Achieving Efficiency in Gas Pipeline Connection: Evidence from Ghana

Authors

  • Anthony Kudjo Gborgenu Akwamuman Senior High School P. O. Box 46, Akosombo Eastern Region, Ghana.
  • Frank B. K. Twenefour Department of Mathematics and Statistics, School of Applied Science, Takoradi Polytechnic P. O. Box 256 Takoradi, Ghana
  • Mathias Gyamfi Department of Mathematics and Statistics Takoradi Polytechnic Takoradi, Ghana.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18533/ijbsr.v6i5.962

Keywords:

Natural gas, network analysis, pipelines, Prims algorithms, transportation.

Abstract

The demand for the use of natural gas is on the increase as an energy source. Natural gas transportation requires a continuous pipeline network from the source of gas across long distance to the various destinations. The main objective involves extending gas pipelines from Takoradi to all the regional capital towns in Ghana to meet the growing demands of its citizenry in order to provide economy and efficiency with regards to cost and environmental sustainability by developing a straight forward method of locating pipeline facilities and designing pipeline networks. The problem is formulated as a network of distances and the solution is presented based on Prim’s Algorithm for minimum connections. Data on distances are obtained from the Ghana Highways Authority. The total distance covered by the pipe line network if the existing road networks were used from Takoradi to all the regional capitals towns in Ghana is 5,094km. After Prim’s Algorithm was used, the total distance covered decreased to 1,590km which is about 68.8% reduction in the distance covered with regards to cost and the environmental damage caused by construction of pipelines (soil, forest, rivers, wetlands, noise from compressor stations during pipeline discharge and risk of pipeline leakage).

Author Biographies

  • Anthony Kudjo Gborgenu, Akwamuman Senior High School P. O. Box 46, Akosombo Eastern Region, Ghana.
    Anthony is a Teacher at the Akwamuman Senior High School. He handle Elective and Core Mathematics courses respectively.
  • Frank B. K. Twenefour, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, School of Applied Science, Takoradi Polytechnic P. O. Box 256 Takoradi, Ghana
    A lecturer at the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Takoradi Polytechnic, Ghana. My interest is in research methods, Statistical methods and areas analogous to Statistics.
  • Mathias Gyamfi, Department of Mathematics and Statistics Takoradi Polytechnic Takoradi, Ghana.
    Mathias is a lecturer at the Department of Mathematics and Statistics of Takoradi Polytechnic. He handles quantitative studies and Engineering Mathematics at the Degree and Diploma levels respectively.

References

Amponsah, S. K., and Darkwah, F. K. (2007). Operation Research. KNUST press, Kumasi, Ghana. pp 23- 26.

Arogundade, O. T., and Akinwale A. T (2009). Application of Prim’s Algorithm to a Profit- Oriented Transportation System in Rural Areas of Nigeria. University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, 37, 4-9.

Donkoh, E. K., Amponsah, S. K., Darkwa, K. F. (2011). Optimal pipeline connection for the West African Gas Pipeline Project. Research Journal of Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology, 3 (2), 67-73.

Prim, R. C., (1957). Shortest connection networks and some generalizations. Bell System Tech. Journal, 36, pp.1389-1401.

Hwee, M. Lin, R., Poe, W. A, (2007). Primary Reformer Operation: A Unique Application of Multivariable Control Nitrogen 230, pp35-41

WAGPCo, 2004a. Ghana Final Draft Rev 1. West African Gas Pipeline Environmental Impact Assessment. E981, 6: 47.

WAGPCo, 2004b. Nigeria Final Draft Rev 1. West African Gas Pipeline Environmental Impact Assessment. E981, 7: 240-241.

WAGPCo, 2010. The Pipeline System. Retrieved from: http://www.wagpco.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=122&Itemid =85&lala=en, (Accessed on: November 10, 2010).

Wikipedia, 2008. Pipeline Transport. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pipeline_transport, (Accessed on: November 31, 2010).

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Published

2016-06-22

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 5 (2016): May

Section

Article

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