GIS Tools for WAC Pipeline Project

The WAC rules aim to regulate pipeline projects in Washington State by implementing Geographic Information System (GIS) tools to locate oil spills and leaks, ensure environmental sustainability, and reduce costs. The new standard requires pipeline developers to create a geographic data device for making informed decisions and maintaining accurate records of faults. This approach will benefit the ecological system by limiting pollution and emission of greenhouse gases, while also promoting sustainable practices and improving decision-making.

Running head: WAC Rules 1
WAC Rules on Pipeline Project
Student Name
Institution

WAC Rules 2
Introduction
More than 15.8 billion gallons of dangerous chemicals and oil are transported to and from
Washington State by the help of large pipeline networks and oil tankers every year. The sea and
fresh water of the state support some of the vital and productive ecosystems in the world. But the
hazardous spill of oil and chemicals in water and on land can be dangerous for a living being in
water as well as on land.
Discussion
WAC rules were made especially for pipelines carrying hazardous chemicals and
petrochemicals. Typically, the pipeline maps covered in the plans are not pointing by a point or in
a detailed way. The new standard will support the arrangement since it requires the planning
expert to build up a geographic data device for making a good decision. The holder of the plan
will make and keep up a Geographic Information Planning Tool which enables the planning
expert to screen the mapping and spell oil, settle on choices and increment the recuperation and
evacuation task described in the arrangement.
GIS Tools will be used to locate the spill of oils and leakages in pipelines. The pipeline
details include location information for line segments, pipeline control points, block breaks,
pipeline right of the way, prevention structures, safety equipment, block valves, access points
and control stations. Tools must be able to include information of cultural, sensitive natural
and economic areas that will also include the applicable GRP. (Chang, 2008)
While pipelines provide oil and gas a cost-effective way of transport across long
distances, but it is still important for companies to save the pipeline development cost when they
can. Pipeline development makes the most important investment capital of oil and gas
companies, so what they can do to cut costs helps. According to the rule, to ensure that the

WAC Rules 3
environment was suitable for the operating environment, the type of equipment used on the two-
hour standard would need to be extended. We have added a two-hour option for speed, which
allows a site-specific strategy to keep the oil in the surface water or to penetrate the ground.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
• Will be beneficial for the ecological system, by limiting the pollution or oil spill and
emission of GHG.
• Will force the refineries to adopt sustainable measurements toward the water and land.
• Locating any Spill or leakage is very time consuming and lots of labor can be needed
in that case. Use of GIS will ease this process.
• Will help in improved decision making
• Will increase efficiency and reduce the cost.
• Easy to keep a record of faults.
Cons:
• Implementation cost can be high.
• Need lots of Data
• Violation privacy

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Bibliography
Chang, K. T. (2008). Introduction to Geographical Information Systems. McGraw Hill.
Retrieved 2 21, 2018