Attendees at the three day meeting included 36 gas transmission operator/owner representatives from 21 countries. The aims of the meeting were to share knowledge on gas transmission systems and confirm the research status in five areas:
- Impact of Regulation on Gas Transmission;
- Safety and Security of Supply;
- Review of New Technologies and Pipeline Monitoring;
- Contribution of Gas Transmission to Climate Protection and Sustainable Development; and
- 2030 Gas Outlook Study.
Barbara attended the meeting to get to know the other members and learn the status of the research work. Achieving both objectives will assist her in her role as the Australian focal point for WOC3 research. Barbara is involved in the 2030 study group, which researches the impact of regulation on gas transmission. In addition, Barbara is on the sub-committee that will review paper submissions on new technologies and pipeline monitoring. The group will select final papers/posters for presentation at the World Gas Conference in 2009.
The results from the research are confidential, however some of the key findings can be provided.
Findings to date indicate that the regulation of gas transmission tariffs will in due time have a negative effect on funds available for maintenance (and expansion) of transmission grids, and subsequently on the safety, performance and continuity of supply in 5 – 10 years. It was decided that an independent study is required to verify the results of a global survey, issued to gather data on the impact of regulation. This is currently underway.
The most common threats to gas transmission systems worldwide are corrosion and third party damage. These two topics and measures for their mitigation will be further investigated, including consideration of the Threat Scan-Shock Detection Process, using a susceptibility model for finding high pH stress corrosion cracking, remote control aircraft use for pipeline patrolling and use of a mobile volumetric scanner unit for metal loss evaluation.
Subsequent to the meeting, a global survey has been issued to rank four environmental factors identified as warranting further research: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen oxide and noise.
At the meeting members were provided an opportunity to present topics for discussion. Presentations were made by members from Argentina (“˜Natural Gas in Argentina and Rupture on the Gral San Martin Austral Gas Pipeline in Patagonia – Failure Causes’), Russia (“˜Gas Transmission Systems’), Finland (“˜Pipeline Integrity Management System and Leakage in DN700 Pipeline due to Material Fault’) and Germany (“˜Incident at Pressure Regulation & Metering Station’).
A common theme was the need for more LNG transportation and the strong future for gas consumption worldwide. Barbara presented an “˜Overview of the Australian Gas Industry’, which resulted in keen interest in the magnitude of the pipeline network, and development of coal seam gas as well as a debate on the global issue of skilled worker shortage.
Integrated services company Transportadora de Gas Del Sur (TGS) hosted the meeting. Argentina operates some of the longest pipelines in the world, such as the TGS 2,600 km San Martin Patagonia – Buenos Aires pipeline. TGS demonstrated an impressive history of pipeline operations during the site visit to their maintenance base with a state-of-the-art pipeline training school and maintenance facilities. They have developed a mobile volumetric scanner unit for measuring metal loss in pipe walls that has reduced the time and cost for pipeline integrity maintenance operators from two weeks to five minutes.
TGS explained how Argentina needs investment to develop the gas industry further as forecasts show there is only 14 years of gas supply left at the current rate of production and consumption. Need was recognised for more efficient energy use, regional gas development, LNG imports and the development of substitute fuels to complete the Argentinean energy balance.
WOC3 will meet twice again prior to presenting the research findings at the World Gas Conference in October 2009.
Barbara is very thankful to AGIT for funding the trip costs and GHD for funding her time to attend.
Barbara invites anyone interested in receiving information or in becoming involved in the research work to contact her at {encode=”barbara.jinks@ghd.com.au” title=”barbara.jinks@ghd.com.au”}.
A call for papers will be issued later this year to all APIA members.