Analysis of Simultaneous Operational Failure of Critical Facilities due to Earthquake, for a California Utlity

Abstract

This study presents an estimate of the probability that a single earthquake could cause simultaneous operational failure of geographically disperse data centers operated by a California utility. Three facilities are considered: a grid control facility (denoted herein by GCF), a data processing facility (DPF), and a backup data facility (BDF) that can perform the functions of either GCF or DPF, should either be rendered inoperative. This study estimates two probabilities: (1) that within the next 5 years a single earthquake could render both the grid control and backup facilities inoperative; and (2) that within the next 5 years a single earthquake could render both the data processing and backup facilities inoperative. The work was performed by researchers at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, CA, in collaboration with researchers at the United States Geological Survey in Pasadena, CA and Golden, CO. Caltech designed and directed the research, examined the seismic vulnerability of the three sites, and quantified the two probabilities desired. The USGS performed the hazard analysis.

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