Natural Gas Transport by Pipeline

General Objectives:

To provide an overview of technical and economic issues of natural gas transport by pipeline.

Specific Objectives:

At the end of training the trainees will be able to:

• Look over the world map of natural gas pipeline networks;
• Review marketed gas pipeline design: route, sizing, material, compression stations positioning and design;
• Assess pipe laying organization, management, constraints, planning and techniques;
• Understand gas transportation network maintenance and daily operations within the framework of regulations;
• Grasp fundamental issues of natural gas transport economics and third-party access.

CONTEÚDOS

Module I – Introduction to natural gas

• From reservoir to end user;
• Chemical composition and properties of natural gas. Comparison to other combustible gases;
• World reserves;
• Panorama of offer, demand and movements.

Module II – Transport network

• Overview of networks worldwide;
• Perspectives of the development of world network;
• Interaction with the other blocks of natural gas chain: storage, LNG terminals, compression stations, network interconnections, delivery to the client;
• Economical and technical comparison between transport by pipeline and LNG carriers.

Module III – Design and construction of a gas pipe

• Design standards: pressure, length, volume, diameter;
• Fundamentals of metallurgy welding techniques, and coating materials;
• Pipe laying;
• Different steps of pipe laying operations;
• Cost and durations of pipe laying, and compression stations construction.

Module IV – Compression

• Characteristics of compressors: compression ratio, run-time frequency, environment related issues (exhaust gases, noise…), power types;
• Types of compressor units: driver type (engine, electrical motor, gas turbine…), reciprocating or centrifugal compressor;
• Comparison between gas turbine and motor drivers, fuel gas and electricity power.

Module V – Operation of a network

• Maintenance, monitoring and technical management, risk prevention, safety regulations, cathodic protection, equipment maintenance, monitoring and controls, metering;
• Network operation management: planning, execution, allocations and accounts.

Module VI – Economical aspects of gas transport by pipeline

• Investment cost (CAPEX);
• Life time of a gas pipe;
• Operation costs (OPEX);
• Pricing for access of third parties to the gas transport network in world: analysis of the price breakdown;
• Simulations of cost price per kWh delivered, for some typical cases.