NATURAL GAS NETWORK

ANALYSIS
Ahmed Ashraf
[email protected]
INTRODUCTION
GASCO MISSION
• Managing, operating and developing the gas
transmission system to secure gas supplies to the local
market, development projects and the export.
• Managing expansion projects and raising the efficiency
of the national natural gas grid and its accessories.
• Managing, operating and expanding natural gas
derivatives recovery plants.
NATURAL GAS
• Natural gas is a type of fossil fuel that is formed when layers of organic
matter (mainly marine microorganisms) decompose under high pressure
and temperature underground over millions of years.
• Natural gas is a mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons, mainly methane (CH4),
but also ethane, propane, butane, and other higher alkanes.
• It also contains small amounts of non-hydrocarbon gases, such as carbon
dioxide, nitrogen and hydrogen sulfide.
• Natural gas is a cleaner-burning fossil fuel than coal or oil, as it emits less
carbon dioxide and other pollutants when combusted.
• Natural gas is a versatile and widely used energy source.
a. Burned for heating, cooking, and electricity generation.
b. Used as a chemical feedstock for producing plastics, fertilizers, and other
products.
c. Used as a fuel for vehicles, such as cars, buses, and trucks
NATURAL GAS MARKET
NATURAL GAS JOURNEY

PRODUCTION TREATMENT [PROCESSING] TRANSMISSION DISTIBUTION END USER

UP-STREAM PROCESS
• PRODUCTION: Natural Gas productions from fields
• TREATMENT:
a. Liquid Removal (Oil, Condensate and Free Water)
b. Acid Gas Removal “Sweeting” (H2S, CO2)
c. Dehydration (H2O “vapour”)
• Processing: Extraction of Natural Gas Liquids “NGL”
a. C2
b. C2/C3
c. C3
d. LPG (C3/C4)
e. Condensate C5+
MID-STREAM PROCESS
• Transmission: Natural Gas Grid to deliver Sales Gas to distribution
concessions “High Pressure ”
• Distribution: To deliver Sales Gas to consumers “Low Pressure”
MID-STREAM PROCESS
DOWN-STREAM PROCESS
• Sales Gas Delivered to End Users(Consumers)
1. Power Generation
2. Industrial
3. Liquified Natural Gas “LNG” (−162°C and 1/600 volume of
natural gas in the gaseous state)
4. Compressed Natural Gas “CNG” (200-250 bar and 1/300 volume of
natural gas in the gaseous state)
NATURAL GAS NETWORK
ANALYST
MAIN JOBS OF NETWORK ANALYST
• A Professional Who Studies And Evaluates The
Performance, Operation, And Reliability Of Natural Gas
Pipeline Networks.
• Perform Simulations, Forecasts, Optimizations, And Risk
Assessments To Support Decision Making And Planning
For Natural Gas Network Operators, Regulators, Traders,
Marketers, And Customers
• Monitor And Understand The Current And Future Trends
And Dynamics Of The Natural Gas Market And Its Impact
On The Network Operations And Performance.
MAIN JOBS OF NETWORK ANALYST
• Identify And Evaluate The Opportunities And Challenges
For Improving The Efficiency, Reliability, Resilience, And
Safety Of The Natural Gas Network Under Various
Scenarios And Conditions.
• Provide Insights And Recommendations For Enhancing
The Design, Operation, Expansion, And Integration Of
The Natural Gas Network With Other Energy Systems
MAIN JOBS OF NETWORK ANALYST
• Understand how the gas behaves in pipes
• Flow Parameters change with distance and time
a. Pressure
b. Velocity
c. Density
• Properties of Flowing Fluid
• Viscosity
• Fluid Flow Governing Equation
PIPELINE HYDRAULICS
HYDRAULIC GRADIENT “PRESSURE
DROP”
PIPELINE HYDRAULICS PARAMETERS
• Pressure Drop due to losses
• Pipeline Size
• Inlet Pressure
• Exit Pressure
• Flow Rate
• Velocity
• Line Pack
PRESSURE DROP
• Major losses due to friction
• Minor losses due to fittings, valves, welds,……etc
PRESSURE DROP
• The parameters that affect the pressure drop of gas flowing between
two points in a pipe are (Major)
• Rate of Gas Flow “Flow Regime”
• Internal Pipe Diameter
• Pipe Length
• Gas Temperature
• Gas Properties (I.E. (Iv) Viscosity, Density)
• Properties Of The Pipe Wall (Roughness)
• Initial Pressure Of The Gas
FLUID PROPERTIES
Fluid Properties
• Mass: is the amount of matter contained in a substance
• Volume: is the space occupied by a particular mass
• Density: is the mass per unit volume
• Specific Gravity: the ratio of the density of fluid to that of reference
fluid at the same temperature (water for liquids and air for gases)
• Viscosity: is a measure of fluid’s resistance to flow
a. Dynamic Viscosity: is a measure of the internal resistance
b. Kinematic Viscosity: is the ratio of absolute or dynamic viscosity to density
c. For liquids Viscosity decrease when temperature increase but for gases
viscosity increase when temperature increase.
Fluid Properties
• Compressibility Factor: is a dimensionless parameter less than 1.00
that represents the deviation of a real gas from an ideal gas.
• At low pressures (less than 100 psig) and low temperatures Z is nearly
equal to 1.00 whereas at higher pressures and temperatures it may
range between 0.75 and 0.90.
GENERAL GAS EQUATION
• PV = nRT
• The ideal gas equation is accurate only at low pressures. Because, in
practice most gas pipelines operate at pressures higher than
atmospheric pressures, the ideal gas equation must be modified when
applied to real gases, by including the effect of gas compressibility.
Thus, when applied to real gases, the compressibility factor or gas
deviation factor is used:
• PV = ZnRT
FLOW REGIME
FLOW REGIME
• Flow Regime “Flow Visulization”
• Three Types of Flow Regimes:
a. Laminar
b. Partially Turbulent
c. Fully Turbulent
LAMINAR FLOW
• This usually occurs at low velocities. It is the viscosity of a fluid that
determines the resistance to movement of fluid particles between
parallel layers of the fluid.
• If the viscous forces are predominant, then the flow of that fluid will
occur in layers.
• The resulting velocity profile is parabolic where the velocity of the
fluid layers increases from zero at the pipe wall to a maximum value
at the centre.
LAMINAR FLOW
TURBULENT FLOW
• Turbulent flow can be described as flow where any of the fluid
particles are not travelling in straight parallel lines.
• They begin to take on random and irregular flow patterns, although
the principal motion of the fluid along a pipe is still maintained
leading to fluid mixing.
PARTIALLY TURBULENT
• The viscous forces are restricted to a thin layer that extends only a
short distance in from the pipe wall.
• The laminar layer adjacent to the pipe wall is known as the laminar
sub-layer
• So within the boundary layer, we have two types of flow occurring,
the laminar sub-layer and an outer turbulent region.
PARTIALLY TURBULENT
FULLY TURBULENT
• Increases in flow rate (and hence velocity) cause the laminar sub-layer
to become thinner.
• The laminar sub-layer becomes so thin that it no longer covers the
surface roughness of the pipe. In this situation, elements of the
internal surface of the pipe are in contact with areas of turbulent
flow.
• When this occurs, the fluid flow is described as fully developed
turbulent flow.
PREDICTING FLOW REGIMES
• Reynold Number
• Re = inertia force / viscous force
• or liquids Re =
• For gases
• Laminar Flow (Re < 2000)
• Partially Turbulent Flow (4000 < Re < 107)
• Fully Turbulent Flow (Re > 107)
• Critical Zone flow is either laminar or turbulent (2000 < Re < 4000)
EFFECT OF FRICTION ON
FLOW
EFFECT OF FRICTION ON FLOW
• In laminar flow, the fluid moves in layers with a stationary layer of fluid
at the pipe wall, so all the pressure loss is due to the properties of the
fluid. There is no contact between the pipe wall and the flowing fluid.
• For partial turbulence, where there is a laminar sub-layer adjacent to
the pipe wall, the losses are due to a combination of pipe wall
properties and fluid properties
• In fully turbulent flow, the surface roughness of the pipe wall is in
contact with the flowing fluid, all traces of laminar flow have
disappeared and the pressure losses are due entirely to the friction
caused by the fluid flowing over the pipe wall surface.
FRICTIONAL HEAD LOSS IN LAMINAR
AND TURBULENT FLOW
• Frictional Head Loss in Laminar Flow (due to friction between layers
of fluid) is seen to be inversely proportional to Re and the frictional
effects can be represented directly by 16/Re ”Fanning friction factor”,
which can be expressed as:

• 16/Re contains the value of the fluid viscosity, which is the root cause
of the head loss in laminar flow
FRICTIONAL HEAD LOSS IN LAMINAR
AND TURBULENT FLOW
• Frictional Head Loss in Turbulent Flow
• Turbulent flow is highly complex due to the random movements of
fluid particles superimposed on the main flow, since these random
movements are unpredictable, there is, unlike laminar flow, no
complete analytical solution for turbulent flow
• In a general equation for head loss, including turbulent flow, we might
expect an expression of the form:
FRICTIONAL HEAD LOSS IN LAMINAR
AND TURBULENT FLOW
• This is called Darcy–Weisbach equation
• It is identical to that suggested by the extension of the laminar flow
equation where 16/Re is replaced by an empirical friction coefficient f
• Because f is an empirical coefficient, the method of evaluating it is not
universal and various methods have been developed for this purpose
FRICTION IN TURBULENT FLOW
• Representation of the theoretical concept of a pipe with a perfectly
smooth internal surface. If such a pipe existed, the laminar sub-layer
would always completely cover the pipe wall even though it would
become very thin at high velocities.
• In such circumstances, the main body of turbulent flow would never
come into contact with the pipe wall so it is reasonable to assume
that the wall plays no part in the resistance to flow. In fact, as with
laminar flow, only the value of Re would be important.
FRICTION IN TURBULENT FLOW
FRICTION IN TURBULENT FLOW
• Representation of a real pipe with an internal surface, which consists of
small particles, creating a certain amount of roughness. In this case the
laminar sub-layer is thick enough to completely cover the surface
roughness
• The laminar sublayer thickness is bigger than the pipe wall absolute
roughness, and there is then a laminar region covering the tube inner
wall and a turbulent region outside it.
• It is as if there was a turbulent flow inside a smooth walled pipe and
that is the reason why the pipe wall is designated as hydraulically
smooth, the pressure drop is found to be independent of the roughness
of the pipe and dependent on Re
FRICTION IN TURBULENT FLOW
FRICTION IN TURBULENT FLOW
• The laminar sub-layer has become thinner due to increasing velocity
and now some of the roughness peaks are just protruding through the
sub-layer and into the turbulent flow.
• The flow is no longer independent of the internal pipe surface, but it
is still partly dependent on Re since there is still a laminar sub-layer.
FRICTION IN TURBULENT FLOW
FRICTION IN TURBULENT FLOW
• Increased velocity has caused the laminar sub-layer to shrink even
more, allowing the pipe roughness to protrude further into the
turbulent flow stream causing eddies to form around each particle
that destroys the remains of the sublayer.
• Since there is no laminar sub-layer, the influence of fluid viscosity
disappears and the flow is no longer dependent on Re, only the
surface roughness of the pipe.
FRICTION IN TURBULENT FLOW
FRICTION IN TURBULENT FLOW
• The Reynolds at which value there is an abrupt change from turbulent
flow in smooth pipes “Partially Trubulent Flow” towards turbulent
flow in rough pipes “fully turbulent flow” is called critical Reynolds
Number Recr
• which presents through a continuous line the relationship between
Recr and ε/D or in other words, it shows the border between these
two flow regimes. Such line can be fitted by the following equation,
RELATIVE ROUGHNESS
RELATIVE ROUGHNESS
• The progression from smooth pipe flow to rough pipe flow is
obviously dependent on the surface roughness.
• The description of fully developed turbulent flow as rough pipe flow
does not indicate that the pipe is actually very rough, only that the
roughness is totally responsible for the friction losses.
• The degree of pipe roughness is described by its relative roughness.
RELATIVE ROUGHNESS
• All surfaces, no matter how well polished, are to some extent rough,
in so much as there are minute particles making up the surface of the
material.
• The irregularities created by these minute particles vary greatly in
shape, size and spacing, making an absolute measure of roughness
very difficult.
• If we could make measurements of the height of these surface
particles, we could arrive at a value for the mean height, which over a
considerable area, could be expected to influence the frictional
resistance to flow
RELATIVE ROUGHNESS
• Relative Roughness =
• Mean height of surface particles
• D Internal pipe diameter
GAS VELOCITY
GAS VELOCITY
• The actual conditions in the pipe are affected by the change in
velocity (u) and density (ρ), for example dust migration is caused by
high gas velocity.
• The highest velocity occurs at the end of a pipeline where the
pressure (and hence the density) of the gas is lowest.
• In order to maintain the same mass flow as the density falls, the
velocity must increase.
• As velocity increase in pipeline, the noise, vibration and the risk of
erosion takes place
GAS VELOCITY
• Theoretically, there is no velocity limit but dust, which is always present
in pipeline gas, produces an abrasive effect when carried in the gas
stream.
• A maximum velocity of about 20 m/s is therefore recommended to avoid
erosion of the pipe. Particularly at bends, very high flow rates can induce
“dust storms” ,and these are often induced during the commissioning of
pipelines or equipment.
• This is a practical constraint based on the damage that could be inflicted
by gasborne dust, not a theoretical velocity limit.
• Theoreticaly The speed at which any gas can travel is limited to the
speed at which sound can travel in the same gas.
GAS VELOCITY
• The speed of sound in Methane gas is 396 m/s.
• In gas pipelines, this very high velocity is not a practical constraint because
the gas normally flows at less than 20 m/s.
• When gas escapes in an uncontrolled manner from a hole or pipe break, it will
escape at the speed of sound provided that the pressure ratio of the internal
pressure to the atmospheric pressure is more than the Critical Pressure Ratio.
• critical pressure ratio is the pressure ratio where the flow is
accelerated to a velocity equal to the local velocity of sound in
the fluid
• This ratio varies according to the gas composition but for a typical natural gas,
it is approximately 2:1.
GAS VELOCITY
• For the critical pressure ratio to be 2:1, then the absolute pressure of
the gas in the pipe must be twice the absolute atmospheric pressure.
Taking the atmospheric pressure to be approximately 1 bar abs, then
the internal pipe pressure would need to be 2 bar abs, or
approximately l bar(gauge). Therefore, in all gas supply systems,
except low-pressure distribution systems, escaping gas will travel at
the speed of sound.
• The speed of sound is a physical property of a gas, and it has
important implications for the design and operation of pipeline
systems operating under transient flow conditions.
GAS VELOCITY
GAS VELOCITY
• Erosional Velocity Equation:
• Ve m/s
• N 1.22 (for metric system)
• C constant ranging between 100 and 250
• gas density
GENERAL FLOW EQUATION
GENERAL EQUATION FOR STEADY
STAE FLOW
• Conservation of Momentum for 1-D Flow
• Differential control volume for adiabatic flow in a constant-area duct with friction
• Assumptions:
• Steady State (mass flow rate is constant at a given point over time)
• Isothermal (neglect heat transfer with surroundings)
• changes in the kinetic energy of the gas are negligible
GENERAL EQUATION FOR STEADY
STAE FLOW
• u velocity
• P absolute pressure
• density
• g gravity
• dH variation in height
• f friction coefficient
• D inner diameter
• dx portion of pipe length x
GENERAL EQUATION FOR STEADY
STAE FLOW
• BY using Integration Between Two Points and by considering Elevation
difference
GENERAL EQUATION FOR STEADY
STAE FLOW
• Qst Volume Flow Rate at std m3/sec

• P1 and P2 Pa.a

• L length(m)

• R = 8314.41 J/(kmol K)

• Tavg = T1 = T2 = Tf K

• Tst 288.15K

• Pst 1.01325×105 Pa
GENERAL EQUATION FOR STEADY
STAE FLOW
• d specific gravity(G)
• Transmission Factor
• pipe efficiency between 0.8 and 1 converts the smooth pipe transmission
factor into an actual transmission factor
• because of extra friction imposed by fittings like bends, tees, valves ”Minor losses”
• For New steel Pipes recommended between 0.92 and 0.97 but for old pipes due to
corrosion and fouling reduce it to 0.7
GENERAL EQUATION FOR STEADY
STAE FLOW
• You may see different general flow equation with different constants as it
depends on different units used SI or Imperial (British) units
• You may have different constants also depending on units of flow rate you
are calculating for the same units system
• Ex:
1) m3/sec
2) m3/hr
3) m3/day
4) MMSCMD (Standard Million Meter Per Day which is the most common used SI
unit)
5) MMSCFD (Standard Million feet Per Day which is the most common used british
unit)
GENERAL EQUATION FOR STEADY
STAE FLOW
• General Flow Equation can take a simpler form when constants are
replaced by their corresponding values and the potential energy term
is replaced by

• So General Flow Equation Will be

GENERAL EQUATION FOR STEADY
STAE FLOW
GENERAL EQUATION FOR STEADY
STAE FLOW
• Replacing all the constants of the above equation that are outside the
square brackets by C’
• excluding for the sake of simplicity the factor η
• For a horizontal pipe and whenever the
potential energy or elevation term can be neglected
• So General Flow Equation can be considered as follow
GENERAL EQUATION FOR STEADY
STAE FLOW
TRANSMISSION FACTOR
• The transmission factor is an important parameter because it is a simple
representation of the gas transmissivity inside the pipe.
• Indication of the amount of gas that can be transported to pipeline.
• It is calculated by calculating friction factor
• It depends on using Darcy friction factor or Fanning friction factor
• fD = 4fF
• You may find that:
• When use Fanning friction factor usually SI units transmission Factor is
• When use Darcy friction factor usually British units transmission Factor is
• So you have the same transmission factor
OTHER FLOW EQUATIONS
• We can say that

• where n & R are dependent upon the equation being used for the calculation of the
transmission factor.
• L is the length
• P12 – P22 is the driving force
• R is the resistance
• Qst is the flow
OTHER FLOW EQUATIONS
• The general flow equation is the basis for all gas flow equations and is
valid for all pressure and flow conditions found in practice.
• One could come across other flow equations with other names, but
these are all variations of the general flow equation.
• It is the method chosen for the determination of the transmission
factor that gives its name to the flow equation.
• The need to solve the general flow equation by hand led to the
development of some empirical friction factor relationships.
OTHER FLOW EQUATIONS
• All equations have errors and uncertainty as they are empirical
equations and not analytically deduced
• Using different flow equation hugely affect pressure drop calculations
so you need to choose proper equation depending on the operation
conditions.
• To choose which equation to use you need to consider
• pressure of flow
• flow regime whether it is partially turbulent or fully turbulent
• In Natural Gas there is no laminar flow regimes due to low viscosity µ =
1.0415×10-5 Pa s and high velocities
DIFFERENT FLOW
ASSURANCE SCENARIOS
DIFFERENT FLOW ASSURANCE
SCENARIOS
• Basic Parameters are:
• Inlet Pressure
• Exit Pressure
• Pipeline Diameter
• Pipeline Length
• Flow Rate
• You can now calculate any parameter after knowing all other
parameters by using the suitable flow equation
• You must check that velocity doesn’t exceed the erosional velocity
DIFFERENT FLOW ASSURANCE
SCENARIOS
• For a Given Pipeline Inlet pressure, flow rate, length and inner
diameter are Known. You need to check whether the calculated
delivery pressure is >= the desired delivery pressure and to check that
velocity is less than 20 m/s.
DIFFERENT FLOW ASSURANCE
SCENARIOS
• First Scenario
• Pdel)calc >= Pdel)desired
• And Velocity < 20 m/s
• Conclusion: No modification is needed
DIFFERENT FLOW ASSURANCE
SCENARIOS
• Second Scenario
• Pdel)calc < Pdel)desired
• Or Velocity > 20 m/sec
• Conclusion: Modification is needed
DIFFERENT FLOW ASSURANCE
SCENARIOS
• For a Given Pipeline Exit Pressure, flow rate, length and inner
diameter are Known. You need to check whether the calculated inlet
pressure is <= the MAOP “max allowable operating pressure” and to
check that velocity is less than 20 m/s.
DIFFERENT FLOW ASSURANCE
SCENARIOS
• First Scenario
• Pinlet)calc <= MAOP
• And Velocity < 20 m/s
• Conclusion: No modification is needed
DIFFERENT FLOW ASSURANCE
SCENARIOS
• Second Scenario
• Pinlet)calc > MAOP
• Or Velocity > 20 m/sec
• Conclusion: Modification is needed
DIFFERENT FLOW ASSURANCE
SCENARIOS
• Modifications:
• Looping
• Compressor
DIFFERENT FLOW ASSURANCE
SCENARIOS
• Looping
• Construct one or more piping branches parallel to existing one.
• Increase equivalent diameter as if you increased the diameter of the existing
pipe.
• It has no ability to amplify pressure.
• Reduce pressure drop as possible.
• Constructing a loop give the chance to increase flow rate
• Reduce Velocity
DIFFERENT FLOW ASSURANCE
SCENARIOS
• The proper length and location of loop would be determined by try and error
attempts in light of experience of the designer until finding the most optimum
solution which achieves the hydraulic results wanted and being economical at
the same time.
DIFFERENT FLOW ASSURANCE
SCENARIOS
• Different Locations of Loops
• Choose the best location that gives
• best hydraulic results
• economic impact
• higher temperature leads to more pressure drop in gas flow equations
as density decrease and volume flow rate increase so velocity
increase for the same mass flow rate.
• So try to make loop at locations where gas temperature is suspected
to be high ex: Discharge of compressors
DIFFERENT FLOW ASSURANCE
SCENARIOS
• Calculating Flow Rate at each Branch
DIFFERENT FLOW ASSURANCE
SCENARIOS
• Compressor Stations
• supply points to networks are working through compressors to create the
pressure needed for gas quantities to flow through network and satisfy
delivery points pressure values
• Network designer might put more compressor inside the network in order to
keep its pressure within desired values.
• Compressors are used to increase the flow capacity in the system between
two points by making the gas denser.
• denser gas occupies less space and it moves with lower velocity so it loses
less pressure along the way.
DIFFERENT FLOW ASSURANCE
SCENARIOS
• They increase pressure to help overcome flow-related pressure losses
but they also increase flow capacity.
• Economics, Environmental and Geotechnical studies govern location
of compressor stations
• From hydraulic point of view, which eventually must be reviewed for
any chosen location of the compressor, it’s related to what is
discharge pressure you need? And what is suction pressure and
delivery pressure you accept? Remember, delivery pressure, which is
here the end of the pipeline, could be some crucial point(s) if you deal
with a network
DIFFERENT FLOW ASSURANCE
SCENARIOS
• You may have intermediate location(s) for delivery new flow or
discharge flow ”loads”
DIFFERENT FLOW ASSURANCE
SCENARIOS
• You may have intermediate location(s) for delivery new flow or
discharge flow ”loads”
UNSTEADY “TRANSIENT”
FLOW
UNSTEADY “TRANSIENT” FLOW
• Previous sections were concerned with steady state flow.
• Because gas is compressible, to model accurately the flows that take
place in gas pipelines or during a pipe break, the concept of unsteady
state or transient flow should be applied.
• The difference between steady state and unsteady state flow is where
the flow parameters, such as pressure and mass flow rate, vary with
time.
• Transient analysis is the analysis of the time-dependent variations in
these parameters (the transients).
UNSTEADY “TRANSIENT” FLOW
• Transient flow in natural gas systems is flow where the flow velocity and pressure are
changing with time. When changes occur to a fluid systems such as the starting or
stopping of a compressor, closing or opening a valve, a pipeline failure or large demand
surge then transient flow conditions arise; otherwise, the system is steady state.
• Hydraulic factors should be as close as possible to reality, by other words, it’s required to
profile these factors, or some of them, especially flow, and that by recording its changes a
long some period of time like a day, so by having flow reading of some consumption or
delivery point every hour, we have 24 reading and the chart of these reading vs. time is
the profile of flow of this point
• Pressure or temperature could be profiled as well, beside some other factors like
elevation, valve opening, compressor startup / shout down, etc. based on available data
and level of accuracy required. Calculations of unsteady or transient flow are quite
complex, laborious and time consuming, thus, it’s usually has been done using modeling
software. Another thing about USM modeling.
UNSTEADY “TRANSIENT” FLOW
• The main difference between unsteady state flow and steady state flow is the
time period between input and extraction of fluid from a system.
• The time difference between the input and extraction of fluid introduces the
concept of storage, and in gas pipeline systems, this storage is used to smooth
out variations in the flow at the demand end of the pipeline so that the inlet flow
does not change significantly.
• The time difference allows gas to be extracted from the pipeline by reducing the
pressure (rather than introducing more gas at the input) in the same way that
water was drawn off from a barrel.
• This feature allows pipeline operators to manage the daily demand variations
without the need to alter the rate at which they buy gas from the offshore
producers.
UNSTEADY “TRANSIENT” FLOW
• Line pack, simply, is the volume of gas contained in a given space, in
our case it’s a given length of pipeline, line pack is one of most
important and essential concepts in gas networks analysis work.
• it’s important to know that line pack is what connecting a bunch of
pipelines and turn them into network, you can call this bunch of
pipelines a network if they are connected together and gas could
transfer through them without prevention expect for controlling
means like valves.
• Into this network (or into the line pack), supplies produce gas and out
of it consumers withdraw it.
UNSTEADY “TRANSIENT” FLOW
UNSTEADY “TRANSIENT” FLOW
• Taking the line-pack storage a stage further is by designing the
pipeline specifically for this purpose. To do this, the pipeline should be
designed and constructed to withstand a higher pressure than that
required purely for gas transmission.
• It is more effective to set a constant flow rate at the inlet (the daily
average) and allow the variations in demand at the outlet to absorb
the stored gas.
UNSTEADY “TRANSIENT” FLOW
• Another important point is the concept of useful line pack, which
means the amount of line pack able to be used or withdrawn off the
network without negative effects upon the network.
• The limit between useful and non-useful line back is the allowable
pressures in network.
• It’s permissible to withdraw from line pack in network until some
pressures come critical, then remained of line pack would be called
non-useful, though it still exist.
NETWORK HYDRAULICS
NETWORK HYDRAULICS
• we need to understand that the relationship isn’t between demands and
supply directly, and there is network “line pack” between them.
• Into network there are number of supplies pushes gas in, these supplies
may be production fields or LNG regasification points or gas importing
points.
• Existence of good number of supplies in different places of network assure
its security of supply.
• There are numerous number of consumers consumes gas of supplies but
through the network.
• Everything is controlled by flow rules and gas flow behavior which flow
equations try to model as precise as possible.
NETWORK HYDRAULICS
• Observation of network is mainly observing its pressures which
represents its level of line pack and how it changes with the continues
movement of flow in and out.
• It’s your network Maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP) and
minimum allowable working pressures of customers which lead the
limits.
• If the network’s MAOP is 70 barg and the common minimum suitable
pressure of customers is 25 barg, you need to keep pressures of the
network between these values to guarantee network safe operation.
NETWORK STATES
• Balance is the state in which total quantity of supply equals total quantity of
demand, regardless the distribution of them, in this case, Line pack of network is
constant.
• Surplus total quantity of Supply is bigger than total quantity of Demand, this
increase network line pack.
• The speed of network increase is depending on amount of surplus and its location.
• line pack increase isn’t bad, actually it’s good as we can keep acceptable pressures,
but if the increase continued until hitting the roof of MAOP, it might represent a
threat to the network integrity.
• The solution to avoid this, is keeping supplies compressors’ (or delivery points)
maximum pressures equal to network MAOP, by that surplus chain action would cut
down until restoring balance again.
NETWORK STATES
• Shortage scenario is the opposite of Surplus, Demands total quantities are
bigger than Supplies, and line pack movement is downward.
• If we thought of reversing the preceding solution, it’s not working here, we
can’t convince consumers equipment to work in lower pressure.
• If a gas power station works at 25 barg and it saw lesser pressure until its trip
pressure, it will trip, that is why shortage is more serious issue than surplus.
• Now, both shortage and surplus couldn’t be borne for long time, but some
oscillation between them could help. Because in reality absolute balance is
not exist but If network continued to surplus for couple of days, then,
situation reversed to shortage for couple of days, it’s implicitly a sort of
balance.
NETWORK ANALYSIS
NETWORK ANALYSIS
• In gas transmission systems, the gas flows are constant, and most
operate 24 h a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
• Time-varying processes do exist in the systems due to the starting and
stopping of compressors or the sudden increase and decrease in
consumer’s demands.
• Unsteady state and transient conditions have to be considered in the
design of gas transportation systems.
• These systems are known as “networks”. In simple terms, it is the
simulation of flow and pressure in pipes and the process of ensuring that
a gas network can meet the specific operational duties required of it
and/or the design criteria under consideration.
NETWORK ANALYSIS
• Gas flow in pipes is a complex process and the parameters associated,
such as velocity, pressure and density that aim to illustrate the
behavior and state of a fluid are not always constant.
• They vary from one point in the pipe to another, and thus, it can be
suggested that problems involving the flow of gas can occur.
• Network planning and operational analysis are supported by the
creation of network models using network analysis software systems,
to simulate network performance under various criteria.
NETWORK ANALYSIS
• Network analysis simulates the performance of gas networks to enable
the effects of physical changes to be anticipated and understood. It
provides a mean of determining the dynamic interface requirements of
gas infrastructure systems, and it delivers essential information to
support business cases for the operation of and investment in safe,
economic and efficient networks
• Once the basic network analysis model has been established, it can
then be adopted over a large array of application uses.
• Network analysis is used for a number of purposes including pipeline
design; hydraulic analysis; the development of operation plans; and
analysis of alternative scenarios.
NETWORK ANALYSIS

• During the design stage, it can:

• Calculate the maximum/minimum throughput of gas through any particular
pipeline system.
• Optimize pipe dimensions and pressures in the network.
• Calculate compressor requirements.
• Determine the optimal location of various equipments contained within the
network, such as compressors, valves, regulators and the operating envelopes
and discharge temperatures they can withstand.
NETWORK ANALYSIS
• For existing pipelines, network analysis can be introduced to:
• Assess the ability of the existing network to meet specific demand conditions
as may be specified by the appropriate Gas Transporters Licence obligations.
• Calculate the optimum flow distribution/transmission requirements.
• Track the composition of gases (e.g. calorific value).
• Identify and remove bottlenecks.
• Provide a receipt of delivery volumes and support the provision of quotations
for new loads.
• Provide the analytical capability to help understand and plan for the complex
dynamics between pipeline operation and pipeline economics.
NETWORK ANALYSIS
• Additional applications include the analysis of “what if” scenarios,
commonly referred to in the industry as “scenario planning”.
• This investigates the implications of loss of input supply or damage to
equipment, such as loss of compressor power, i.e. emergency
procedures.
• It also allows the feasibility of new contract requirements to be
investigated, for example planning network reinforcement or
replacement of a particular area.
NETWORK ANALYSIS
• If reinforcement or mains replacement was required, it would be
necessary to satisfy that load data and load growth rates are accurate
and that there are no interruptible loads on the system.
• Various solutions for reinforcement or mains replacement would be
considered and the least cost solution likely selected, whether it be
through increasing the size of a pipeline on the network or some
other factors. This process was carried out with the click of two
buttons, which illustrates why network analysis is such a popular
choice across various industries.
REFRENCE
• Natural Gas Engineering and Safety Challenges: Downstream Process,
Analysis, Utilization and Safety | SpringerLink
• (PDF) Considerations about equations for steady state flow in natural
gas pipelines (researchgate.net)