Abstract
An operating geothermal power plant consists of installation units that work systematically in a network. The pipeline network connects various engineering structures, e.g. well pads, separator, scrubber, and power station, in the process of transferring geothermal fluids to generate electricity. Besides, a pipeline infrastructure also delivers the brine back to earth, through the injection well-pads. Despite of its important functions, a geothermal pipeline may bear a threat to its vicinity through a pipeline failure. The pipeline can be impacted by perilous events like landslides, earthquakes, and subsidence. The pipeline failure itself may relate to physical deterioration over time, e.g. due to corrosion and fatigue. The geothermal reservoirs are usually located in mountainous areas that are associated with steep slopes, complex geology, and weathered soil. Geothermal areas record a noteworthy number of disasters, especially due to landslide and subsidence. Therefore, a proper multi-risk assessment along the geothermal pipeline is required, particularly for these two types of hazard. This is also to mention that the impact on human fatality and injury is not presently discussed here. This paper aims to give a basic overview on the existing approaches for the assessment of multi-risk assessment along geothermal pipelines. It delivers basic principles on the analysis of risks and its contributing variables, in order to model the loss consequences. By considering the loss consequences, as well as the alternatives for mitigation measures, the environmental safety in geothermal working area could be enforced.
Highlights
Geothermal energy has long been known as a renewable energy resource with the environmental friendly benefits
Exploiting geothermal energy could bring a considerable consequence to the environment without implementing a proper risk management plan
Some geothermal fields show a noteworthy number of disasters, especially landslides and subsidence that may bring disastrous consequences
Summary
Geothermal energy has long been known as a renewable energy resource with the environmental friendly benefits. In a geothermal working area, the pipeline transfers geothermal fluids (steam, liquid, or mixture) from well-pads to the power plant, in the process of generating electricity. Geothermal pipelines require an assessment of multi-risk that addresses the risk analysis and its contributing variables, to model the consequences. UNISDR describes disaster risk analysis as a method to estimate the probability and consequence of risk, by analysing the component variables of hazard, vulnerability, and coping capacity. The cost of the loss could be monetarized into direct and indirect cost (Doro-on, 2014; Muhlbauer, 2004): o Direct cost, e.g.: damages to property, fatality and injury, environmental remediation, profit loss, repair cost, market share disruption, fine and penalty o Indirect cost, e.g.: customer discontent, litigation ramification, political reaction, downstream business disruption (agriculture production)
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