Network Pressure Regulation in

Natural Gas Distribution

September, 2011
Presented by: Ben Gliwa, Tenix Networks (Gas)

Contents

Natural Gas Distribution in Victoria

Tenix overview

Example of gas distribution network

pressure control
Network p

Example: Field Regulator Station

Pressure Regulation: Gas Heating

Questions

Natural Gas Distribution in Victoria

Victoria is the largest gas consuming state in Australia with higher residential and
commercial sectors.
sectors

Approximate consumption base:

1.5 million consumers
45,000 industrial and commercial users
50% sales from industrial and commercials

Natural Gas Distribution in Victoria

Supply:
Gippsland basin - 98% supplier
Otway basin - 2% supplier
Otway basin Initially provided supply to western coastal towns
(Warrnambool, Cobden and Portland)
Bass Strait gas first piped to homes in Melbourne from Essos processing plant at Longford.
First home was connected to natural gas on 14 April 1969.
gas has been p
produced since the first well was drilled in the
7 trillion cubic feet ((Tcf)) of natural g
Strait.

Tenix Overview
Asset Management
Design
Construction
Operations
Maintenance
Engineering
Fabrication
Construction
Contracting
Maintenance
M i t

Engineering
E i
i Planning
Pl
i
Project Management
Design Services
Parking
Public Safety
Consulting
Outsourcing
Technology
Traffic

Victorias largest underground Water

Recycling Facility (WRF) in Yarra
Park, adjacent to the MCG.

$174 million contract for at Rio Tintos

Argyle underground diamond mine in
the Kimberley. Install crushers,
conveyors and dewatering facilities.

Tenix Gas
Construction & Maintenance
of Pipelines (mains & services)
Construction & Maintenance
Of city gates, regulators and meters
Engineering & Technical Support:
Design, Drafting, Consultation
Corrosion Protection:
Design, Installation, Surveys, Repair
Network Monitoring:
Patrol Surveys,
Patrol,
Surveys Coating Fault Repairs

Typical Network Setup

Western Victoria Natural Gas Distribution network:

Low Pressures
1.4 70kPa

0kPa

Medium Pressure High Pressure 1

70 140kPa

70kPa

High Pressure 2

Transmission

515 1050kPa

>1050kPa

140 515kPa

140kPa

515kPa

1050kPa

Natural Gas Distribution

Distribution Summary
Domestic &
Commercial
Consumers

Field & District

City Gates
Compressor
C
Stations
Processing Plant

B i
Basin

Pressure Regulation Stations

City Gates:
Transmission High Pressure
6,500kPa 450kPa
Field Regulation:
High Pressure Medium Pressure
450kPa 140kPa

District Regulation:
High pressure Low Pressure
450kPa <70kPa

Example: Pressure Regulation Station

Purpose: High Pressure reduced to Medium Pressure
1. Pressure reduction
2. Flow rate

Pressure
Regulating
Station

450kPa

Inlet Pressure: 450kPa

Pipelines: HDPE

70kPa

Required Pressure: 70kPa

Pipelines: Steel

Example: Pressure Regulation Station

Purpose: High Pressure reduced to Medium Pressure

Example: Pressure Regulation Station

SLAM
SHUT
PANEL
Pilot Regulators
g
Pilot Regulator
Actuator
Pilot
Regulators

Filter

Inlet

Regulator

Regulator

Outlet

Example: Pressure Regulation Station

AXIAL FLOW REGULATORS

450kPa

70kPa

Example: Pressure Regulation Station

CRITICAL STATION ALARMS:
1.

Pressure TOO HIGH at outlet

2.

Pressure TOO LOW at outlet

Example: Pressure Regulation Station

Options for recovery: 3 Stages of protection

Primary Monitor (2 Stage Regulation)

Dual Leg Regulator Lines

Slam Shut Setup

Example: Pressure Regulation Station

Case 1: HIGH outlet pressure

SLAM
SHUT
PANEL
Pilot Regulators
Pilot Regulator

Pilot
Regulators

Actuator

Filter

INLET

Regulator

Regulator

HIGH
OUTLET

Example: Pressure Regulation Station

Case 2: LOW outlet pressure

SLAM
SHUT
PANEL
Pilot Regulators
Pilot Regulator
Actuator
Pilot
Regulators

Filter

INLET

Regulator

Regulator

LOW
OUTLET

Pressure Regulation Issues

Pressure Reduction Gas Expand Gas Cools

Pressure Regulation Issues

Gas Cooling

Pressure reduction causes heat loss in gas

Gas cools pipelines
Joule Thomson effect
Heat gas before pressure reduction

Questions

Appendix