Performance Based Earthquake Engineering Assessment Tool for Gas Storage and Transmission Systems
Develop an open-source seismic risk assessment software package called OpenSRA to provide regulators and utilities with a tool to analyze seismic risk to gas infrastructure in California
The Regents of the University of California, on behalf of the Berkeley Campus
Recipient
Berkeley, CA
Recipient Location
9th
Senate District
14th
Assembly District
$4,762,394
Amount Spent
Completed
Project Status
Project Result
The project, completed in March 2023, developed a seismic risk assessment software tool, OpenSRA, for gas transmission lines and storage wells. The tool was demonstrated with gas utilities for both gas transmission and storage sites. For the next steps beyond the project, UC Berkeley plans to expand the geographic coverage of OpenSRA and its applications to water and electric infrastructure. The Final Report has been published and is available.
OpenSRA has the following features:
1. Free open-source software. OpenSRA can be accessed from a public website supported by PEER - Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center via https://peer.berkeley.edu/opensra.
2. Confidential inputs and results. Analyses of scenarios can be performed on a desktop computer – user input and results remain confidential.
3. Site-specific analyses. The user can input information about specific earthquake hazards and specific systems.
4. Risk forecasting using past earthquakes and estimated ground motions. OpenSRA is designed to incorporate information about geologic hazards due to past earthquakes and estimated ground motions, fault displacement, landslides, and liquefaction.
5. Visualize scenario results. A graphical user interface for input and analysis output enables the user to visualize scenario results.
The Issue
Current risk studies performed by gas utilities are derived from risk scoring that is highly subjective and qualitative, and they do not provide the necessary framework for proper incorporation of uncertainties in seismic demand and in fragility of gas infrastructure. For sound risk-informed decision making, the reliability of the risk assessments needs improvement through reducing uncertainties with quantitative data for seismic demand and the fragility of the gas system and its components. A new seismic risk assessment tool is required to reliably prioritize the most impactful seismic retrofits for California's gas infrastructure.
Project Innovation
Earthquakes directly impact the safety and reliability of gas utility storage and distribution systems. System operators need a way to reliably prioritize the most impactful seismic retrofits for gas infrastructure. OpenSRA is a new open-source seismic risk assessment software tool designed and developed under this project for gas utilities and regulators. The tool will enable them to strategically address challenges posed by the risk from earthquake-induced hazards.
Project Goals
Project Benefits
The new seismic risk assessment tool will result in more reliable estimates of risk, thereby enabling regulators and owners to fully assess seismic risk and to direct mitigation efforts to the most vulnerable components. The tool thus supports prioritization of implementing appropriate mitigation efforts. Remediation and risk-based construction can increase safety by reducing vulnerabilities in the highest risk areas. This will lower costs and minimize gas release by preventing failures. The increased safety, cost savings, and environmental benefits will be evaluated at the demonstration sites through application of the tool. Consequently, the safety and integrity of gas storage, piping, and infrastructure systems will be improved. Resources for mitigation, operation, and maintenance programs will be efficiently and effectively disbursed.
Affordability
The quantitative risk methodology developed by the project will enable early preventative engineering measures to prevent failure, thus lowering mitigation costs. Identification and remediation of high-risk existing infrastructure will reduce the cost of replacing and repairing infrastructure that fails. Providing the software tool freely to the public will enable system operators and their consultants to perform seismic analysis without incurring costs.
Safety
When areas of high risk are identified, IOUs can prioritize mitigation measures for existing infrastructure and better plan to reduce the risk of failures in future infrastructure. Remediation and risk-based construction can increase safety by reducing the risk in the highest risk areas and the system as a whole.
Reliability
The OpenSRA tool enables earlier identification and risk mitigation of vulnerable gas infrastructure components, thus minimizing the interruption of gas delivery and improving reliability. The gas storage and transmission in California is more secure when the system is strengthened proactively against potentially disruptive seismic risks.
Key Project Members
Jonathan Bray
Subrecipients
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
University of Nevada, Reno
The Regents of the University of California, on behalf of the San Diego campus
Slate Geotechnical Consultants Inc.
Match Partners
The Regents of the University of California, on behalf of the Berkeley Campus
University of Nevada, Reno
Slate Geotechnical Consultants Inc.
