Projects
Projects: Projects for Investigator |
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| Reference Number | NIA_NGN_282 | |
| Title | Gas Venting Research | |
| Status | Completed | |
| Energy Categories | Fossil Fuels: Oil Gas and Coal(Oil and Gas, Refining, transport and storage of oil and gas) 90%; Other Cross-Cutting Technologies or Research(Environmental, social and economic impacts) 10%; |
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| Research Types | Applied Research and Development 100% | |
| Science and Technology Fields | ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering) 100% | |
| UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation | Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Environmental dimensions) 100% | |
| Principal Investigator |
Project Contact No email address given Northern Gas Networks |
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| Award Type | Network Innovation Allowance | |
| Funding Source | Ofgem | |
| Start Date | 01 August 2020 | |
| End Date | 01 March 2022 | |
| Duration | ENA months | |
| Total Grant Value | £77,388 | |
| Industrial Sectors | Energy | |
| Region | Yorkshire & Humberside | |
| Programme | Network Innovation Allowance | |
| Investigators | Principal Investigator | Project Contact , Northern Gas Networks (99.999%) |
| Other Investigator | Project Contact , Wales and West Utilities (0.001%) Project Contact , Northern Gas Networks (99.999%) |
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| Industrial Collaborator | Project Contact , Northern Gas Networks (0.000%) |
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| Web Site | https://smarter.energynetworks.org/projects/NIA_NGN_282 |
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| Objectives | The project will be carried out in stages, initially identifying the various sources of vented gas, the frequency of venting events and the volume of gas being vented. Using this information, alongside analysis of the environmental and financial impacts of the current processes and reviewing previous projects, will set a baseline for prospective solutions to be benchmarked against.The technology search will identify potential solutions to reduce gas venting to atmosphere and provide insight into the practicability, the environmental and the economic benefit of any solutions. Any other applicable innovation projects from within the gas industry will be considered, as well as those from other industries. A feasibility assessment will be undertaken for the most applicable solutions and will consider the following: • Suitability to address problem • Technology feasibility for use as BAU • Technical performance • Current, and potential, TRL A benefits assessment will then consider technologies against the following: • Environmental benefit • Financial benefit, • Identification of any “quick wins” (including transfer of good practice, relating to equipment, technology, policy and procedure, between project partners) This information will be detailed in a report containing the particulars of the relevant solutions and the results of the feasibility and benefit assessment, allowing solutions to be ranked. For promising solutions, recommendations of how to build upon the current TRL to allow implementation will be outlined. The approach for the project is made up of 3 stages as followed:Stage 1 - Review current natural gas venting processes to identify sources from operations and equipment installed on the network. Estimate the volume of natural gas that is vented from the various sources. Literature review (including previous gas industry projects and their learning points, i.e. what has/has not worked in the past). Stage 2- A worldwide technology search will be undertaken to identify environmentally friendly technologies and processes that could help reduce the amount of gas vented to atmosphere. Emerging and established technologies and processes will be considered. ROSEN will liaise with third party organisations and potential suppliers to gather relevant data. The feasibility of each solution will be assessed and information documented, including technology readiness level (TRL) and recommendations regarding development steps that may be required. Policy and procedure surrounding the technologies and required development to BAU will also be discussed. Stage 3 – A technology benefits assessment will be performed and recommendations provided in a technical report (including technical benefit, financial aspects and “quick wins”) Understanding the various sources, the frequency, and the magnitude of gas released will provide an insight into the practicability, the environmental benefit and the economic benefit of potential solutions identified in the technology review. The report will highlight and rank the most appropriate solutions. Following the 3 stage approach to the project, the objectives of each stage are:Stage 1 objectivesIdentify and detail current venting processes and equipment which release gas. Include literature review of previous projects and identify the lessons learnt.Provide an assessment of the frequency at which gas is released (considering variation through periods of high and low demand).Providea detailed understanding of the volume of gas being vented annually from equipment and operations.Provide an assessment of the environmental impact of current venting processes.Stage 2 objectiveIdentify safe, environmentally friendly alternative processes and technologies that could be adopted by the networks.Stage 3 objectiveQuantify the benefits associated with the options identified and highlight the most appropriate. | |
| Abstract | For UK GD networks, gas venting remains a necessary part of normal operations, for maintenance and safety purposes which can be either manual or automatic. Gas venting results in unburned natural gas being released into atmosphere. This has an environmental impact as the main constituent of natural gas, methane, has approximately 28 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide (based on the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) over a 100-year period).Depending on the source of venting, varying quantities of gas will be released and there is limited understanding of the environmental impact this causes. Additionally, vented gas results in shrinkage, defined as the volume of gas that is lost from the network which cannot be accounted for. GDNs have an obligation under Special Condition 1F.14 to improve the Shrinkage and Leakage Model (SLM) by improving the accuracy and calculation of Shrinkage Gas reporting.Currently, there are varying methods to different degrees of sophistication, to quantify and forecast the extent and impact of venting. | |
| Publications | (none) |
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| Final Report | (none) |
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| Added to Database | 02/11/22 | |
