Math 1210

Pipeline Project
Fall 2014

This report is a cost analyses summary of for a oil pipeline that runs from the drilling site to the
refinery. There are five possible routes. Each route has been examined taking into consideration cost per
mile, additional fees and cost of time. The costs for the first four was determined algebraically. The fifth
and final route shows the optimal way to run the pipeline to minimize the cost. The optimized route
was determined using differential calculus.
The results of the study are shown below for each individual route all of the equations will be
using constants that represent the cost per mile as follows:
"z" = 500,000 This constant represents the $500.,000 per mile cost of pipeline laid
across BLM ground
"t" = 850,000 This constant represents the $850 per mile cost of pipeline laid across
Private Property

Diagram represent the area in question

Scenario 1
The perimeters
Scenario 1 determines the cost of laying the pipeline strictly on BML ground by running first
west, then south, and then east to the refinery. The cost of running the pipeline in this case is
$32,500,000.

Scenario 2
Through the Mountain
Scenario 2 determines the cost of laying the pipeline strictly on BML ground by running east
through the mountain and south to the refinery. The cost of running the pipeline in this case is
$31,640,000.

))

Scenario 3
Shortest Distance
Scenario 3 determines the cost of laying the pipeline the shortest total distance across private
ground from the drilling site to the refinery. The cost of running the pipeline in this case is $36,312,016.

Scenario 4
Straight Across Private Ground

Scenario 4 determines the cost of laying the pipeline the shortest distance across privet ground.
South from well and then east to the refinery. The cost of running the pipeline in this case is
$32,750,000.

Scenario 5
Optimized route
Scenario 5 determines the optimal way to run the pipeline to minimize cost. The pipeline runs
southeast from the well across private ground and then east to the refinery. The optimized cost of
running the pipeline in this case is $30,316,826.

This project showed me how to apply what I learned in calculus to a real life application. Before
calculus 1, I would, after looking at the results, have reached the conclusion that one of the non-calculus
routes is the best one. With calculus my ability to analyze the problem was limited. Without the
methods learned in calculus I was doomed choose an inferior solution. Such is the faith of the person
who doesn't know calculus.
Based on a non-calculus analysis, the mountain route is the cheapest route at thirty-one million
dollars. As it turns out the best route, the "optimized route" is a combination of the diagonal and strait
across routes, two of the most expensive routes. Without calculus I would not have thought of it.
I learned what derivatives and basic integrals are, and how to apply and read them. There is a
way of reading math without having to solve for anything. By looking at the equation(s) to find what
they are solving for, I can beginning to be able to read science papers and understand what the math is
doing in a general sense. Even though much of it is still beyond me, I can see that learning higher math is
opening doors to my understanding of physics and science and I am encouraged to learn more.
Hopefully I can use these tools to become a mechanical engineer