Optimal pipeline connection for the West African Gas Pipeline project

E. K. Donkoh, S. K. Amponsah, K. F. Darkwah

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Ghana and three other West African countries including Benin, Togo and Nigeria have installed pipelines to establish the flow of natural gas. In this research paper, we combine Prim's and Steiner Tree algorithms with factor rating method to solve the single source shortest path offshore/onshore pipeline problem. Data on the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) project was collected and analyzed. We used Prim's algorithm to find the minimum spanning tree of length 712.30 km. This is a reduction over the original 788.90 km WAGP project design. Factor rating method was then used to find an alternative path of length 723.29 km. Steiner Tree algorithm and geometry were used to obtain an optimal pipeline length of 707.75 km. This is 10.3% reduction of the WAGP length. Our solution is shown to be topologically equivalent to the WAGP network and hence optimal in pipeline distance and project cost.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)67-73
Number of pages7
JournalResearch Journal of Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology
Volume3
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - 2011
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Factor rating
  • Graphs
  • Networks
  • Prim's algorithm
  • Steiner tree algorithm
  • Trees

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