Application Background: Petroleum Fuels Networks

• Goal /Aspiration for Project
• Evaluate potential impacts of disruptions (e.g., due to earthquakes, hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico) on transportation fuel supplies (regionally to nationally)
• Approach/Methods/Models
• The approach is to combine the process of specifying network elements and their associated parameters with the process of documenting data sources and interpretation.  The intent is that multiple flow algorithms can be applied once a network is constructed.  Currently three algorithms are implemented: a standard maximum flow algorithm, a balanced maximum flow algorithm (based on the Loki-Gas Allocation Method (GAM) algorithm), and a System-Dynamics-type inventory control algorithm.
• Status, Accomplishments and Next Steps
• Started March 2010
• Network building tools and flow algorithms are implemented; network construction is ongoing.
• Next step is to refine network definition for the portion of the system that would be impacted by an earthquake in the New Madrid Seismic Zone, and test models
• CASoS Goals: General Capabilities
• Capability to rapidly define and visualize networks, document data sources and assumptions.
• Capability to use various flow algorithms, some of which are specifically designed for the transportation fuels system.
• CASoS Goals: Other Potential Applications
• Other network disruption and adaptation problems which could involve dynamic supply and demand for materials flowing on a network that can adapt by re-routing shipments, drawing down storage, and utilizing excess process or transmission capacity.
• Acknowledgements
• This application has been funded by the Department of Homeland Security through the NISAC program