go to top scroll for more

Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number	NIA_NGGT0094
Title	Gas Quality 2020
Status	Completed
Energy Categories	Fossil Fuels: Oil Gas and Coal(Oil and Gas, Refining, transport and storage of oil and gas) 100%;
Research Types	Applied Research and Development 100%
Science and Technology Fields	SOCIAL SCIENCES (Business and Management Studies) 50%; SOCIAL SCIENCES (Law) 25%; ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering) 25%;
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation	Not Cross-cutting 75%; Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Policy and regulation) 25%;
Principal Investigator	Project Contact No email address given National Grid Gas Transmission
Award Type	Network Innovation Allowance
Funding Source	Ofgem
Start Date	01 August 2016
End Date	01 September 2017
Duration	13 months
Total Grant Value	£296,200
Industrial Sectors	Technical Consultancy
Region	London
Programme	Network Innovation Allowance
Investigators	Principal Investigator	Project Contact , National Grid Gas Transmission (100.000%)
Web Site	http://www.smarternetworks.org/project/NIA_NGGT0094
Objectives	The project seeks to deliver an assessment of the likely impacts of legislative or supply changes on gas quality and the downstream impacts on the National Transmission System. This will include a concise review and explanation of where an impact is anticipated, a detailed study when an impact is not known and an assessment of the impacts with required mitigating options, including time and cost. The report will also provide the range of gases that the NTS can accommodate with no material or economic impact. This information will provide the foundation of NGGT’s ongoing gas quality management ensuring an effective and efficient management of the network for all stakeholders. The output of the programme will provide an assessment of equipment, processes and specifications that would be impacted if a change to gas quality specification is required to meet a maximum / minimum limit from across the selected specifications of GS(M)R, CEN and EASEE ‘H’ Gas. The assessment must provide sufficient information that NGGT will be able to communicate to an external audience a clear understanding of the type of NTS assets impacted by a widening of the Wobbe within UK and an estimate of the further work required and options available to mitigate the risks identified. This further work, if required, will be accompanied by associated estimates of the costs and timescale to achieve this work as necessary. This evaluation could then be used as a common process baseline for the NTS assets from which any future changes in gas quality can be related.
Abstract	The UK gas quality specification has been defined in the Gas Safety (Management) Regulations (GS(M)R). This definition dates back to 1996 and is to some extent reflective of the gas available to GB market at that time. By the end of the 2020s, gas supplies available to the UK market will have largely switched from UKCS production to other sources of gas (LNG, shale, bio-gas etc. ). This predicted shift of supply sources necessitates the reconsideration of the basis of the current GS(M)R specifications so that the UK gas market is able to continue to operate efficiently, attract and utilise these alternative sources of supply whilst at the same time providing a safe and affordable energy supply to consumers. Without such reconsideration there is a risk that consumers will pay the price of "over-processing" the new gas supplies or of locking out such supplies from the UK market. The risks and impacts to National Transmission System (NTS) asset capability therefore need to be identified, qualified and quantified in terms of likelihood and scale of impact. National Grid Gas Transmission (NGGT) is endeavouring to understand the likely impact of different gas specifications on existing and future NTS assets and operations. The gas quality specification for the assessment will use, as a central case, the limits of the three gas quality specifications: GS(M)R, CEN standard and EASEE ‘H’ gas standard with a 5% tolerance to the upper and lower limits. The compositions of gas that will be used for analysis will be derived from standard analytical techniques that consider limits from the specifications selected and knowledge on compositional ranges available. NGGT will conduct three linked phases of work:-Phase 1 - Identification of Equipment, Processes and Operations with Potential Impact. This phase will concentrate on the identification of assets, processes and operations that may be impacted by a change in the specification of UK gas quality in respect to all NTS assets such as, but not limited to:-Those using gas as a fuel for operation. Those accountable for emissions (European Union Emission Trading System (EU ETS), Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) & Carbon Budgets). Those accountable for compositional or flow measurement e. g. gas analysers, primary and secondary meter assets. The key monitoring systems e. g. ALERT. Those where a safety consideration (application of standards) has been made on compositional data e. g. asset integrity performance. The impact on NGGT and associated Industry specifications and standards. The output will be in the form of a technical report which will present the findings aligned to the above criteria. The report will identify any relevant areas that require further investigation (as part of a separate Phase 3) as well as equipment, processes or operations that will not be impacted by compositional specification changes. The report will also provide the range of gases that the NTS can accommodate with no material or economic impact. Phase 2 - Assessment on Equipment with Known Impacts This phase will concentrate on an assessment to qualify and quantify the risk and impact on specific performance of key NTS asset types that will be impacted by a change in specification including those that: Environmental are subject to emissions regulations (EU ETS, IED and Carbon budgets). Relate to Carbon Emission Factors. Impact on Asset Availability Utilise natural gas as a fuel for normal operation. Relate to pipeline integrity. Where an adverse impact is identified, the risk will be quantified and where remedial action is possible, an estimation of outline costs will be provided. For emissions, the cost of remedial action will focus on those assets selected on highest risk and priority as advised by NGGT. Phase 3 - Equipment Identified in Phase 1 Requiring Assessment. (Future Submission)As some equipment impacts will only be identified as an output from Phase 1, this phase will concentrate on qualifying and quantifying the risk and impact on the resultant output from the earlier work. There will be a separate submission when the content of this phase is known. Change Control 1 Following the completion of Phase 1 of the programme, it has been concluded that the following highlighted areas in Phase 3 require further investigation. Each subject area and the scope within each is presented below. NG and IGEM (NG USED) Specifications:-Undertake a more detailed review of the IGEM standards and NG documents. Prioritise the documents to identify those for which the impact is expected to be most significant. Undertake scoping calculations. Impact assessment of the results of the scoping calculations. Gas detectors:- Investigating the operational range of installed flammable gas detectors including 1 site visit if required. Compile list of installed equipment, operational range and method of calibration. Highlight those systems that might be compromised by increase in Wobbe Index of transported gases. Pipeline Fracture Propagation:- Review fracture resistance requirements for all pipeline groups across the network. Develop screening approach for pipeline QRAs. Define remedial measure options for different risk levels. Prepare a costing of remedial measures to manage societal and business risks. The work in Phase 3 will provide a comprehensive overview of all the major issues related to the changes in gas quality and the impact on the National Transmission System (NTS).Note : Project Documents may be available via the ENA Smarter Networks Portal using the Website link above
Publications	(none)
Final Report	(none)
Added to Database	20/08/18