Earthquake Safety of Natural Gas Systems - Analysis of Data from the 17 October 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake

本项目旨在总结1989年10月17日北加州（洛马普里塔）地震的经验教训。此前，达姆斯和摩尔因收集地震中易腐烂的数据而获得了“快速反应”奖。洛马·普里塔地震影响了旧金山湾区几乎所有类型的生命线，包括天然气系统。天然气系统在地面严重破坏的地区受到严重影响，例如在Marina地区，在最初的地面震动后爆发了几场大火。人们担心该地区的天然气泄漏会引发无法控制的火灾。幸运的是，火势被几种替代水源控制住了。该项目的目的是研究地震对当地天然气系统的影响。具体来说，它分析了作为“快速反应”奖的一部分收集的数据，以便为天然气系统开发更好的地震风险评估模型，并确定现有的安全装置，如地震关闭阀，是减轻整体地震损失的可行解决方案。对这些数据的分析建立在对这些系统已有的有限研究的基础上。将这次地震的性能数据与1971年圣费尔南多地震和1987年惠蒂尔海峡地震的类似数据进行比较是至关重要的，以便量化由于区域因素和地震准备水平而导致的性能差异。

This project addresses the lessons learned from the 17 October 1989 Northern California (Loma Prieta) earthquake. It follows a "quick response" award made to Dames and Moore for the collection of perishable data from the earthquake. The Loma Prieta earthquake affected the performance of virtually every type of lifeline in the San Francisco Bay Area, including natural gas systems. Natural gas systems were severely affected in areas of significant ground failure, such as in the Marina district, where several large fires erupted after the initial ground shock. There was concern that uncontrolled fires would be fueled by gas leaks in the area. Fortunately, the fires were contained by utilizing several alternative water sources. The aim of this project is to study the effects of the earthquake on local natural gas systems. Specifically it analyzes the data collected as part of the "quick response" award, in order to develop better seismic risk evaluation models for natural gas systems, and to determine whether existing safety devices, such as seismic shutoff valves, are a feasible solution for mitigating overall earthquake losses. An analysis of these data builds upon limited studies which already exist for these systems. A comparison of performance data from this event to similar data from the 1971 San Fernando and the 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquakes is critical in order to quantify differences in performance due to regional factors and level of earthquake preparedness.