Advanced linear scheduling program with varying production rates for pipeline construction projects

Linear scheduling is known to have superior schedule management capabilities specifically in linear construction projects such as oil and gas pipeline projects which typically involve repetitive-work activities with the same crew and equipment throughout a project. This promising scheduling method, however, has not been actively used in practice historically, probably due to the aggressive marketing and the domination of Critical Path Method (CPM) in the U.S. market. This study discusses on developing an automated alignment based linear scheduling program for applying temporal and spatial changes in production rates. An actual 750 mile natural gas liquids pipeline project starting in Wyoming and terminating in Kansas is used to develop a production rate regression model and validate the program successfully. This newly developed program can provide a project team with the ability to better understand how changes in the project plan and schedule will impact production rates for the project.