Explosion Consequences at a Natural Gas Pipeline

With increased energy demands, the need to find new sources of energy is essential. Natural gas resources play a great role in this area. Bolivia has a large natural gas resource and exports natural gas to Brazil. To deliver natural gas to Brazil a pipeline was constructed. The gas is supplied to cities, industries and to the Cuiabá thermoelectrical plant in the state of Mato Grosso. The Brazilian extension of the 18? diameter pipeline is ca. 350 km. The pipeline crosses the Brazilian border at San Martin in Bolivia. The pipeline route passes through farms, swamps, rivers, creeks, roads, highways and residential areas. The Brazilian extension of the pipeline had to be licensed by IBAMA (Brazilian Federal Environmental Agency) prior to becoming operational. A risk analysis and environmental impact studies were performed as the legal requirement to obtain the pipeline operational license. A preliminary hazard analysis (PHA) was conducted to identify potential hazards (scenarios). The PHA was used to estimate the hazard consequences to people and surroundings. From the hazard scenarios identified in the PHA, explosion scenarios were selected to be presented. The explosion scenarios were modeled using the following computer applications: Arthur D'Little ChemsPlus and TNO Effects. Consequences resulting from pipeline holes, cracks and total rupture events are presented. Material and people vulnerabilities are also calculated. Safety recommendations are proposed.