Abstract
Surface displacement caused by natural and anthropogenic activities poses a significant risk to subsurface pipelines, particularly in areas experiencing subsidence. Stress and strain induced by deformation can lead to pipeline buckling and potential vulnerability. This study applies a multidisciplinary approach integrating interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) deformation analysis, well data, and geological context to assess the risk to oil and gas pipelines in Iran's Qazvin plain. The focus is on evaluating the impact of an unconfined aquifer, which has a lower risk of subsidence compared to a confined aquifer, on pipeline infrastructure. We analyzed multitemporal Sentinel-1 data collected between 2014 and 2021. Our findings reveal that 2,400 km2 of the study area is experiencing subsidence with vertical rates reaching up to 14 cm/year with an average Sk, or skeletal storage value of 0.04. We explore the reasons for this unexpectedly high subsidence, finding that compressible unconfined aquifers with historically low water levels are also at risk for significant inelastic, or permanent, subsidence. We also evaluate pipeline profiles, which show spatial subsidence, much higher than typically seen in unconfined aquifers, with variations of up to 1 m, indicating long-term risks to the infrastructure. This study demonstrates the potential of InSAR techniques in assessing the risk to critical infrastructure, such as oil and gas pipelines, in regions with land deformation due to groundwater withdrawal. Our approach underscores the importance of continuous monitoring and offers valuable insights for addressing the challenges posed by subsidence on pipeline infrastructure.
Recommended Citation
M. Rajabi et al., "Identifying Potential Risk Areas Close to the Oil and Gas Pipelines Due to Subsidence in Qazvin Plain," Journal of Geodetic Science, vol. 15, no. 1, article no. 20250186, De Gruyter, Jan 2025.
The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1515/jogs-2025-0186
Department(s)
Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering
Publication Status
Open Access
Keywords and Phrases
buried energy pipelines; deformation monitoring; InSAR; pipeline vulnerability; Qazvin plain; radar remote-sensing; subsidence in unconfined aquifer
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
2081-9943
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Final Version
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2025 The Authors, All rights reserved.
Creative Commons Licensing
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Publication Date
01 Jan 2025
Comments
Norges Teknisk-Naturvitenskapelige Universitet, Grant None