NETL's Energy Infrastructure and Security Research Group (EISRG) has a key supporting role in emergency preparedness and response. The EISRG develops high-level analytical visualizations that are used to study critical U.S. energy infrastructures and their inter-relationships during natural and manmade emergencies. By deploying resources and providing vital information in a timely manner, EISRG improves the ability of government agencies and the energy sector to prevent, prepare for, and respond to hazards, emergencies, natural disasters, or any other threat to the nation's energy supply.

Storm track map for 2005 Hurricane Katrina

In order to maintain continuous and reliable energy supplies during emergencies, the EISRG helps the DOE Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and other federal agencies with their emergency preparedness decision-making. OE named NETL as the coordinator of the multi-lab Visualization and Modeling Working Group (VMWG ) because NETL combines Geographical Information Systems information on locations of power plants, refineries, and other energy infrastructure features with the engineering expertise to analyze potential impacts and respond quickly. Also, NETL is the only national laboratory operated by DOE employees.

The VMWG also i ncludes Argonne National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and Sandia National Laboratories. Each group member provides specific analysis during emergency preparedness events. NETL's EISRG then is able to compile quick-response analytical reports to senior DOE managers within one hour. These reports provide the high-level, accurate infrastructure visualizations necessary to assist in decision making during an emergency response. A full analytical response, covering electrical, natural gas, petroleum, demographic, and economic sectors, is compiled within eight hours of the time the data is provided to EISRG by the laboratory group members. This report contains complete analysis, as well as an executive summary that captures the impact assessment in a 10-minute slide presentation for senior management.

Pipeline diagram for Chevron Oil Refinery, Pascagoula , Mississippi

For example, in the event of a hurricane, the National Hurricane Center and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provide the hurricane storm track. Los Alamos National Lab develops damage contours based on the storm track and wind speed projections. NETL and other VMWG labs incorporate these contours with maps showing components of the nation's energy infrastructure, such as transmission lines and pipelines. The final analyses may cover outage and restoration progress, as well as potential impact to the power grid, helping federal agencies to determine alternate fuel supplies in case of a severe shortage.

In addition to maintaining readiness to assist in national emergencies, NETL's EISRG team has a strong capability to analyze energy infrastructure. This capability could be made available to communities and other localities if they needed help in assessing the impact of an emergency on energy components.

EISRG Resources:

• Geospatial software gathers geocoded data, combines relevant data sets, and analyzes and displays the results to support energy emergency responses
  • ArcGIS Desktop: ArcView
  • ArcGIS Server: ArcMIS & ArcSDE
  • MapInfo Professional®
    
• Real-time communication tools for team collaboration and online interaction
  • IBM Lotus QuickPlace
  • WebEx™

Additional Information:
Impact of the 2005 Hurricanes on the Natural Gas Industry in the Gulf of Mexico Region [PDF-4.37MB]