201149-044016-CN-003 Rev 0

Project Title: HAMACA UPSTREAM FACILITIES OTEPI Document : 201149-044016-CN-003
PACKAGE C Page: 1/20

Rev./Date: 0 / 02-21-02
File: 559725230.doc
HAMACA UPSTREAM FACILITIES PACKAGE C
ELECTRICAL
GROUNDING SYSTEM STUDY
AREAS 40 AND 44
WELLPADS E4, E5, F4, F5 & MPP E5
REVISION INDEX:
This document consists of the following number of pages: 20
Please, change the modified pages in this new issue. New revisions are indicated with a continuous
line at the right margin of the modified section.
REV. DATE PAGE(S) COMMENT(S)
A-0 Dec-11-2001 20 Issue for comments
B-0 Not Issued
0 Feb-21-2002 20 Approved for Construction
PREPARED BY: CHECKED BY D.L.: APPROVED BY E.C.: APPROVED BY P.M.: APPROVED BY

AMERIVEN:
M.NUEVO L.MENDOZA J.RUBIO A. DI BELLA W.AKIN
Rev./Date: 0 / 02-21-02
File: 559725230.doc
INDEX
SECTION Nº
PAGE
1. SCOPE 4
2. STUDY BASIS 4
2.1. MPP E-5 4
2.2. Well Pads E-4/E-5/F-5 5
3. CONDUCTOR SIZE 6
3.1. MPP E-5 6
3.2. Well Pads E-4/E-5/F-5 7
4. GROUNDING SYSTEM AREA 8
4.1. MPP E-5 8
4.2. Well Pads E-4/E-5/F-5 8
5. EARTH RESISTIVITY 8
6. EARTH FAULT FOR DESIGN 8
6.1. MPP E-5 8
6.2. Well Pads E-4/E-5/F-5 9
7. TIME FOR DESIGN 9
8. RESULTS 10
8.1. MPP E-5 12
8.2. Well Pads E-4/E-5/F-5 13

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9. RECOMMENDATIONS 13
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1. SCOPE
The ground grid design study is made to assure the personnel protection against
electrical shock due to earth faults that can happen in the electrical equipment.
A grounding system also protects against static charge accumulation and lightning
discharges.
This study covers the ground grid design for the MPP E-5 and the well pads E-4, E-5
and F-5. The grounding grid for well pad F-4 is similar to the design previously made
for well pads C-4 and D-5 so the same design can be used.
2. STUDY BASIS
2.1. MPP E-5
The ground system will cover the area of the MPP station. This system is composed of
conventional buried bare conductors for making the equipment’s ground connections
and two grounding wells to reduce the touch voltages within the permissible limits.
 Ambient air temperature of 40 °C.
 Conductor data:
Bare copper conductors.
Hard drawn 97 % conductivity.
Size 4/0 minimum for mechanical considerations. The size 4/0 AWG class “B”
stranding has a diameter of 13.4 mm.
 General public accessibility is not allowed only at the electrical sub-station area. For
the rest of the area, a cattle fence only is provided. For this reason, a human body
weight of 50 kg is used.
 Use of a cover of crushed stone with a 100 mm (4 inches) depth only at the
electrical sub-station area for additional operator protection. For the rest of the
area, an asphalt cover is provided.
 Ground grid depth of burial of 0.5 m. This depth is under the cover of crushed stone
in the electrical sub-station area.
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 Maximum design ground system resistance of 5 ohms. The final objective

resistance will be determined in this study based on the maximum step and touch
voltages.
 Use of copper covered steel rods at the grounding wells. These rods will have a
minimum diameter of 15.9 mm (5/8 inch) and a length of 2.44 meters (8 feet) each.
Three rods will be included in each grounding well. Each rod is connected to a bare
copper conductor size 2 AWG. The length of this conductor and the depth of the
grounding well must be enough to reach the water level (approximate resistivity of 1
ohm-m). For the grounding well construction details refer to project drawing
201149-014016-DR-012SH2.
 The ground wire of the electrical distribution line serving the MPP is continuous and
it’s connected to the grounding system at each extreme sub-station. The wire is
galvanized steel with a diameter of 5/16 inches.
 The distribution line has a continuous counterpoise that is connected to the

grounding system at each extreme sub-station. Its design resistance objective is 20
ohms.
2.2. Well Pads E-4/E-5/F-5
The ground system will cover the area of the Well Pad. This system is composed of
conventional buried bare conductors for making the equipment’s ground connections
and two grounding wells to reduce the touch voltages within the permissible limits.
 Ambient air temperature of 40 °C.
 Conductor data:
Bare copper conductors.
Hard drawn 97 % conductivity.
Exothermic welded connections.
Size 4/0 minimum for mechanical considerations. The size 4/0 AWG class “B”
stranding has a diameter of 13.4 mm.
 General public accessibility is not allowed only at the electrical sub-station area. For
the rest of the area, a cattle fence only is provided. For this reason, a human body
weight of 50 kg is used.
Rev./Date: 0 / 02-21-02
File: 559725230.doc
 Use of a cover of crushed stone with a 100 mm (4 inches) depth only at the
electrical sub-station area for additional operator protection. For the rest of the
area, an asphalt cover is provided.
 Ground grid depth of burial of 0.5 m. This depth is under the cover of crushed stone
in the electrical sub-station area.
 Maximum design ground system resistance of 5 ohms. The final objective

resistance will be determined in this study based on the maximum step and touch
voltages.
 Use of copper covered steel rods at the grounding wells. These rods will have a
minimum diameter of 15.9 mm (5/8 inch) and a length of 2.44 meters (8 feet) each.
Three rods will be included in the grounding well. Each rod is connected to a bare
copper conductor size 2 AWG. The length of this conductor and the depth of the
grounding well must be enough to reach the water level (approximate resistivity of 1
ohm-m). For the grounding well construction details refer to project drawing
201149-014016-DR-012SH2.
 The ground wire of the distribution line is continuous and is connected to the
grounding system at each extreme sub-station. The wire is galvanized steel with a
diameter of 5/16 inches.
 The distribution line has a continuous counterpoise that is connected to the

grounding system at each extreme sub-station. Its design resistance objective is 20
ohms.
3. CONDUCTOR SIZE
The size of the conductor to be used on the grounding system depends on the
maximum short circuit current that can circulate through the grounding grid during the
maximum time of the protective scheme. It also depends on the fusing temperature of
the connectors used.
3.1. MPP E-5
The maximum ground fault current occurs at the 480 V level and has a value of 10.4
KA. The grounding system conductors must be capable of carrying this value of current
during the time that the protective devices take to operate. The attachment 1 has the
computer output results of this short circuit current calculation.
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File: 559725230.doc
From the pre-coordination study 201149-044016-CN-002, the protection’s maximum

operating time is 0.2 seconds (taken from coordination curve MPPE5LVG).
For the grounding grid conductors that are bare and directly buried, their minimum size
must be 6 AWG with exothermic connectors or 2 AWG with bolted connectors (based
on IEEE Std. 80). The size 4/0 used for mechanical considerations is greater than
these minimum values.
For the grounding grid conductor that is isolated cable installed on cable tray, the
minimum size is 1/0 AWG (based on standard cable damage curve).
The maximum ground fault current occurs at 480 V and has a value of 41.6 KA (this
value is the greatest ground fault of the three well pads). The grounding system
conductors must be capable of carrying this value of current during the time that the
protective devices take to operate. The attachment 5 has the computer output results
of these current calculations.
From the VFDs to the motors, the grounding grid conductor is bare and directly buried.
The operating time of the branch circuit breaker is 0.18 seconds. Based on the value of
ground fault current and the 0.18 seconds protection’s operating time, the minimum
size for this grounding grid conductor is 2/0 AWG (based on IEEE Std. 80).
From the 480 V MCC’s branch circuit breakers to the VFDs, the grounding grid
conductor is isolated cable installed on cable tray. This cable has XHHN insulation.
The operating time of the main breaker is 0.32 seconds. Based on the value of ground
fault current and the 0.32 seconds protection’s operating time, the minimum size for
this grounding grid cable is 350 MCM (based on standard cable damage curve).
From the 480 V transformer’s earth connection to the 480 V MCC, the grounding grid
conductor is bare and directly buried. The operating time of the 51G relay is 0.6
seconds. Based on the value of ground fault current and the 0.6 seconds relay’s
operating time, the minimum size for this grounding grid conductor is 250 MCM (based
on IEEE Std. 80).
The protective device’s operating times were taken from the project document 201149-
044016-CN-002 (PRE-COORDINATION STUDY AREA 40, Coordination curves
E4GRD, E5GRD, F5GRD).
All connectors must have a fusing temperature of 1084 °C (exothermic welding).

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4. GROUNDING SYSTEM AREA
4.1. MPP E-5
The MPP station area covered by the grounding system is a rectangle of 52 x 92

meters. All the bare grounding conductors in this area are modeled in the finite element
method of analysis used.
For the grounding system physical layout of the MPP E-5, refer to the project drawing
201149-044416-DR-005.
The well pad area covered by the grounding system is a rectangle of 232 x 92 meters.
All the bare grounding conductors in this area are modeled in the finite element method
of analysis used.
For the grounding system physical layout of well pads E-4, E-5 and F-5, refer to the
project drawings 201149-044016-DR-017, 201149-044016-DR-018 and 201149-
044016-DR-020.
5. EARTH RESISTIVITY
The resistivity measurements used for the design of the 34.5 kV distribution lines will
be used. The average resistivity value for the first layer is 1500 ohm-m, for the second
layer is 4400 ohm-m and the average first layer’s depth is 1.13 meters.
6. EARTH FAULT FOR DESIGN
6.1. MPP E-5
For the design of the grounding system, the maximum earth fault current that circulates
from the grid to the earth is to be used. For the case of the MPP E-5, this current
corresponds with an earth fault at the last pole of the 34.5 kV distribution line which
feeds the MPP electrical system.
This fault current has a value of 2.8 kA (X/R = 4). The attachment 2 has the computer
output results of this current calculation.
This fault current sees three paths for its return to the source. Two paths are through
the ground and counterpoise wires and the third path is through the MPP grounding
system. The path through the MPP grounding system has the lowest impedance. Then
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for practical purposes, it can be assumed that the whole ground fault current (2800 A)
will divert through the MPP grounding system.
The fault current through the grounding system multiplied by the total ground system
resistance will be used to calculate the ground potential rise (GPR) of the system.
For the design of the grounding system, the maximum earth fault current that circulates
from the grid to the earth is to be used. For the case of the well pads, this current
corresponds with an earth fault at the last pole of the 34.5 kV distribution line which
feeds the well pad electrical system.
For well pads E-4, E-5 and F-5, the ground fault currents and its X/R values are all very
close so a single value of 2.43 kA (X/R = 4) may be applied to the three well pads. The
attachment 5 has the computer output results of this current calculation.
This fault current sees three paths for its return to the source. Two paths are through
the ground and counterpoise wires and the third path is through the well pad grounding
system. After several calculations with different well pad grounding system resistances,
it can be concluded that the path through the well pad grounding system has the lowest
impedance. Then for practical purposes, it can be assumed that the whole ground fault
current (3300 A) will divert through the well pad grounding system.
The fault current through the grounding system multiplied by the total ground system
resistance will be used to calculate the ground potential rise (GPR) of the system.
7. TIME FOR DESIGN

The time used for the design of the grounding system must be the maximum time that
a person can be exposed to an earth fault, which raises the potential of the grounding
system as a whole.
This time depends on the design philosophy of the protective device scheme used. In
the case of the MCC or well pads, a double circuit 34.5 kV distribution line feeds them
from the Hamaca sub-station. At Hamaca sub-station, the scheme consists of an
overcurrent relay with a reclosing feature that feeds two 34.5 circuits and power fuses
for discrimination of faults within each circuit.
The overcurrent relay works in a “fuse saving” scheme where there will be several
reclosing cycles in order to clear transient faults and a final coordinated operation when
there is a permanent fault. The relay has time overcurrent phase and ground protection
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and the capability to implement up to 4 reclosing cycles. At this stage of the project, no
definitive relay’s manufacturer and type are defined but a modern electronic relay is
assumed as typical.
The operating time of the 34.5 kV circuit breakers at Hamaca sub-station is 5 cycles
(0.0833 seconds). When there is an earth fault, there is normally also an arc, which is
assumed to have a de-ionization time of 10 cycles (0.1667 seconds). The operating
time of the relay is 0.5 cycles (0.0083 seconds).
The following are the sequential steps that will normally happen when a permanent
earth fault occurs in the 34.5 distribution line:
 Fault detection by the relay. The 34.5 breaker trips without any intentional time
delay. The exposure time here is 5.5 cycles (circuit breaker time plus relay time) or
0.09167 seconds.
 Delay time of 10 cycles for arc de-ionization.
 First reclosing, the fault continues, the relay trips the 34.5 kV breaker. The
exposure time here is 5.5 cycles or 0.09167 seconds.
 Time delay of 15 seconds before the second reclosing, the fault continues, the relay
trips the 34.5 kV breaker. The exposure time here is 5.5 cycles or 0.09167
seconds.
 Time delay of 30 seconds before the third reclosing, the fault continues, the relay
trips the 34.5 kV breaker. The exposure time here is 5.5 cycles or 0.09167
seconds.
 Time delay of 45 seconds before the fourth reclosing, the fault continues, the relay
enters its time delay characteristic that is coordinated with the 34.5 kV fuses. If the
fuses operate correctly, their total operating time is 0.32 seconds for the MPP E-5
and 0.42 seconds for the well pads. This is also the exposure time for this cycle.
See protection coordination curves MPPFDR35 and WPE4E5F5 in attachment 3.
The above steps give a total exposure time of 0.7 seconds for the MPP E-5 and 0.79
seconds for the well pads. This time is used to establish the maximum allowed step
and touch voltages of the grounding system and also the factor that multiplies the
symmetrical fault current to obtain its corresponding asymmetrical value.
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8. RESULTS
When there is an earth fault at 34.5 kV, close to the MPP or well pad electrical sub-
station, the current discharged to the earth gives rise to a ground potential rise (GPR)
given by the fault current magnitude times the earthing system resistance. This GPR is
transferred to any MPP or well pad electrical equipment whose metallic covering is
connected to ground. In order to avoid any dangerous electrical schocks, this GPR
must be less than the maximum touch voltage that a person can withstand according to
the IEEE standard 80.
The maximum current allowed for a 50 kg human is according to the IEEE Standard
80:
_
0.116 / √ t
where: t is the total exposure’s time.
For the MPP E-5 case, with t = 0.7 seconds, the maximum current allowed is 138.6 mA
and for the well pads E-4, E-5 and F-5 case, with t = 0.79 seconds, the maximum
current allowed is 130.5 mA.
The maximum touch voltage allowed is according to the IEEE Standard 80:
(Rc + 1.5 ) Imc

where: Rc is the resistance of the human body (1000 ohms).
 is the resistivity of the soil (1500 ohm-m for the first layer).
Imc is the maximum current allowed for a 50 kg human (Amps).
For the MPP E-5 case, the maximum touch voltage allowed is 450 Volts. For the well
pads E-4, E-5 and F-5 case, the maximum touch voltage allowed is 424 Volts. These
are also the maximum values that the GPR can reach at each location without
endangering the operating personnel.
For the MPP E-5 case, with a ground to earth fault current of 2800 Amps at the MPP E-
5, the total grounding system resistance must be:
Rg = GPR / Ig = 450 / 2800 = 0.16 ohms
By using two grounding wells, the maximum resistance of each well must be 0.32 ohm.
For the well pads E-4, E-5 and F-5 case, with a ground to earth fault current of 2430
Amps, the total grounding system resistance must be:
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Rg = GPR / Ig = 424 / 2430 = 0.17 ohms
By using two grounding wells, the maximum resistance of each well must be 0.34 ohm.
As it can be seen, the differences between the requirements for the grounding wells of
the MPP and the well pads are minimal so the most limiting grounding well design will
apply for all. This is the case with total grounding system resistance of 0.16 ohms and
with the maximum resistance of each well at 0.32 ohm.
The equivalent of three grounding rods connected together can be represented by one
rod of 27.5 mm diameter. With a rod length of 3 m and an earth resistivity of 1 ohm-m,
the resistance of the equivalent rod is estimated as 0.31 ohm, which is also the
resistance per grounding well.
The proposed grounding systems for the MPP and the well pads were simulated in the
ETAP program. Due to the fact that these grounding systems are not a classical
rectangular grid, the finite element method of analysis was used. With this finite
element method, any irregular grounding system configuration can be modeled.
Neither the finite element method nor the IEEE Std. 80 methodology can model the
presence of a grounding well connected to the grounding system. For this reason, the
finite element method will be applied assuming that no grounding well is present. The
effect of the grounding well will be represented by the amount of ground fault current
(Amps) used in the calculation of the grid potentials.
The calculation methodology of the finite element method considers that the lower
layer of a two-layer soil model has an equal or lower resistivity value than the upper
layer. This is not valid for the MPP and well pads cases where the lower layer has a
greater resistivity than the upper layer. For this reason two cases of uniform soil
resistivity were considered, one case assumes a uniform soil of 1500 ohm-m resistivity
and the other case assumes a uniform soil of 4400 ohm-m resistivity.
8.1. MPP E-5
The total system resistance of the proposed grounding system for the MPP has a value
of 13.56 ohm with an uniform 1500 ohm-m resistivity and a value of 39.77 ohm with an
uniform 4400 ohm-m resistivity. For the purpose of obtaining the worst case of current
through the grounding system, the 13.56 ohm value will be used. The 2800 A ground
fault current sees two parallel paths for its return, one path is through the two
grounding wells (combined resistance of 0.16 ohm) and the other path is through the
ground grid (resistance of 13.56 ohm). By calculating this current division, the current
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discharged by the ground grid will be 32.7 Amps. This is the current value to be used
for calculating the surface potentials with the finite element method.
Attachment 4 shows the computer output results for the ground system of the MPP
without consideration of the grounding wells. The input data used is shown along with
the results of the total system resistance, GPR and tolerable step and touch potentials.
As it can be seen from the computer results, the GPR (446.6 V) is lower than the
maximum touch voltage allowed (450 V). There is also a report of the absolute
potential of different locations within the grounding system. It was verified that the
difference of absolute potentials between any two points that can be shunted by a
person walking in the MPP area is lower than the maximum step voltage allowed
(1386.5 V).
The total system resistance of the proposed grounding system for the well pads has a
value of 6.375 ohm with an uniform 1500 ohm-m resistivity and a value of 18.7 ohm
with an uniform 4400 ohm-m resistivity. For the purpose of obtaining the worst case of
current through the grounding system, the 6.375 ohm value will be used. The 2430 A
ground fault current sees two parallel paths for its return, one path is through the two
grounding wells (combined resistance of 0.16 ohm) and the other path is through the
ground grid (resistance of 6.375 ohm). By calculating this current division, the current
discharged by the ground grid will be 59.5 Amps. This is the current value to be used
for calculating the surface potentials with the finite element method.
Attachment 6 shows the computer output results for the ground system of the well pads
without consideration of the grounding wells. The input data used is shown along with
the results of the total system resistance, GPR and tolerable step and touch potentials.
As it can be seen from the computer results, the GPR (381.8 V) is lower than the
maximum touch voltage allowed (424 V). There is also a report of the absolute
potential of different locations within the grounding system. It was verified that the
difference of absolute potentials between any two points that can be shunted by a
person walking in the well pad area is lower than the maximum step voltage allowed
(1305 V).
9. RECOMMENDATIONS
 The resistance to earth of the MPP E-5 and well pads E-4/E5/F-5 grounding system
must be 0.16 ohms or less. This low value of resistance is the value objective to be
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obtained by the grounding well constructor which must be a maximum of 0.32 ohm
per well (total of 2 grounding wells).
 For the well pad F-4, the same ground design as determined for well pads C-4 and
D-5 can be used (see document 201149-014016-CN-002). This can be done
because the well pad area is the same, the transformer feeding the well pad power
system is of the same capacity (3750 kVA), the protective scheme is the same, the
earth resistivity is the same and the ground fault for design is lower for the well pad
F-4 (2.2 kA) than the value used for well pads C-4 and D-5 (3.3 kA).
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ATTACHMENT 1
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ATTACHMENT 5
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ATTACHMENT 6
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Project Title: HAMACA UPSTREAM FACILITIES OTEPI Document : 201149-044016-CN-003

PACKAGE C Page: 1/20

HAMACA UPSTREAM FACILITIES PACKAGE C

GROUNDING SYSTEM STUDY

WELLPADS E4, E5, F4, F5 & MPP E5

REV. DATE PAGE(S) COMMENT(S)

A-0 Dec-11-2001 20 Issue for comments

B-0 Not Issued

0 Feb-21-2002 20 Approved for Construction

PREPARED BY: CHECKED BY D.L.: APPROVED BY E.C.: APPROVED BY P.M.: APPROVED BY

2.1. MPP E-5 4

2.2. Well Pads E-4/E-5/F-5 5

3.1. MPP E-5 6

3.2. Well Pads E-4/E-5/F-5 7

4. GROUNDING SYSTEM AREA 8

4.1. MPP E-5 8

4.2. Well Pads E-4/E-5/F-5 8

6. EARTH FAULT FOR DESIGN 8

6.1. MPP E-5 8

6.2. Well Pads E-4/E-5/F-5 9

7. TIME FOR DESIGN 9

8.1. MPP E-5 12

8.2. Well Pads E-4/E-5/F-5 13

2.1. MPP E-5

 Ambient air temperature of 40 °C.

Bare copper conductors.

Hard drawn 97 % conductivity.

 Maximum design ground system resistance of 5 ohms. The final objective

 The distribution line has a continuous counterpoise that is connected to the

2.2. Well Pads E-4/E-5/F-5

 Ambient air temperature of 40 °C.

Bare copper conductors.

Hard drawn 97 % conductivity.

Exothermic welded connections.

 Maximum design ground system resistance of 5 ohms. The final objective

 The distribution line has a continuous counterpoise that is connected to the

3.1. MPP E-5

From the pre-coordination study 201149-044016-CN-002, the protection’s maximum

3.2. Well Pads E-4/E-5/F-5

All connectors must have a fusing temperature of 1084 °C (exothermic welding).

4. GROUNDING SYSTEM AREA

4.1. MPP E-5

The MPP station area covered by the grounding system is a rectangle of 52 x 92

4.2. Well Pads E-4/E-5/F-5

6. EARTH FAULT FOR DESIGN

6.1. MPP E-5

6.2. Well Pads E-4/E-5/F-5

7. TIME FOR DESIGN

 Delay time of 10 cycles for arc de-ionization.

where: t is the total exposure’s time.

(Rc + 1.5 ) Imc

Rg = GPR / Ig = 450 / 2800 = 0.16 ohms

Rg = GPR / Ig = 424 / 2430 = 0.17 ohms

8.1. MPP E-5

8.2. Well Pads E-4/E-5/F-5

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