Power of Natural Gas Pipelines : The Emergence of a National Gas Grid

The purpose of the paper is to study the feasibility of laying a Natural gas pipeline in the unexplored areas of India and to form a National Gas Grid. The new pipeline would supply natural gas to the never before explored states, Orissa, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh by taking gas input from a floating LNG terminal at Haldia, and end at Vijaipur. Demand estimation of Natural gas in these states has been done and the capacity of the pipeline has been calculated. Gas hydraulics has been simulated and desired pipeline specifications estimated, also allowing a bi-directional flow of gas. Detailed financial study has been carried out.Demand estimation has been done using the capacities of various industries and the corresponding natural gas requirement has been estimated. The gas hydraulics have been simulated using Pipeline tool box - Gas version 2010, and the desired pipeline diameter has been found out with respect to desired pressure output and length of the pipeline at the given temperature and input pressure conditions. Desktop survey has been done for the route selection process. Detailed financial analysis has been done using all the capital and operating expenditures and project IRR estimated.A detailed structure of the pipeline network has been given and the locations of the compressor stations and diameters and thickness of pipeline estimated. The demand study shows the need of natural gas in the said states and the possibilities of the coal based companies being transformed to natural gas based companies. Major route study gave information about the route pattern where the pipeline would exist. The telecommunication systems and SCADA system study provided detailed information for the pipeline provisions. Financial study gave a concrete structure to the work in terms of investment required and returns that would happen and the project is financially viable. New entrants in the industry could not be fit in, as limited information is provided. All the major details and financial calculations were done with reference to the existing Gas pipelines. Route study was only theoretical and field study has to be done.The proposed pipeline would supply Natural gas to the never before touched states of Orissa, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. The pipeline would connect the major Gas pipelines of India and form a National Gas Grid