Barbara Tapia

Math 1210
Pipeline Project

Dear CEO,

Here is the report of my findings in regards to finding the lowest possible cost to build
this pipeline. In order for this to be cost effective we would have to build the pipeline through
both private and BLM property. Running it his way would yield a total cost of approximately
$8,000,000.00. If we build it in a straight line from the well to the refinery it would cost more,
over $10,000,000.00. So if we build it traveling around private land by building east through the
mountain then south to the refinery, it would cost an additional $100,000.00. We can avoid
going through private property by building west, south, then east on flat land and that would
have the same results. Heres how we figured it out.

a) Determine the cost of running the pipeline strictly on BLM ground with two different cases.
(i) One running west, south and then east to the refinery.
( DistanceWest + DistanceSouth + DistanceEast ) * BLMCostPerMile ( 1 + 5 + 21
) * 300,000 = $8,100,000.00

(ii) One heading east through the mountain and then south to the refinery
( DistanceEast + DistanceSouth ) * BLMCostPerMile + MountainDrillingCost +
StudyCost ( 20 + 5 ) * 300,000 + 500,000 + 100,000 = $8,100,000.00

b) Determine the cost of running the pipeline: The shortest distance across the private ground to
the refinery and straight south across the private ground, then straight east to the refinery.

Total Cost = ShortestDistance * ( BLMCostPerMile + PrivateGroundCostPerMile )

ShortestDistance (by Pythagorean Theorem) = sqrt( 20^2 + 5^2 ) = sqrt( 425 )

Total Cost = sqrt( 425 ) * 500,000 = $10,307,764.07

c) Determine the cost function for the pipeline for the configuration involving running from the
well across the private ground at some angle and intersecting the BLM ground to the south and
then running east to the refinery.

Total Cost = Private Cost + BLM Cost

PrivateCost = DistanceThroughPrivateLand ( BLMCostPerMile + PrivateGroundCostPerMile )

DistanceThroughPrivateLand = sqrt( 5^2 + x^2 ) therefore, PrivateCost = sqrt( 25 + x^2 ) *
500,000 where x is horizontal ( west -> east ) distance traveled through private land.
BLMCost = DistanceThroughBlmLand * BLMCostPerMile DistanceThroughBLMLand = ( 20 x )
therefore, BLMCost = ( 20 x ) * 300000 where x is horizontal ( west -> east ) distance traveled
through private land.

Therefore, TotalCost = sqrt( 25 + x^2 ) * 500,000 + ( 20 x ) * 300,000

d) Include a computer generated graph of the optimal cost function, C(x), for this pipeline for
any configuration involving crossing some private ground as well as some BLM ground.

The critical point of the cost functions derivative will yield a possible minimum value.

(dy/dx) totalCost = 500,000( ( 25+x^2 )^(-) )

= (500,000x)/(sqrt(25+x^2)) 300,000 0
= (500,000x)/(sqrt(25+x^2)) 300,000 300,000
= (500,000x)/(sqrt(25+x^2)) 300,000 * sqrt(25 + x^2)
= 500,000x sqrt(25 + x^2)
= (5/3)x 25 + x^2
= (25/9)x^2 25
= (25/9)x^2 x^2 25
= (16/9)x^2
x = 3.75

MinimumValue = sqrt( 25 + 3.75^2 ) * 500,000 + ( 20 3.75 ) * 300,000 = $8,000,000

Minimum cost is achieved by running pipe for 6.25 miles southeast through the private land, and
then 16.25 miles east to the refinery.
d) Include a sketch of the cost function for this pipeline for configurations involving crossing
some private ground in a straight line that intersects the BLM ground to the south and then
running east to the refinery.

This graph of the cost function supports its validity, as the cost for running pipeline in a straight
line matches the cost value calculated in step B. (x=20)

Reflection:

This class has been a little hard but I like it because in almost every section there is a real life
problem that can be applied to what were learning. For some reason that actually helps me
understand it and learn it better. My husband is going into welding and wants to do pipeline
welding so I thought it was cool that we did this as a project since I could relate it to something
in our lives. I guess this type of math is used depending on your field of work. Its definitely
opened my mind to a different way of thinking of normal things. I start trying to figure out how a
machine can accurately do something and most of it requires formulas and calculations so that
it can be exact. Which is another reason I like Calculus, we were able to find exact answers to
problems that before this class, were considered DNE (Does not exist).