Illustration copyright Getty Images Image caption Liquefied natural gas from US shale fields first arrived in the UK in September 2016. Now it’s the turn of Northern Europe

Last week, two tankers loaded with American liquefied natural gas(LNG) moored in the ports of Poland and the Netherlands.

This is the first LNG from shale plays in the United States to be delivered to Northern Europe.

Poland agreed with the United States on spot supplies of LNG [on a spot basis, payment for the deal is made immediately] in May of this year in order to reduce dependence on gas coming through pipes from Russia. Last Friday, US Energy Secretary Rick Perry said the same thing.

“US LNG has begun to flow regularly into Europe, offering further diversification of supply sources and providing energy security Europe," the minister said, noting Russia's dominant position in the European gas market.

Does American liquefied gas threaten the well-being of Gazprom? A columnist for the BBC Russian Service talks about this Mikhail Smotryaev talked with the Deputy Head of the National Energy Security Fund Alexey Grivach.

Alexey Grivach: There are two aspects to this. Firstly, political propaganda: the current Polish authorities loudly declare that their goal is to completely abandon Russian gas, although from time to time this position is softened.

Against the backdrop of all these statements, Poland last year took a record volume of Russian gas under contract, despite the fact that LNG supplies from Qatar began last year, plus some more gas was purchased from Norway.

This means that there are words, but there are real processes, economics and commerce, to which even Polish state-owned companies are not alien.

As for the long-term perspective, if we talk about the European market as a whole, the European Union decided to create a single market where there will be no national differences: all markets will be connected into a single infrastructure, will function according to the same rules, and so on.

This market has not yet been fully created, but movement in this direction is underway, and this goal must be achieved sooner or later (if we remember the effectiveness of decisions and their implementation in the European Union).

Illustration copyright Getty Images Image caption Terminals for receiving liquefied gas are being built throughout Europe. This one is in Dunkirk, France.

Then the question will be very simple: it doesn’t matter whether the gas is American or non-American.

Gas enters the European market and competes with each other. And if, for example, Poland takes more liquefied gas, or takes Norwegian gas, this does not mean, purely theoretically, that the European Union as a whole will take less Russian gas. Somewhere it has departed, somewhere it has arrived - this law of communicating vessels will continue to work here.

The same thing happened with Ukraine. So they say: we no longer buy Russian gas. They do not buy gas directly from Gazprom, but they take Russian gas from European traders, and where do they get their gas? Including Gazprom. If Ukraine bought gas under a direct contract, then European traders would take less gas from Gazprom.

This is a kind of gas dialectic. In the long term, I personally do not see any serious, commercially justified threats to the position of Russian gas.

Who said that the new LNG will displace Russian gas - maybe it will displace Norwegian gas, which is more expensive and requires investment to maintain production levels? These questions are usually left aside. And as loud statements it will be presented as the fact that American liquefied gas has come to Poland, and now Poland will live in a new way. In reality it will be completely different.

BBC: Well, it came not only to Poland, but also to the Netherlands - one tanker to each country...

A.G.: Understand that one LNG tanker is approximately 100 million cubic meters of gas in pipeline equivalent. The tanker arrived for the first time in almost six months. And from Russia to Europe every day 500-600 million cubic meters are supplied.

Illustration copyright Getty Images Image caption US Energy Secretary Rick Perry promises to ensure European energy security. From Russia, first of all

BBC: Let's talk about shale gas. The profitability of its production and, therefore, its volumes depend on the price of gas, which, we recall, is tied to the price of oil. According to many analysts, a significant increase in oil prices cannot be expected today. Under these conditions, can shale gas occupy a noticeable niche in the world market?

A.G.: If we talk about shale gas production, then all projects outside the United States, by and large, have not taken root. They showed their uncompetitiveness and inefficiency, and all investments were written off.

If you remember, several years ago Poland announced that it would become a net exporter of gas. Now it turned out that several dozen wells drilled turned out to be either empty or commercially unattractive, and the idea itself came to naught.

As for American LNG, firstly, it is not necessarily shale gas. Of course, increased production from shale plays a role, but last year, for example, the United States for a long time showed a general decrease in gas production, despite the fact that LNG exports from the Gulf of Mexico began last year.

Therefore, there is no need to say that shale gas will completely change the market. Demand for gas in the world is growing quite steadily. And this means that even if in some periods there is an excess of gas due to some kind of crisis - energy, economic - the market still balances out after some time.

This happened, for example, with projects in Qatar: when large capacities were put into operation, they suddenly found themselves unclaimed by the United States, because their own production suddenly began to grow. A couple of years of pressure on the market followed, and then the demand for gas quickly absorbed all this excess, and prices for LNG, say, in Asia, broke all conceivable and inconceivable records.

I think more needs to be said about the fact that security of supply must increase. The depoliticization of the process means that you can actually buy gas from various sources. Europe can buy more LNG, but the rationality of such decisions must win out, because this is the basis of competitiveness.

If you, like Lithuania or Poland, are ready to buy gas at twice the price, this means that globally you are becoming less competitive. If Lithuania, as a country that does not claim anything, can afford this, then the European Union, as a center of economic power, cannot afford to be globally uncompetitive by buying “democratic” gas and not buying “undemocratic” gas. Instead, the most reliable and economically attractive product is taken.

Illustration copyright Getty Images Image caption European consumers have repeatedly received less Russian gas due to disagreements between Russia and Ukraine

BBC: Russia usually has no disagreements with European buyers - with the exception of the times of the “gas wars” with Ukraine, when not all Russian gas stipulated under contracts reached Europe, sometimes in very significant volumes. The Europeans, as they say, “have no sediment left”?

A.G.: The disruptions are related to the behavior of the transit country. This problem lay exclusively in the contractual area, when the transit country, taking advantage of its monopoly position, considered it possible, for example, not to sign a contract for the purchase of gas, and took gas from the flow. But this is absolutely unacceptable behavior.

BBC: I agree, but for the end buyer this is hardly of fundamental importance - the gas has not reached him...

A.G.: Absolutely right, and that’s why we are taking into account with them all these transit risks, which are impossible to manage in normal mode. This is also in the interests of the end consumer. And if we compare pipeline gas and LNG in these parameters, then in the latter case there is much less safety. If we're talking about about short-term transactions, then gas may easily not reach consumers in Europe, because in Asia the price for it at that moment will be twice as high. This does not happen with pipeline gas.

BBC: That is, we can say that, in general, the current state of affairs on the European gas market is not threatened by any sudden and large-scale shocks?

A.G.: If we talk about the European market, one of the important trends is the decline in domestic production. This means that more imported gas will be needed. Additional sources of supply are meeting this growing need.

In addition, there are problems with other suppliers: Algeria or Norway cannot increase gas supplies. Therefore, when there is a shortage, it is Russian gas and LNG that compete to fill this niche. At the end of last year, Russian gas supplies increased by 30 billion cubic meters, and LNG by three billion. Who won the competition? In my opinion, the answer is obvious.

They have a history of more than half a century. Construction began with the development of the oil fields of Baku and Grozny. Today's map of Russian gas pipelines includes almost 50 thousand km of main pipelines, through which most of the Russian oil.

History of Russian gas pipelines

The pipeline began to be actively developed in Russia back in 1950, which was associated with the development of new fields and construction in Baku. By 2008, the amount of transported oil and petroleum products reached 488 million tons. Compared to 2000, the figures increased by 53%.

Every year, Russian gas pipelines (the diagram is updated and reflects all pipelines) are growing. If in 2000 the length of the gas pipeline was 61 thousand km, in 2008 it was already 63 thousand km. By 2012, Russia's main gas pipelines had expanded significantly. The map showed about 250 thousand km of pipeline. Of these, 175 thousand km was the length of the gas pipeline, 55 thousand km was the length of the oil pipeline, 20 thousand km was the length of the oil product pipeline.

Gas pipeline transport in Russia

A gas pipeline is an engineered pipeline transport structure that is used to transport methane and natural gas. Gas supply is carried out using excess pressure.

Today it is difficult to believe that the Russian Federation (today the largest exporter of “blue fuel”) initially depended on raw materials purchased abroad. In 1835, the first plant for the production of “blue fuel” was opened in St. Petersburg with a distribution system from the field to the consumer. This plant produced gas from foreign coal. 30 years later, the same plant was built in Moscow.

Due to the high cost of building gas pipes and imported raw materials, the first gas pipelines in Russia were small sizes. Pipelines were produced with large diameters (1220 and 1420 mm) and long lengths. With the development of natural gas field technologies and its production, the size of “blue rivers” in Russia began to rapidly increase.

The largest gas pipelines in Russia

Gazprom is the largest gas artery operator in Russia. The main activities of the corporation are:

• geological exploration, production, transportation, storage, processing;
• production and sale of heat and electricity.

On this moment There are the following existing gas pipelines:

1. "Blue Stream".
2. "Progress".
3. "Union".
4. "Nord Stream".
5. "Yamal-Europe".
6. "Urengoy-Pomary-Uzhgorod".
7. "Sakhalin-Khabarovsk-Vladivostok".

Since many investors are interested in the development of the oil production and oil refining sector, engineers are actively developing and building all of Russia’s new largest gas pipelines.

Oil pipelines of the Russian Federation

An oil pipeline is an engineering pipeline transport structure that is used to transport oil from the place of production to the consumer. There are two types of pipelines: main and field.

The largest oil pipelines:

1. "Druzhba" is one of the major routes Russian Empire. Today's production volume is 66.5 million tons per year. The highway runs from Samara through Bryansk. In the city of Mozyr, “Druzhba” is divided into two sections:

• southern highway - passes through Ukraine, Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic;
• the northern route runs through Germany, Latvia, Poland, Belarus and Lithuania.

1. The Baltic Pipeline System is a system of oil pipelines that connects an oil production site to a seaport. The capacity of such a pipeline is 74 million tons of oil per year.
2. The Baltic Pipeline System-2 is a system that connects the Druzhba oil pipeline with Russian ports on the Baltic. The capacity is 30 million tons per year.
3. The Eastern Oil Pipeline connects the production site of Eastern and Western Siberia with the markets of the USA and Asia. The capacity of such an oil pipeline reaches 58 million tons per year.
4. The Caspian Pipeline Consortium is an important international project with the participation of the largest oil producing companies, created for the construction and operation of pipes with a length of 1.5 thousand km. The operating capacity is 28.2 million tons per year.

Gas pipelines from Russia to Europe

Russia can supply gas to Europe in three ways: through the Ukrainian gas transportation system, as well as through the Nord Stream and Yamal-Europe gas pipelines. In the event that Ukraine finally stops cooperation with the Russian Federation, supplies of “blue fuel” to Europe will be carried out exclusively by Russian gas pipelines.

The scheme for supplying methane to Europe suggests, for example, the following options:

1. Nord Stream is a gas pipeline that connects Russia and Germany along the bottom of the Baltic Sea. The pipeline bypasses transit states: Belarus, Poland and Nord Stream. It was put into operation relatively recently - in 2011.
2. “Yamal-Europe” - the length of the gas pipeline is more than two thousand kilometers, the pipes pass through the territory of Russia, Belarus, Germany and Poland.
3. Blue Stream is a gas pipeline connecting the Russian Federation and Turkey along the bottom of the Black Sea. Its length is 1213 km. The design capacity is 16 billion cubic meters per year.
4. "South Stream" - the pipeline is divided into offshore and onshore sections. The offshore section runs along the bottom of the Black Sea and connects the Russian Federation, Turkey, and Bulgaria. The length of the section is 930 km. The land section passes through the territory of Serbia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Italy, and Slovenia.

Gazprom said that in 2017 the price of gas for Europe will be increased by 8-14%. Russian analysts claim that the volume of supplies this year will be greater than in 2016. The income of the Russian gas monopoly in 2017 may increase by $34.2 billion.

Russian gas pipelines: import schemes

CIS countries to which Russia supplies gas include:

1. Ukraine (sales volume is 14.5 billion cubic meters).
2. Belarus (19.6).
3. Kazakhstan (5.1).
4. Moldova (2.8).
5. Lithuania (2.5).
6. Armenia (1.8).
7. Latvia (1).
8. Estonia (0.4).
9. Georgia (0.3).
10. South Ossetia (0.02).

Among the non-CIS countries that use Russian gas:

1. Germany (supply volume is 40.3 billion cubic meters).
2. Türkiye (27.3).
3. Italy (21.7).
4. Poland (9.1).
5. UK (15.5).
6. Czech Republic (0.8) and others.

Gas supply to Ukraine

In December 2013, Gazprom and Naftogaz signed an addendum to the contract. The document indicated a new “discount” price, one third less than that specified in the contract. The agreement came into force on January 1, 2014, and must be renewed every three months. Due to debts for gas, Gazprom canceled the discount in April 2014, and from April 1 the price increased, amounting to $500 per thousand cubic meters (the discounted price was $268.5 per thousand cubic meters).

Gas pipelines planned for construction in Russia

The map of Russian gas pipelines at the development stage includes five sections. Project not implemented " South Stream"between Anapa and Bulgaria, the Altai pipeline is being built - this is a gas pipeline between Siberia and Western China. The Caspian gas pipeline, which will supply natural gas from the Caspian Sea, in the future should pass through the territory of the Russian Federation, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. For supplies from Yakutia to the countries of the Asia-Pacific region, another route is being built - “Yakutia-Khabarovsk-Vladivostok”.

The active development of pipeline transport in Russia began in the late 1950s.

In 2008, 488 million tons of oil and petroleum products were transported by pipeline, this figure increased by 53% compared to 2000.

The cargo turnover of pipeline transport in terms of oil and petroleum products in 2008 amounted to 1.1 trillion ton-kilometers, having increased by 49% compared to 2000.

The length of main gas and oil product pipelines in 2008 was 63 thousand km, having increased by 2 thousand km compared to 2000. As of the end of 2012, the length of main pipelines (according to Rosstat) amounted to 250 thousand km, including 175 thousand km of gas pipelines, 55 thousand km of oil pipelines and 20 thousand km of oil product pipelines.

Oil pipelines

Russian state company Transneft and its subsidiaries have the world's largest oil trunk pipeline system, the length of which is 48.7 thousand km (as of June 2006) and through which more than 90% of Russian oil is pumped.

Active

• The Druzhba oil pipeline (operating capacity 66.5 million tons per year) is the largest export route in Russia (Almetyevsk - Samara - Unecha - Mozyr - Brest and further to the countries of Eastern and Western Europe);
• Almetyevsk - Nizhny Novgorod - Ryazan - Moscow;
• Nizhny Novgorod - Yaroslavl - Kirishi;
• Samara - Lisichansk - Kremenchug - Kherson;
• Ust-Balyk - Kurgan - Ufa - Almetyevsk;
• Nizhnevartovsk - Kurgan - Kuibyshev;
• Tuymazy - Omsk - Novosibirsk;
• Kaltasy - Yazykovo - Salavat;
• Shkapovo - Salavat;
• Alexandrovskoye - Anzhero-Sudzhensk;
• Krasnoyarsk - Angarsk;
• Surgut - Omsk - Pavlodar - Chimkent - Chardzhou;
• Baltic Pipeline System (operating capacity 74 million tons per year);
• Baltic Pipeline System-II (operating capacity 30 million tons per year);
• Eastern Oil Pipeline (operating capacity 58 million tons per year);
• Caspian Pipeline Consortium (operating capacity 28.2 million tons per year);
• Kuyumba - Taishet

Under construction and design

Oil pipeline Khabarovsk - Komsomolsk-on-Amur

Construction of an oil pipeline branch from the Eastern Siberia pipeline system - Pacific Ocean(ESPO) to the Komsomolsk-on-Amur oil refinery began in February 2016. It is planned to build 293 km of linear part, a main oil pumping station with a tank farm of 80 thousand cubic meters, two intermediate stations and external power supply facilities. Commissioning is scheduled for 2018.

Expansion of the Caspian Pipeline (CPC-2)

Data in this article is as of 2010.

On December 15, 2010, a final decision was made to invest in a project to expand the capacity of the pipeline system of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC-2) to 67 million tons of oil per year.

Murmansk oil pipeline

Data in this article is as of 2003. You can help by updating the information in this article.

In November 2002, Russian oil companies Lukoil, Yukos, TNK and Sibneft signed a memorandum of intent to build the Western Siberia - Murmansk oil export pipeline. However, due to the negative attitude of the Government of the Russian Federation towards the emergence of private pipelines, the implementation of the project has been frozen to the present time.

Since 2003, Transneft has been participating in the project, which is considering an oil pipeline along the Kharyaga-Indiga route with a capacity of 50 million tons of oil per year as an alternative.

Gas pipelines

The largest operator of Russian gas pipelines is the state-owned company Gazprom.

Large gas pipelines:

Active

Saratov - Moscow

Gas pipeline from natural gas fields in the immediate vicinity of Saratov, in the Elshanka River valley, to Moscow. Routed through the territories of Saratov, Penza, Tambov, Ryazan and Moscow regions.

The first main gas pipeline in Russia. In 1944, a resolution was adopted by the State Defense Committee on the construction of the Saratov-Moscow gas pipeline, the creation of the Construction Administration and the Directorate of the gas pipeline under construction. Construction of the gas pipeline began during the Great Patriotic War and went into operation in 1946.

The length of the gas pipeline is 843 km, the pipe diameter is 325 mm.

Urengoy - Pomary - Uzhgorod

Connects gas fields in the north of Western Siberia with end consumers in Europe.

The total length is 4,451 km, capacity is 32 billion cubic meters of gas per year. The diameter of each of the three threads is 1420 mm.

Yamal - Europe

Connects gas fields in the north of Western Siberia with end consumers in Europe. Passes through the territory of Belarus and Poland.

Throughput capacity is about 30 billion cubic meters of gas per year.

Blue Stream

A gas pipeline between Russia and Turkey, laid along the bottom of the Black Sea.

The pipeline was built within the framework of the Russian-Turkish agreement from, according to which Russia must supply 364.5 billion cubic meters of gas to Turkey in 2000-2025. Construction costs amounted to $3.2 billion. Construction was carried out by the Russian-Italian company Blue Stream Pipeline Company B.V., which was owned in equal shares by Gazprom and the Italian Eni.

The total length of the gas pipeline is 1213 km, of which:

• a land section on the Russian side from the town of Izobilny, Stavropol Territory, to the village of Arkhipo-Osipovka, Krasnodar Territory, on the Black Sea coast, 373 km long;
• the sea section from Arkhipo-Osipovka to the Durusu terminal, located 60 km from the city of Samsun (Turkey) with a length of 396 km;
• a land section on the Turkish side from the city of Samsun to the city of Ankara, 444 km long.

Gas pipeline pipe diameter: flat part of the onshore section - 1400 mm, mountainous part of the onshore section - 1200 mm, offshore section - 610 mm. The gas pipeline operators are Gazprom Export and Turkish Botas.

Commercial supplies of Russian natural gas via a gas pipeline to Turkey began in February 2003. The Blue Stream delivered 2 billion m³ of gas to Turkey, - 3.2 billion m³, - 5 billion m³, - 7.5 billion m³, - 9.5 billion m³, - 10.1 billion m³. It is planned that in 2010 the gas pipeline will reach full capacity (16 billion cubic meters of gas per year).

There are plans to build a continuation of the gas pipeline to Israel, Italy, as well as to expand the capacity of the “pipe” by 2 times - to 32 billion m³ per year.

Dzuarikau - Tskhinvali

Export gas pipeline from Russia to South Ossetia. Starts in the village of Dzuarikau ( North Ossetia) then passes through the Caucasus ridge, then through the city of Kvaisa, and to the city of Tskhinvali. It is the highest mountain in the world.

Branches from the main highway to all areas are planned South Ossetia.

Dzhubga - Lazarevskoye - Sochi

The construction of the gas pipeline was carried out from September 2009 to June 2011.

Sakhalin - Khabarovsk - Vladivostok

Construction of the gas pipeline began on July 31, 2009 in Khabarovsk. The first launch complex was officially put into operation on September 8, 2011. The ceremony took place in Vladivostok, on Russky Island.

Nord Stream

Bovanenkovo ​​- Ukhta

The decision to build the gas pipeline was made in October 2006, construction began in August 2008. The first stage of the gas pipeline was put into operation on October 23, 2012. The second stage was put into operation on January 17, 2017.

The length of the gas pipeline is 1260 km, the total design capacity of the two stages of the gas pipeline is 115 billion m³ of gas per year.

Under construction

Yakutia-Khabarovsk-Vladivostok

Turkish Stream

Canceled

South Stream

Designed

Altai

Caspian gas pipeline

Southern corridor

Ammonia pipeline

Ethylene line

Carbon pipeline

Product pipelines for pumping finished fuel

Large product pipelines:

Performance indicators

		1913	1928	1940	1950	1960	1980	1990	1995	2000	2005	2010	2015	2016
Operating length thousand km	USSR	-	1,6	4,1	5,4	17,3	69,7	86	-	-	-	-	-	-
	Russia	1,1	0,7	1,7	3,6	15	54	68	64	63	65	65	74	71
Pumping volume million tons	USSR	-	1,1	7,9	15,3	130	627	611	-	-	-	-	-	-
	Russia	0,4	0,4	5	12	123	576	558	309	318	482	524	578	579
Freight turnover billion t*km	USSR	-	0,7	3,8	4,9	51,2	1220	1310	-	-	-	-	-	-
	Russia	0,3	0,1	1,5	3,4	49	1090	1240	668	745	1156	1123	1268	1308

Problems of activity

The problems with Russian pipelines are the complexity of their construction and maintenance, as well as illegal connections for oil theft. Illegal tapping is dangerous not only due to the loss of the oil itself, but also due to oil pollution and fires. In the 90s and 2000s, many cases of such illegal tie-ins were recorded, many of which operated for many years.

• Another illegal tie-in has been neutralized. Report from Gubernia TV
• Rifey TV channel report on another illegal tapping

Links

Notes

1. Nikolaev A. S. United transport system/ A. S. Nikolaev. - M.: Lyceum, 2001.
2. Results of the activities of JSC Russian Railways in 2012-2016. and development plans until 2025. M.: 2017. pp. 2-3
3. Main transport indicators // Rosstat
4. Rosstat. 17.23. LENGTH OF COMMUNICATION ROUTES
5. Both a manager and a virtuoso bureaucrat // Expert, October 1, 2007
6. The Zapolyarye - Purpe oil pipeline has been built! Tyumen news. Tyumen News
7. Home | Argus Media
8. https://www.transneft.ru/about/projects/current/10649/
9. Putin launched the Kuyumba-Taishet main oil pipeline - MK
10. Construction of an oil pipeline from ESPO to the Komsomolsk Oil Refinery has started - Khabarovsk News
11. JSC AK Transneft
12. http://www.cpc.ru/portal/alias!press/lang!ru/tabID!3706/DesktopDefault.aspx The final decision on investment for the Expansion Project has been made

Introduction.

2.1. Composition of the main gas pipeline.

2.2. Composition and purpose of compressor stations.

2.3. Preparation of gas for transport.

Control questions.

Introduction

The Unified Gas Supply System (UGSS) of Russia is a widely branched network of gas pipelines that supply consumers with gas from gas fields in the Tyumen region, the Komi Republic, the Orenburg, Astrakhan regions and other regions.

A compressor station is an integral part of the main gas pipeline, designed to ensure its design throughput by increasing the gas pressure at the outlet of the compressor station using various types of gas pumping units (GPU).

Natural gas coming from wells contains solid particles (sand, scale), condensate of heavy hydrocarbons, water vapor, and in some cases hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide as impurities. The presence of solid particles in gas leads to abrasive wear of pipes, fittings and parts of compressor equipment, and clogging of control and measuring instruments. Heavy hydrocarbon condensate and water settle at low points in gas pipelines, reducing their flow area. Therefore, before supplying gas to the main pipeline, it must be dried and cleaned of mechanical and harmful impurities.

Composition of the main gas pipeline

The main gas pipeline (MG) includes the following main facilities (Figure 2.1):

Headworks;

Compressor stations;

Gas distribution stations (GDS);

Underground gas storage facilities;

Linear structures.

Figure 2.1 – Scheme of the main gas pipeline: 1 – gas collection networks; 2 – field gas collection point; 3 – head structures; 4 – compressor station; 5 – gas distribution station; 6 – underground storage facilities; 7 – main pipeline; 8 – branches from the main pipeline; 9 – linear fittings; 10 - two-thread crossing over a water barrier

1. At the headworks, the produced gas is prepared for transportation. During the initial period of field development, gas pressure is usually so high that there is no need for a main compressor station. It is built later, after the gas pipeline is put into operation.

2. Compressor stations are designed for pumping gas; in addition, the compressor stations purify the gas from liquid and solid impurities. The complex of compressor station structures includes devices such as: dust collectors, purification devices for liquid and solid impurities, gas pumping units (GPU), air cooling units (ACU) and other auxiliary structures.

3. Gas distribution stations are constructed at the end of each main gas pipeline or branch from it. The following operations are carried out at the GDS: reducing gas pressure to the required level, since gas equipment used in industry and in everyday life is designed for relatively low pressure and high-pressure gas transported through the main gas pipeline cannot be directly supplied to consumers; gas purification from impurities (mechanical particles and condensate) to ensure reliable operation of equipment; odorization, that is, imparting a sharp, specific odor to detect leaks. Gas consumption is also recorded at the gas distribution station.

4. An underground gas storage facility is a gas storage facility created in rocks (in artificial workings or in porous layers). Underground gas storage facilities serve to compensate for uneven gas consumption. The use of underground structures for gas storage can significantly reduce metal costs and capital investments in storage facilities.

5. A set of linear structures may include:

Pipeline with branches and loopings, shut-off valves, CS connection units, start-up and receiving units for cleaning devices, condensate collectors and devices for methanol injection. Unlike similar structures of oil and petroleum product pipelines, linear ball valves are used on gas pipelines instead of linear valves. The length of the main gas pipeline can range from tens to several thousand kilometers, and the diameter can range from 150 to 1420 mm. Most gas pipelines have a diameter from 720 to 1420 mm. Pipes and fittings of main gas pipelines are designed for operating pressure up to 7.5 MPa;

Transitions of the main gas pipeline through natural and artificial obstacles;

Installations for electrochemical protection of gas pipelines from corrosion, technological communication lines and structures, pipeline telemechanics;

Power lines intended for servicing pipelines and power supply devices and remote control of shut-off valves and electrochemical protection installations for pipelines;

Fire-fighting means, anti-erosion and pipeline protection structures;

Buildings and structures of the linear pipeline operation service;

Permanent roads and helipads located along the pipeline route, and approaches to them, identification and signal signs for the location of pipelines;

Directions and warning signs.

Back in the 2nd-3rd century BC. known cases of using natural gas in national economy. So, for example, in ancient China gas was used for lighting and heat. Gas was supplied from fields to consumers through bamboo pipes due to the pressure of the gas source, i.e. "by gravity." The pipe joints were caulked with tow. Gas pipelines in the modern sense of the word began to widely appear at the beginning of the 19th century and were used for lighting and heating needs, as well as for technological needs in production. In 1859 in American state Pennsylvania, a gas pipeline with a diameter of 5 cm and a length of about 9 km was built, connecting the field and the nearest city of Titesville.

Over the course of a century and a half, the need for gas has grown hundreds of times, and along with it the diameter and length of gas pipelines have increased.

Today, main gas pipelines are pipelines designed to transport natural gas from production areas to points of consumption. At certain intervals, gas compressor stations are installed on the pipeline to maintain pressure in the pipeline. At the final point of the main gas pipeline there are gas distribution stations where the pressure is reduced to the level necessary to supply consumers.

Currently, from an efficiency point of view, the maximum diameter of a gas pipeline is considered to be 1420 mm.

Russia

Today, Russia ranks first in the world in terms of proven gas reserves (25% of global reserves), and the Russian gas transportation system is the largest in the world. Average range gas transportation today is about 2.6 thousand km for supplies for domestic consumption and approximately 3.3 thousand km for supplies for export. The length of main gas pipelines in Russia is 168.3 thousand km. This length is enough to circle the Earth four times.

The main part of the Unified Gas Supply System of Russia was created in the 50-80s of the 20th century and, in addition to the gas pipeline system, includes 268 linear compressor stations with a total capacity of 42 thousand MW, 6 gas and gas condensate processing complexes, 25 underground storage facilities.

Today, the owner of the Russian segment of the UGSS is OJSC Gazprom.

On September 15, 1943, a gas pipeline with a diameter of 300 mm Buguruslan - Pokhvistnevo - Kuibyshev with a length of 165 km and a capacity of 220 million cubic meters per year was put into operation. On this day, the first gas arrived at the Bezymyanskaya CHPP and industrial enterprises of Kuibyshev. It is with this gas pipeline that the history of the development of our country’s gas transportation system begins.

Today the largest gas pipelines in Russia are:

Gas pipeline "Urengoy - Pomary - Uzhgorod"- a main export gas pipeline built by the USSR in 1983 to supply natural gas from the fields of the north of Western Siberia to consumers in the countries of Central and Western Europe. Throughput capacity - 32 billion m³ of natural gas per year (design). The actual capacity is 28 billion m³ per year. Pipeline diameter - 1420 mm. The total length of the gas pipeline is 4451 km. An export pipeline project was proposed in 1978 from the Yamburg fields, but was later changed to a pipeline from the Urengoy field, which was already in production.

Gas pipeline "Union"— export gas pipeline. The diameter of the gas pipeline is 1420 mm, the design pressure is 7.5 MPa (75 atmospheres), the throughput capacity is 26 billion m³ of gas per year. The main source of gas for the pipeline is the Orenburg gas condensate field. Gas pipeline "Union" accepted for service on November 11, 1980. Gas pipeline "Union" passes through the territory of Russia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine along the route: Orenburg - Uralsk - Aleksandrov Gai - GIS "Sokhranovka" (border of Russia and Ukraine) - Kremenchug - Dolina - Uzhgorod. The total length of the gas pipeline is 2,750 km, including 300 km through the territory of Kazakhstan and 1,568 km through the territory of Ukraine.

Gas pipeline "Yamal - Europe"- transnational main export gas pipeline, commissioned in 1999. Connects gas fields in the north of Western Siberia with consumers in Europe. The gas pipeline has become an additional export corridor, increasing the flexibility and reliability of Russian gas supplies to Western Europe(through the gas transmission systems YAGAL-Nord and STEGAL - MIDAL - UGS "Rehden").

It originates in the gas transportation hub in the city of Torzhok (Tver region). It passes through the territory of Russia (402 km), Belarus (575 km), Poland (683 km) and Germany. The western end point of the Yamal-Europe gas pipeline is the Malnov compressor station (near Frankfurt-on-Oder) near the German-Polish border. The total length of the gas pipeline exceeds 2000 km, diameter - 1420 mm. Design capacity is 32.9 billion m³ of gas per year. The number of compressor stations on the gas pipeline is 14 (3 in Russia, 5 in Belarus, 5 in Poland and one in Germany).

"Nord Stream"- a main gas pipeline between Russia and Germany, running along the bottom of the Baltic Sea. Gas pipeline "Nord Stream"- the longest underwater gas export route in the world, its length is 1224 km. Owned and operated by Nord Stream AG. Pipe diameter (external) - 1220 mm. Working pressure - 22 MPa.

The project involves Russia, Germany, the Netherlands and France; Russian gas transit countries and the Baltic countries opposed its implementation. The goals of the project are to increase gas supplies to the European market and reduce dependence on transit countries.

Pipeline construction began in April 2010. In September 2011, filling of the first of two lines with process gas began.

On November 8, 2011, gas supplies began along the first line of the gas pipeline. On April 18, 2012, the second line was completed. On October 8, 2012, gas supplies began on two lines of the gas pipeline in commercial mode.

Europe

One of the world's longest underwater gas pipelines runs between Norway and the UK along the bottom of the North Sea. Main gas pipeline "Langeled" connects the Norwegian gas field Ormen Lange with the British terminal at Easington. Its length is 1200 km. Construction began in 2004 and the official opening took place in October 2007 in London.

Near East

Gas pipeline "Iran - Türkiye", 2577 km long, runs from Tabriz through Erzurum to Ankara. Initially a gas pipeline "Tabriz - Ankara" with a throughput capacity of 14 billion m³ of gas per year was supposed to become part of the pipeline "Pars", which would connect European consumers with the large Iranian gas field South Pars. However, due to sanctions, Iran was unable to begin implementing this project.

Asia

Chinese gas pipeline "West East", with a length of 8,704 km, connects the basic northwestern resources of the Tarim Basin - the Changqing field, whose reserves are estimated at 750 billion cubic meters of gas - with the economically developed eastern coast of the Middle Kingdom. The gas pipeline includes one main line and 8 regional branches. The pipeline's design capacity is 30 billion m³ of natural gas per year. Thousands of kilometers of pipes stretch across 15 provincial-level regions and pass through various natural areas: plateaus, mountains, deserts and rivers. Pipeline "West East" is considered the largest and most complex gas industry project ever implemented in China. The goal of the project is the development of the western regions of China.

Gas pipeline « middle Asia- Center", with a length of 5000 km, connects the gas fields of Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan with industrialized areas of central Russia, the CIS countries and foreign countries. The first stage of the pipeline was put into operation back in 1967. For the first time in the history of the global gas industry, pipes with a diameter of 1200–1400 mm were used. During construction, underwater crossings of the main gas pipeline were carried out through largest rivers regions: Amu Darya, Volga, Ural, Oka. By 1985 the gas pipeline "Central Asia - Center" has turned into a multi-line system of main gas pipelines and gas branch pipelines with an annual throughput capacity of 80 billion m³.

Gas pipeline "Turkmenistan - China" passes through the territory of four countries (Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and China) and has a length of 1833 km. Construction of the pipeline began in 2007. The official opening ceremony of the gas pipeline took place on December 14, 2009 at the Samandepe field (Turkmenistan). Pipe diameter – 1067 mm. The design capacity of the gas pipeline is 40 billion m³ of natural gas per year.

North America

The first and longest American gas pipeline to date "Tennessee", built in 1944. Its length is 3300 km, and it includes five lines with a diameter of 510 to 760 mm. The route runs from the Gulf of Mexico through Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio and Pennsylvania to West Virginia, New Jersey, New York and New England.

American gas pipeline high pressure "Rockies Express", 2,702 km long, laid out its route from the Rocky Mountains (Colorado) to Ohio. The last line of the gas pipeline was launched on November 12, 2009. The diameter is 910 - 1070 mm and consists of three lines that run through eight states. The pipeline's throughput capacity is 37 billion m³ of gas per year.

South America

Gas pipeline "Bolivia-Brazil" is the longest natural gas pipeline in South America. The 3,150-kilometer pipeline connects the gas fields of Bolivia with the southeastern regions of Brazil. It was built in two stages, the first branch with a length of 1418 km began work in 1999, the second branch with a length of 1165 km began work in 2000. The diameter of the gas pipeline is 410 - 810 mm. The pipeline's throughput capacity is 11 billion m³ of gas per year.

Africa

Main gas pipeline "TransMed", with a length of 2,475 km, laid its route from Algeria through Tunisia and Sicily to Italy, then the expansion of the pipeline supplies Algerian gas to Slovenia. The diameter of the ground part is 1070-1220 mm. The pipeline's current capacity is 30.2 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year. The first stage of the gas pipeline was built in 1978-1983, the second stage was put into operation in 1994. The gas pipeline includes the following sections: Algerian (550 km), Tunisian (370 km), underwater passage from the African coast to the island of Sicily (96 km), land Sicilian section (340 km), underwater passage from the island of Sicily to mainland Italy (15 km), a land section through the territory of Italy with a branch to Slovenia (1055 km).

Main gas pipeline "Maghreb-Europe" connects the giant Hassi-Rmel gas condensate field in Algeria - through the territory of Morocco - with the gas transmission system of Spain and Portugal. From the Spanish city of Cordoba, Andalusia region, the gas pipeline goes through the Extremadura region to Portugal. The main supplies of natural gas through the pipeline go to Spain and Portugal, with significantly smaller supplies going to Morocco. Construction began on October 11, 1994. On December 9, 1996, the Spanish section began operating. The Portuguese section was opened on February 27, 1997. The total length of the gas pipeline is 1,620 kilometers and consists of the following sections: Algerian (515 km), Moroccan (522 km), and Andalusian (269 km) sections with a diameter of 1,220 mm, an underwater section (45 km) with a diameter of 560 mm, and a Portuguese section ( 269 ​​km) passing through the Spanish Autonomous Region of Extremadura (270 km) with a diameter of 28 and 32 inches.

Australia

Main gas pipeline Dampier-Bunbury, commissioned in 1984, is Australia's longest natural gas pipeline. The length of the gas pipeline, whose diameter is 660 mm, is 1,530 km. It originates on the Burrup Peninsula and supplies gas to consumers in southwestern Australia.