Release Trajectory and Fate Modeling for a Large Pipeline System

RPS utilized a regional approach by grouping data into work units with similar release scenarios and local inputs. RPS carried out extensive data gathering and preparation to provide the best model input data throughout the pipeline system. Meteorological conditions from numerous weather stations across the region were assessed to derive local averages for wind speed and temperature. Surface water network data covering approximately 600,000 square kilometers was prepared, including estimating river current velocities of every segment of the network. Elevation data from seven different sources were gathered, with horizontal resolutions ranging from 1-30 meters. Additionally, since many pipelines in this system share a common right-of-way, with only 30% in unique corridors, further streamlining was made possible by grouping different pipelines within the same corridor. Pipelines transporting the same type of product and utilizing the same input data were grouped into a single work unit. This regional work unit approach helped significantly improve modeling efficiency, saving time and cost while maintaining high quality results by using the best, location-specific inputs.