Comprehensive Investigation Into Historical Pipeline Construction Costs And Engineering Economic Analysis Of Alaska In-State Gas Pipeline

Thesis (Ph.D.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2011This study analyzes historical cost data of 412 pipelines and 220 compressor stations. On the basis of this analysis, the study also evaluates the feasibility of an Alaska in-state gas pipeline using Monte Carlo simulation techniques. Analysis of pipeline construction costs shows that component costs, shares of cost components, and learning rates for material and labor costs vary by diameter, length, volume, year, and location. Overall average learning rates for pipeline material and labor costs are 6.1% and 12.4%, respectively. Overall average cost shares for pipeline material, labor, miscellaneous, and right of way (ROW) are 31%, 40%, 23%, and 7%, respectively. Regression models are developed to estimate pipeline component costs for different lengths, cross-sectional areas, and locations. An analysis of inaccuracy in pipeline cost estimation demonstrates that the cost estimation of pipeline cost components is biased except for in the case of total costs. Overall overrun rates for pipeline material, labor, miscellaneous, ROW, and total costs are 4.9%, 22.4%, -0.9%, 9.1%, and 6.5%, respectively, and project size, capacity, diameter, location, and year of completion have different degrees of impacts on cost overruns of pipeline cost components. Analysis of compressor station costs shows that component costs, shares of cost components, and learning rates for material and labor costs vary in terms of capacity, year, and location. Average learning rates for compressor station material and labor costs are 12.1% and 7.48%, respectively. Overall average cost shares of material, labor, miscellaneous, and ROW are 50.6%, 27.2%, 21.5%, and 0.8%, respectively. Regression models are developed to estimate compressor station component costs in different capacities and locations. An investigation into inaccuracies in compressor station cost estimation demonstrates that the cost estimation for compressor stations is biased except for in the case of material costs. Overall average overrun rates for compressor station material, labor, miscellaneous, land, and total costs are 3%, 60%, 2%, -14%, and 11%, respectively, and cost overruns for cost components are influenced by location and year of completion to different degrees. Monte Carlo models are developed and simulated to evaluate the feasibility of an Alaska in-state gas pipeline by assigning triangular distribution of the values of economic parameters. Simulated results show that the construction of an Alaska in-state natural gas pipeline is feasible at three scenarios: 500 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd), 750 mmcfd, and 1000 mmcfd

Aharonov-Bohm effect in monolayer black phosphorus (phosphorene) nanorings

This work presents theoretical demonstration of Aharonov-Bohm (AB) effect in monolayer phosphorene nanorings (PNR). Atomistic quantum transport simulations of PNR are employed to investigate the impact of multiple modulation sources on the sample conductance. In presence of a perpendicular magnetic field, we find that the conductance of both armchair and zigzag PNR oscillate periodically in a low-energy window as a manifestation of the AB effect. Our numerical results have revealed a giant magnetoresistance (MR) in zigzag PNR (with a maximum magnitude approaching two thousand percent). It is attributed to the AB effect induced destructive interference phase in a wide energy range below the bottom of the second subband. We also demonstrate that PNR conductance is highly anisotropic, offering an additional way to modulate MR. The giant MR in PNR is maintained at room temperature in the presence of thermal broadening effect.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figure

The Strategic Setting Of Real Estate Mutual Fund Expense Ratios

Real estate mutual fund expense ratios are analyzed using panel data comprising 1,130 observations. The results show that expense ratio is inversely related to share class assets, fund family size, and fund age. Conversely, the expense ratio is positively related to larger funds and fund families with superior performance. This result is interesting because individual fund classes with favorable performance are associated with lower expense ratios. The results are robust to common estimation methodologies

Molecular Cloning and Response to Water Temperature and Nutrient Manipulation of Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF) Genes in Golden Pompano Trachinotus ovatus (Linnaeus 1758) Larvae

In this study, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF I) and IGF II in golden pompano larvae were cloned and analyzed. In the first trial, IGF expression during ontogeny of larvae in the first 18-days of their life was explored, and then the response of IGFs to water temperature (23, 26, and 29oC) on 12 day post hatching (DPH) and 18 DPH were compared. On 28 DPH, the response of IGFs to the manipulation of nutrients was evaluated. The expression of IGF I increased with the increase of fish age, and was not significantly affected by water temperature. The expression of IGF II was affected by water temperature on 12 DPH and 18 DPH. The expression of IGF II at 23oC was significantly higher than at 26oC and 29oC. The expression of IGFs in fish larvae on 28 DPH was not concomitant with nutrient manipulation. This study detected the gene expression of IGFs at the early stage of golden pompano larvae. The time dependent expression of IGF genes in fish larvae is important to understand the ontogenetic development and growth of fish larvae in early life