Computer Automated System Speeds Pipeline Mapping, Lowers Costs

Pipeline & Gas Journal, Feb, 2000

Paragon Engineering Services Incorporated, Houston, is applying its computer-automated system for pipeline mapping, engineering design and detailed drafting to two Williams Gas Pipeline-Transco pipeline expansion projects: MarketLink and Sundance.

Now awaiting final Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approval, the $528 million MarketLink expansion involves adding about 152 miles of looping in Pennsylvania and New Jersey to increase firm transportation on the line by 700 MMcf/d. The Sundance expansion calls for adding 150 miles of 42-and 48-inch diameter pipe to increase capacity by 674 MMcf/d on portions of the line from Mississippi to North Carolina.

According to Paragon officials, mapping of the MarketLink line is now complete and work is under way on the Sundance project.

"Working from a single data base, we're able to deliver drawings at a fraction of the man-hours and cost," said, Larry Decker, Paragon's manager of pipeline projects.

In describing the computer-aided system, Decker said it allows the engineer to execute all facets of design, mapping and drafting from a single database by automatically creating the entire pipeline design package. The comprehensive system is capable of generating:

* All right-of-way and property plat drawings;

* Soil erosion and environmental drawings, including wetland and stream crossing drawings;

* Pipe tallies and stationing -- both real length and horizontal length;

* Base data for hydraulic modeling and hydrotest planning;

* Land strip map drawings; and

* Required FERC permit drawings and construction alignment drawings.

Other capabilities include managing and generating bills of material, incorporating pipeline valve and trench/receiver data and quickly plotting alternative pipeline routes using its logic-based system.

Mapping services for the MarketLink project resulted in the deliver of some 1,700 drawings at 25 man-hours per drawing. Paragon's pipeline drafting department used two proprietary software systems, ZMC alignment sheet generation software and ZMC pipeline records management software, for the project. In addition, the drafting team used civil design, piping, projection management, and geographic information system (GIS) software. A similar project using more conventional methods would require 30 to 50 man-hours per drawing to complete.

Mapping For Sundance

For Sundance, Paragon prepared a written set of standards and criteria for the gathering of pipeline route information. A field engineer accompanied two survey crews to ensure technical issues were promptly addressed and verified during the route data-gathering phase of the project.

The initial field inspection will require approximately six weeks to complete. One of the inspection team recently returned to Houston for interface with the engineering and drafting group, leaving a second team in the field to answer and verify outstanding project issues.

"This arrangement ensures an efficient production of accurate drawings with a continuous and accurate flow of information into the database," said Decker.

Paragon's field activities include: Collecting data for the FERC filing, locating houses and structures within 50 feet of proposed work limits; assisting in the selection of revised pipeline routes as based on field data; assisting in the selection of work spaces for road, railroad and stream crossings; and documenting data for incorporation in the pipeline design.

On the Sundance project, Paragon expects to complete some 3,000- to 4,000 pipeline drawings at 15 man-hours per drawing, compared with a standard completion time of 30- to 50 man-hours per drawings.

Paragon and Williams have completed the initial walk-through on the proposed pipeline route for Sundance. Paragon is now mapping and drafting the pipeline cross-country route using U.S. Geological Survey quad sheet data and aerial photography backgrounds.

Production start-up for Sundance is set in April 2002. The start-up of MarketLink remains uncertain since the interim order issued by the FERC on Dec. 15, that prevents construction start on Independence, MarketLink or SupplyLink until the pipelines have signed contracts for 70 percent of capacity, not more than 35 percent of which can be with affilitates. (See related story in Government Guidelines, pg. 6).

Williams' Transco pipeline is one of the largest carriers of the natural gas from the Gulf Coast to the East Coast, with a design capacity of 6.7 Bcf/d. The transmission represents most of the natural gas consumed in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and an estimated 8-percent of all gas consumed in the United States.

With increasing population and continued conversion of coal-fired power plans to cleaner energy sources, such as natural gas, gas demand in the northeastern United States is growing rapidly, according to the Energy Information Administration. The mid-Atlantic area alone is expected to see an increase in the consumption of natural gas at a rate of 1.6 Bcf/d by 2005. MarketLink is focused on addressing that need, says David LaGroue, MarketLink project engineer for Williams Gas Pipeline-Transco.