Brenda Hernandez

Math 1210
Pipeline Project
Mr. CEO,
As requested, we have planned out the possible routes for the approved drilling of natural gas
wells near Vernal, Utah. We have worked out potential scenarios in order to find the most cost-
effective route for the proposed pipeline. Below are the five different cases that have been
worked out.

a) If the pipeline runs strictly on BLM ground:

i) A pipeline running west, south and then east to the refinery:

8 miles East + 15 miles South + 32 miles East = 55 Miles
BLM ground cost is $350,000

C(x)= 55 x 350,000
=$19,250,000

ii) A pipeline heading east through the mountain and then south to the refinery:
Cost= Mountain drilling+ impact study+ 5-month delay+ (BLM cost x miles)

C(x)= 4,500,000 + 180,000 + (5 x 75,000) + (350,000 x 39)

C(x)= 5,055,000 + (350,000 x 39)
=$18,705,000

b) If the pipeline runs through private ground:

i) The shortest distance across the private ground to the refinery:

8 miles BLM Ground

BLM Ground

15 miles

Private Ground
32-8= 24 Miles

32 miles, BLM Ground

 Using the Pythagorean Theorem we can find the length of the pipeline
We will use “c” to represent the hypotenuse of the triangle formed by crossing the
private ground with the proposed pipeline.

Pythagorean Theorem: 𝑐 2 = 𝑎2 + 𝑏 2

𝑐 2 = 152 + 242 𝑐 = √152 + 242 𝑐 = √801

𝑐 = 28.3019434 𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑠
28.3019434 Miles is the shortest direct distance to the refinery, now we can use it to
find the cost of this scenario:

Cost= (BLM cost + private ground fee) x miles

C(x)= (350,000+90,000) x 28.3019434
C(x)= 440,000 x 28.3019434
=$12,452,855.09

ii) A pipeline running south across private ground, then east to the refinery:

BLM Ground
8 miles
BLM Ground

15 miles

Private Ground

32 miles, BLM Ground

In this scenario, the pipeline would run fifteen miles straight south through private
ground and then 24 miles east on BLM ground.

Cost of running through private ground= (BLM cost + private ground fee) x Miles
C(x) = (350,000+90,000) x 15
C(x) = 440,000 x 15
=$ 6,600,000
Cost of running through BLM ground= BLM cost x Miles
 C(x) = 350,000 x 24
= $ 8,400,000
Now that we have the cost of running straight south through private ground and the
cost of running east on BLM ground to the refinery, we can add them together to
get total cost of designing the pipeline this way.
C(x) = 6,600,000 + 8,400,000
= $ 15,000,000

c) Pipeline running at an angle through private ground, intersecting to BLM ground and then
running east to the refinery:
In this scenario, we

BLM Ground
8 miles
BLM Ground

𝜃
15 miles

Private Ground

x
24 - x
32 miles, BLM Ground determine
the cost for the pipeline structure running across private ground at some angle then
crossing to BLM ground and running east to the refinery. An optimization function had
to be created in order to minimize the cost of a pipeline.

C(x) = 440,000 y + 350,000 x

In the function above, y represents the length of the pipeline crossing private and x
represents the length of the pipeline running east through BLM ground. We can
substitute y with √𝑥 2 + 225 which was found by using the Pythagorean Theorem and x
can be substituted with 24 − 𝑥 because it means 24 miles minus a length “x” that we
don’t know yet and won’t be part of the length needed to reach the refinery.

C(x) = 440,000 (√𝑥 2 + 225) + 350,000 (24 − 𝑥)

1
C(x) = 440,000(𝑥 2 + 225)2 + 8,400,000 − 350,000𝑥

Now we can find the derivative of the function:

−1
1
C’(x) = 440,000 ∙ 2 (𝑥 2 + 225) 2 (2𝑥) − 350,000
−1
= 440,000𝑥(𝑥 2 + 225) 2 − 350,000
Now that we have the derivative, we will set it equal to zero and solve for “x”:
−1
0 = 440,000𝑥(𝑥 2 + 225) 2 − 350,000
1
350,000 = 440,000𝑥 ( )
√𝑥 2 + 225
350,000 (√𝑥 2 + 225) = 440,000𝑥
440,000𝑥
√𝑥 2 + 225 =
350,000
2 2
440,000 𝑥
𝑥 2 + 225 =
350,0002
225(350,0002 ) + 350,0002 𝑥 2 = 440,0002 𝑥 2
225(350,0002 ) = 440,0002 𝑥 2 − 350,0002 𝑥 2
225(350,0002 ) = 𝑥 2 (440,0002 − 350,0002 )
2
225(350,0002 )
𝑥 =
440,0002 − 350,0002
2
𝑥 = 387.6582278
𝑥 = 19.68903827

Now that we have “x” we can plug in the values into the original cost formula:

C(x) = 440,000 (√𝑥 2 + 225) + 350,000 (24 − 𝑥)

C(x) = 440,000(√19.689038272 + 225) + 350,000(24 − 19.68903827)
C(x) = 440,000(24.75193382) + 350,000(4.31096173)
C(x) = $ 12,399,687.49

Because we know the value of “x” we can also use the inverse tangent to find 𝜃
19.68903827
tan 𝜃 =
15
𝜃 = 52.69820971°
And we know that the length of pipeline running through the private ground by plugging
in our “x” into √𝑥 2 + 225 :
Length = √19.689038272 + 225 Length = 24.75193382 Miles

Based on the calculations, the pipeline should be placed at an angle of 52.69820971°

The pipeline crossing the private ground needs to be 24.75193382 miles long in order to
intersect to the BLM ground and the pipeline from that intersection to the refinery needs
to be 4.31096173 miles long.
d) The cost function is graphed below with the lowest point on the graph labeled to show that
the minimal length of the pipeline and cost coincides with our math.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the best case for the company’s pipeline would be the last scenario that
was calculated. Although building the pipeline on the BLM ground is the least expensive, the path
to the refinery is too long. In order to minimize the cost for the company, the best solution is to
have to the pipeline head southeast at approximately 57° (exact values are in the above
calculation) and cross to BLM ground 4.31 Miles away from the refinery. This is the
recommended action to take, it will cost $12,399,687.49, which the least expensive scenario.
Reflection

In this class I learned about rates of change, limits, finding derivatives of functions, using
differentiation rules and how to use this knowledge for curve sketching, finding maxima and
minima and finding areas under a curve. Derivatives were a large part of the class and I know
why, because they can be applied in real life in so many ways. They can be used to analyze graphs,
calculate speeds at a specific point, find profit/loss margins in business, etc. What I found
important was using these skills for optimization because I can use this. Just like we found the
most effective solution in our project, calculus is needed to create formulas or models that help
people or businesses arrive at an optimal solution for whatever they are looking for, it can be
cost, area, volume, the list goes on. Because of this, I am certain that calculus is a useful tool.