Alicia Taylor

Math 1210
Pipeline Project
Fall 2014

The U.S. Interior Secretary recently approved drilling of natural gas wells near Vernal, Utah.
Your company has begun drilling and established a high-producing well on BLM ground. They
now need to build a pipeline to get the natural gas to their refinery.
While running the line directly to the refinery will be the least amount of pipe and shortest
distance, it would require running the line across private ground and paying a right-of-way fee.
There is a mountain directly east of the well that must be drilled through in order to run the
pipeline due east. Your company can build the pipeline around the private ground by going
5mile directly west and then 15 miles south and finally 40 miles east to the refinery (see figure
below). Cost for materials, labor and fees to run the pipeline across BLM ground is $500,000per
mile.
Cost of drilling through the existing mountain would be a one-time cost of $3,000,000 on top of
the normal costs of the pipeline itself. Also the BLM will require an environmental impact study
before allowing you to drill through the mountain. Cost for the study is estimated to be
$420,000and will delay the project by 6 months costing the company another $120,000 per
month.
For any pipeline run across private ground, your company incurs an additional $350,000 per
mile cost for right-of-way fees.
Your company has asked you to do the following:
a) Determine the cost of running the pipeline strictly on BLM ground with two different
cases:
a. One running west, south and then east to the refinery.
b. One heading east through the mountain and then south to the refinery.
b) Determine the cost of running the pipeline:
a. The shortest distance from well to refinery across the private ground
b. The shortest path across the private ground (directly south), then straight to the
refinery (directly east).
c) Determine the optimal place to run the pipeline to minimize cost. Clearly show
all work including drawing the pipeline on the figure below. Make it very clear how
you use your knowledge of calculus to determine the optimal placement of the
pipeline.
d) Include a sketch of the cost function, C(x), for this pipeline for any configuration
involving crossing some private ground as well as some BLM ground. Make sure to
scale your axes appropriately and to label the minimum point.

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Alicia Taylor
Math 1210
Pipeline Project
Fall 2014

Figure 1

Write up a report of your finding to submit to your companys CEO. This report should include
all steps for any math used to make determinations asked for above as well as statements as to
the costs to be incurred by each scenario. Include any appropriate figures to make each
scenario clear. Label the scenarios as they are labeled above.
Reflect on the things you have learned in your calculus class and how they may apply to the real
world. Do you see calculus as a useful tool? What kinds of things have you learned that can be
useful in your areas of interest? Please be specific and give some examples to back up your
statements. Your reflection needs to be typed (not hand-written) and included with the
report.
Math 1210 is a Quantitative Studies General Education course. Scan or save a copy of your
finished report to upload to your SLCC e-Portfolio so that it can be found under this category.
You will NOT receive a grade for the assignment if it is not uploaded to your e-Portfolio.

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Alicia Taylor
Math 1210
Pipeline Project
Fall 2014

Part A
BLM land 5 miles West then 15 miles South then 45 miles East to refinery:
65(500,000) = $32,500,000
BLM land 40 miles East through the mountain then 15 miles South to refinery:
(55)500,000 =

$27,500,000

Through mountain =

$3,000,000

Delay (6(120,000)) =

$720,000

Study =

$420,000

TOTAL:

$31,640,000
Figure 2 Part A

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Alicia Taylor
Math 1210
Pipeline Project
Fall 2014

Part B
Shortest distance-across private land (using distance formula)

(42.72)(850,000) =

$36,312,000

From natural well South across private land (15 miles) then 40 miles East on BLM land.
15(850,000) + 40(500,000) =
12,750,000 + 2,000,000 = $32,750,000
Figure 3 Part B

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Alicia Taylor
Math 1210
Pipeline Project
Fall 2014

Part C
Determine the path with minimal cost:

Figure 4 Part C

If we followed the photo above to find the shortest route the function would be:

B = (40-x)
C(x) =

Next, we need to differentiate the function c(x), and set it equal to zero. Once we do this we
can determine the proper cost:
C(x) =

((( )

C(x) =
0=
500,000 =
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Alicia Taylor
Math 1210
Pipeline Project
Fall 2014

500,000 =
(
(

miles
So that means,
A=

miles

B = (40-10.91) = 29.09 miles

The pipe will be running across 18.55 miles of private land and 29.09 miles of BLM land. Below
is the function of final cost.
C(x) = 850,000(18.55) + 500,000(29.09) =
C(x) = 15,767,500 + 14,545,000 =
C(x) = $30,312,500.00
In conclusion, with the data found and provided we can determine that the optimal path is
18.55 miles across the private land, and then 29.09 miles across BLMs land.

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Alicia Taylor
Math 1210
Pipeline Project
Fall 2014

Part D
Sketch the function:

Cost of Piping
37
36
35
34
33
32
31
30
29
28
27
BLM land only

BLM land through

mountain

Private land only

Private land 15mi Private land 18.55 mi

BLM land 40mi
BLM land 29.09 mi

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Alicia Taylor
Math 1210
Pipeline Project
Fall 2014

Part E
In conclusion, Calculus I has taught me mostly that I need to stay caught up with my homework.
I have struggled to remain with the class because of the course load with my other classes.
There is a lot of homework to be done and this semester I have learned I need to work harder. I
have also learned that Calculus is everywhere. Before this class I did not realize how much I will
be using the basic idea of calculus in my work. As a science major it is important to learn these
skills because they will be used in every way possible. From calculating the basic rate of decay
to calculating something far more complicated Calculus is used in every part of it. I may not feel
completely comfortable with the basics, but I think with a little more practice I will be well on
my way to success.

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