Spatial Analysis for Natural Gas Pipeline Routing, Monitoring, and High-Risk Areas Identification

The pipeline is the fundamental means of transporting natural gas between the reservoir and the point of consumption. Despite the systems’ low cost and high reliability, potential pipeline failures would cause serious human injury, environmental impact, and financial costs. In order to reduce these damages, it is essential to study risk factors and investigate high-risk locations using existing risk factors. Spatial analysis is an appropriate method for studying environmental phenomena. Considering the extent of various factors influencing pipeline risk and their spatial dependence, we conducted a spatial analysis using ArcGIS to identify vulnerable areas and high-risk points in natural gas pipelines. For this purpose, the local influencing factors and their impact distance were determined by reviewing previous studies and then scored according to the risk level using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method. The risk of natural gas pipelines was then analyzed using these scores, the relationships developed, and the maps produced from the various factors. The results showed that most gas pipelines are exposed to various risks including dangers and geographical risks. Among these risks, faults play an important role, affecting about 97% of natural gas pipelines. In general, out of 13,875 km of general Iranian natural gas pipelines, 13,411 km are in various risk areas and 1,054 km are in high-risk areas, which are located at more than 4,300 points. The study of planned pipeline routes for future development also showed that these lines are located in relatively suitable areas. However, some changes to the routes could reduce the risks. Identifying the type and amount of risk on each pipeline helps experts choose a method with reasonable cost and sufficient efficiency for monitoring the pipeline according to the need.