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abstract 97

Inter Basin Water Transfers in large quantities and over long distances by flexible underwater pipelines

Author(s): topics 2, 2.3, 4, 4.1
Author(s): Felix Bogliolo, Claude Lebelle
Felix BOGLIOLO Chief Executive Officer via-marina 3 rue Michel Voisin 92330 Sceaux France +33 1 40 91 93 00 felix.bogliolo@via-marina.com

Keyword(s): bulk water resources, water transportation, desalination, inter basin water transfers,

Article:

Poster:

Session: Poster session 4

Abstracta) introduction,
World population will increase by 3

billion people over a few dozens years. This fact raises the question of global availability of foodstuff and particularly

of increasing land surfaces dedicated to irrigation. This fact will also increase dramatically population suffering from

water shortages. Moreover, in many cases, water resources are not available where needed.
Increasing locally

water resources at an affordable price (i.e. much lower than 1€/m3) will solve this problem. But, all existing solutions

suffer from major flaws. Desalination costs around 1€/m3 and its energy consumption is greater than 3kWh/m3.

Today, few traditional ground-based inter basin transfers can be carried out or even continued because they are

difficult to implement and induce numerous problems downstream. Other exotic solutions (e.g. tankers) are very

expensive (>2€/m3) or can be used only for limited quantities (1m3/s ~ 1 tanker of 100.000t/d).
b)

objective,
Innovative alternative solutions should be considered. Available water at river mouths is abstracted

upstream the salt wedge. It is then transported by underwater pipes parallel to the coast (across the sea for islands).

At destination in coastal areas where 60% of the world population lives, it is distributed through the local network

after usage-specific treatment (human consumption, industry needs or agricultural needs that account for 2/3 of

global water consumption and require a very low price).
c) methods,
This patented system allows

transportation of water in large quantities (from 1m3/s up to several dozens m3/s) over long distances (from a few

dozens kilometers up to several hundreds). It is structured around a very flexible pipe that adapts to the seabed

profile without preparation of the ground. It is laid on the seabed (typically at 200m depth) and ballasted by a

“mattress”.
d) results
Projects transferring any volume over any distance can be considered: larger

volumes require more parallel pipes beyond the two that always considered for security reasons; longer distances

require intermediary pump stations which constitute so many abstraction or delivery points.
This system is very

competitive and is therefore a serious alternative to land transmission lines and to desalination plants.
Its prices are

low (from 0.1 up to 0.3€/m3 in most cases). Its energy consumption is less than 0.2 kWh/m3 in most cases, which is

about 5% of the energy necessary for seawater desalination. Its construction can be conducted in 1 to 2 years. An

over investment of 15% at the outset typically brings the flexibility to meet a 50% increase in demand over

time.
More than two dozens applications have been identified after a limited market study. They cover all

continents and they total several thousand kilometers of pipes.
e) conclusion
The advantages of this system

are manifold.
Delivery of fresh water at an economical price satisfactorily meets large demands, especially

agricultural uses.
Low energy consumption makes it more environment friendly and less sensitive to energy

price.
It is simple and sturdy which allows operation by workforce with lower qualification, without external

technological dependence.

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Inter Basin Water Transfers in large quantities and over long distances by flexible underwater pipelines