Decision Support System for Feasibility Study and Determination the Optimal Way to Increase the Throughput Capacity of Main Oil Pipelines

Abstract

The paper studies the feasibility and determines optimal ways to increase the throughput capacity of limited oil main pipelines sections by developing the decision support system based on calculation automation algorithms and optimization problems aimed at finding the best technical and economical performances of an investment project in terms of payback period and expected profit. The goal of the present research is to reduce the time required for option design solutions based on the minimum initial data on the economics of retrospective already applied projects, as well as technical conditions and existing technological limitations of the oil pipeline operation. This goal is achieved by both analyzing existing approaches to solving similar optimization tasks, retrospective data analysis of real finished pipelines projects, developing automated calculation tools and optimization algorithms based on theoretical and practical methods to solve hydraulic amd economic problems. The paper proposes a methodology to quickly select the optimal method to increase the throughput capacity of main oil pipelines, including a hydraulic calculations module and an optimization algorithm.