glacier surface. They host a metabolically active bacterial community that is involved in different dynamics concerning glacier ecosystems. Indeed, they are responsible of organic matter production and with other microorganisms establish a real microecosystem. Cryoconite holes have been described in different areas of the world (e.g., Arctic, Antarctic, Alps, Himalaya), and with this study we will provide the first description of bacterial communities of cryoconite holes of the Andes in South America. We collected samples on three high elevation glaciers of the Andes (Iver, Iver East and Morado glaciers) and two Patagonian glaciers located at sea level (Exploradores glacier and Perito Moreno). Results show that the most abundant orders are Burkholderiales, Cytophagales, Sphingobacteriales, Actinomycetales, Pseudomonadales, Rhodospiarillales, Rhizobiales, Sphingomonadales and Bacteroidales, which have been reported on glaciers of other areas of the world, Bacterial communities change from one glacier to another and both water pH and O2 concentration affect bacterial communities composition.


Author(s):  
S. Habibbayli

After the restoration of the state independence of Azerbaijan, one of the main goals was to use natural resources freely, in the interests of the Azerbaijani people and state. Since the early 1990’s, several western companies have begun to show interest in the energy sources of the Caspian region. In the first years of independence, certain steps were taken to obtain energy resources and bring them to the world market. The “Contract of the Century” concluded on September 20, 1994, with 11 transnational oil companies worldwide, which laid the foundation of the oil strategy proposed by national leader Heydar Aliyev, allowed Azerbaijan to play an important role in the Caucasus and Caspian Sea region, turning it into one of the international centers for the production of energy resources. After the signing of the “Contract of the Century”, the key issue was finding favorable ways for oil and gas transit. The choice of Georgia as a transit country would meet the interests of Azerbaijan. Starting from 1999, the first oil was transported via the Baku-Supsa pipeline, and from 2006 on the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan main export oil pipeline. Transportation of gas, along with oil, is carried out through Georgia. Gas is transported to Georgia by the end of 2006 through the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline and from June 2007 to Turkey. The Southern Gas Corridor, which is probably the largest gas pipeline project put forward by Azerbaijan, involving Georgia, delivers the Shahdeniz Phase 2 gas from the Caspian Sea to Europe. The South Caucasus Pipeline Project Expansion, part of this project, encompasses the construction of new pipelines and associated facilities in both Azerbaijan and Georgia. The opening ceremony of the first phase of the Southern Gas Corridor project was held at Sangachal Terminal on May 29, 2018. Within the framework of the AGRI (Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania Interconnector) project, which is one of the energy projects connecting Azerbaijan and Georgia, it is planned to transport natural gas through the pipeline to the Black Sea shores of Georgia, where it will be liquefied and transported by tankers to the terminal in Romania’s Constanta port and then to the gas infrastructure of Romania and other European countries in the form of natural gas. Georgia is not only a transit country for Azerbaijan, but also one of the largest consumers of hydrocarbon reserves. The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) has been operating in Georgia since 2006. SOCAR's activities in Georgia are carried out through “SOCAR Georgia Petroleum”, “SOCAR Gas Export-Import”, “SOCAR Georgia Gas”, “SOCAR Georgia Gas Distribution”, “Black Sea Terminal” and others.


2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 262-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lina Juknevičiūtė-Žilinskienė ◽  
Alfredas Laurinavičius

Seeking to reduce a negative impact of unfavourable weather conditions on road traffic, many countries introduce modern technologies allowing to objectively assessing meteorological conditions of roads. The world over, data from the automated meteorological stations of Road Weather Information System have been long ago used on a significantly larger scale than only for the organization of road maintenance works. International experience of introducing Road Traffic Information Systems in European Union and other countries of the world shows that Road Weather Information Systems give good results for increasing road safety, improving the level of road user information and solving the road construction issues. Road Weather Information System is a system of technologies and decision-making using historical and real-time data of roads and weather conditions. The collected and processed multi-year data from meteorological stations is a great assistance in designing or reconstructing road pavement structures. Road pavement structure is highly affected by a negative air temperature and frozen ground. The impact of negative temperature is expressed by the thickness of frost blanket course. The thickness of frost blanket course depends on a frost susceptibility of soil. To determine the thickness of frost blanket course it is necessary to assess the frost impact, therefore it was up to the purpose − climatic distribution of regions the territory of Lithuania according to the distribution of frost impact and the depth of frozen ground. Based on climatic maps compiled, a correction of the thickness of road pavement structure was suggested.


Author(s):  
Natalia Gavrilyuk

Within the anthropocentric paradigm of modern linguistics there is a steady interest in the human factor in language, which, among other things, is realized through the close attention of researchers to the theory of linguistic pictures of the world, which fully reflects the uniqueness of peoples Human life and activity are inseparable from nature. Nature is one, but manifests itself in various forms. In the process of learning about nature, man tries to realize both its unity and diversity. A special place in the perception of the world by man is occupied by climatic and weather phenomena that affect human behavior in the world, various aspects of his life, including economic, as well as well-being. In the IV century. BC became aware of the impact of fluctuations in weather conditions on human health. For example, Hippocrates established a close link between human disease and the weather conditions in which he lives. Over the centuries, people have gathered a variety of knowledge about nature: from misunderstanding of natural phenomena, fear of them, inherent in ancient people, to today’s scientific knowledge of nature, from the first folk signs of weather to the formation of modern science — meteorology. Nature as a source of everything necessary for man has an impact on both the material and spiritual culture of society. Therefore, knowledge of meteorological phenomena occupies an important place in the awareness of reality. The article considers the peculiarities of meteorological vocabulary in Chinese and Ukrainian languages, as well as the peculiarities of meteorological vocabulary translation in two languages.


2021 ◽  

Extreme heat events (EHEs) are periods of high temperatures and humidity that are considered to be unusual for a specific geographic location. For example, in 1995 an extended heat wave in Chicago, Illinois, in the United States was blamed for the deaths of 550 citizens. Most of the dead were elderly, poor individuals who may not have realized that heat could kill, or who had no means of mitigating the rising temperatures in their homes or any way to escape to a cooler environment. In 2003, Europe was subjected to an EHE that is estimated to have resulted in the deaths of 70,000, with 15,000 of those deaths in Paris, France. “Extreme heat” is a relative term. Individuals adapt to their local climate, so it is difficult to use an absolute number to describe the conditions meteorologists consider a relative change from past conditions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines extreme heat as “summertime temperatures that are substantially hotter and/or more humid than average for location at that time of year.” According to the Public Health Institute’s Center for Climate Change, the state of California defines extreme heat days as those days above the 98th percentile of maximum temperatures based on 1961–1990 data for a specific location. Crucial to understanding extreme heat events is the collection of data about temperature and humidity. The US Global Change Research Program provides heat wave data spanning 1961 to 2018. The site links to a variety of programs related to global climate modeling. The National Resources Defense Council is a nongovernmental organization that has excellent maps which show change over time in the frequency of extreme heat events that overlay the human impact of these events. The National Centers for Environmental Information provides graphic data of current weather conditions along with lists of significant climate anomalies. The site has links to weather records and tools. All of these sites rely on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for their data. There are equivalent agencies all over the world. The World Meteorological Organization, part of the United Nations, is also a valuable resource for data.


Author(s):  
Andy Young ◽  
Robert M. Andrews

Abstract Pipeline failures from circumferential cracking at girth welds continues to affect large diameter oil and gas transmission lines, even for modern lines constructed this century. The key factors that contribute to the failure at girth welds are the dimensions of defects present, the material properties of the pipe and weldments, and the presence of loading that drives crack growth. The mechanisms of failure are well understood, but identifying and measuring the contributing factors can be a challenge. Locating girth welds that are subject to elevated loads will enable operators to focus on sections with an increased threat of failure. In this paper, we consider each of the key factors, how these are identified and defined, and the uncertainties in the measurement process. Specific attention is applied to the presence and quantification of loads and how these influence the potential for failure. This includes sources of active external loading due to ground movement, for example, or loads generated in the pipeline from the construction process. Loads can also be quantified by measuring bending strain from inline inspection inertial measurement units. A more complete picture of pipeline loading can be established by integrating a structural analysis that accounts for the direction of pipeline movement and the presence of axial loads. The relationship between assessing pipeline integrity from ground movement — typically with strainbased methods — and establishing whether the defect can survive the load is explored. The relative contribution of bending and axial loads in the failure of defects is considered. The outcome of the study will assist pipeline operators in prioritising actions that enable the quantification of the all the key parameters. The resultant analysis will provide guidance on the girth welds that have an increased risk of failure and this will enable protective actions to be defined and scheduled accordingly.


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