Development of an Integrated Methodology for Assessing Integrity of Levees Protecting Natural Gas Infrastructure

Study will develop non-invasive geotechnical technology to assess the structural stability of levees protecting the Delta and the risk to natural gas infrastructure from their potential failure.

InfraTerra, Inc.

Recipient

Oakland, CA

Recipient Location

7th

Senate District

18th

Assembly District

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$504,973

Amount Spent

closed

Completed

Project Status

Project Result

This project has ended, and the final report has been published. The research team has developed levee models with increasing complexity consistent with Delta region levee profiles. Geophysical data was processed and preliminary cross plots of electrical resistivity and seismic shear wave velocity for one field study site were developed. This was accomplished by overlaying resistivity and velocity point-by-point and identifying soil type through a soils type database.

View Final Report

The Issue

Levees in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta were built as simple peat dikes resting on marsh soils and are therefore highly vulnerable to damage from floods, wave action, seepage, subsidence, burrowing animals, earthquakes, and sea level rise. The structural integrity of levees in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta) has for decades been a subject of investigations and continues to be a source of concern. This study leveraged a wealth of information from previous studies and optimized non-invasive geophysical data acquisition technologies to identify potential vulnerabilities of gas infrastructure to levee failures in the Delta.

Project Innovation

The Recipient developed a comprehensive Geographical Information System (GIS) database that includes three major data sets: geohazards, levee condition, and gas infrastructure. These data sets were combined to develop a map that delineates the Delta area into distinct regions with similar cumulative susceptibility for detailed geophysical data acquisition. Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) data was used to identify and characterize the distribution of geohazards in conjunction with the database. Geophysical investigations were performed for these levees with four geophysical survey techniques to obtain complete subsurface and structural levee profiles and to develop an understanding of the most effective method(s) for identifying gas infrastructure vulnerabilities from the Delta levees and environment. The results of the geophysical investigation were validated by the GIS database and existing soil boreholes made by the Department of Water Resources. The research team conducted pipeline performance modeling to understand the vulnerabilities of the gas infrastructure within the Delta system.

Project Goals

Develop non-invasive methodology for assessing structural stability of levees protecting gas infrastructure in the Delta.
Identify areas of high risk to gas infrastructure in the Delta.

Project Benefits

The project identified areas of high risk to gas infrastructure in the Delta and tested multiple geophysical methods for assessing levee integrity. This testing was conducted at several Delta sites and includes seismic surface wave surveying, electrical resistivity, ground penetrating radar, and electromagnetic surveying. The research team also conducted pipeline performance modeling to understand which potential levee breaches or geohazard impacts may cause pipeline failure. Understanding the thresholds where pipelines may perform well or fail is essential for fossil gas investor-owned utilities to (1) prioritize mitigation locations, and (2) allocate economic and work force resources where needed.

Greater Reliability

Reliability

The study used non-invasive geotechnical technology to develop a methodology for assessing the structural stability of levees protecting the Delta. Failure of these levees may affect gas pipelines and storage facilities.

Key Project Members

Project Member

Ozgur Kozaci

Principal Geologist
InfraTerra

Subrecipients

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The Regents of the University of California, on behalf of the Berkeley Campus

Rocket

The Regents of the University of California on behalf of the Los Angeles Campus

Rocket

California State University, East Bay

Rocket

Storesund Consulting

Rocket

Match Partners

Rocket

InfraTerra, Inc.

Rocket

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