This report details the work undertaken by Working Committee Five (WOC 5) -Distribution of gas- during the 1997 - 2000 triennium. The report covers the work of the four Study Groups together with an overview of the main developments in gas distribution that the Committee has identified during the triennium. The subjects covered by the study groups are as follows: Service pipes, Risk Management for Gas Distribution Systems, Quality Assurance for Gas Distribution Systems, Remote operation of Distribution Networks. The main characteristics identified by the Committee as being of particular relevance to gas distribution companies were as follows: Growth in gas demand, privatisation and liberalisation of markets, major technical developments, rehabilitation of gas mains. This first part of this report briefly considers these trends and developments and is followed by a full report of the study groups 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4. Study group 5.1. Service pipes: Sevice pipes are constitute an important link in the gas distribution chain. By their numbers, their relative weakness against third party aggressions and due to the fact that they constitute in most cases the limit of responsibility between the gas company network and customers' installations, service pipes have been identified as a technical and economical key issue for the gas industry development. This document analyses technical and economical data dealing with domestic service pipes having a maximum flow rate for 10 m3/h collected from 42 gas companies spread over 22 countries. All service pipe elements, from the connection with the distribution network up to delivery point, are analysed emphasizing their layouts and design, the materials used, the construction techniques, the operating and maintenance policies and a few rehabilitation techniques. The main different technical solutions given by the gas companies have been compared in order for the study group to draw up some recommendations regarding the best practices in terms of safety, ease of maintenance and economical savings. 5.2. Gas distribution quality and safety policies: The Study Group has studied how, and to what degree, the member countries use risk analysis as a basis for their operations, on construction, maintenance and renewal of distribution systems and/or components. The Study Group carried out a survey of the practices within the member countries, which forms the basis of this report. There are numerous examples of application or risk management policies, procedures, tools and techniques currently in use by gas companies around the world. However, the diverse risks that businesses face today demand an integrated approach to management of risk to ensure safe and profitable operation, and corporate citizenship. Systems, framework and practices for management of risk are progressively being recognised and reflected in National requirements, as well as Company policies and procedures. Gas distribution companies are beginning to adopt integrated risk management systems. An integrated approach to management of risk requires continuous monitoring of appropriate levels of investment, operating expenses, and maintenance costs, and a disciplined resoursc allocation process that cost-effectively targets highest risk areas, whilst optimising safety and profitability, and minimising adverse impact on the environment. The efforts and ressources required to implement an integrated risk management system should not be underestimated. However, the benefits and regards of long term performance improvement, and sustainable profitability, far outweight the initial investment. 5.3. Quality assurance for distribution of gas: The economic and industrial progress of the past few years has prompted many companies to develop quality systems. The gas industry, and in particular the gas distribution companies, have followed this general trend. This report gives an overview of how the gas distribution companies view quality assurance, how they have developed or are currently developing efficient systems, and which problems they have noted in doing so. To achieve an overview of these matters, the IGU's (International Gas Union) Study Group 5.3 surveyd a number of gas companies using a questionnaire. The purpose of the survey was to analyse approaches to quality in variuos countries and their impact on customer relations. 5.4. Remote operation of distribution networks: This study by the IGU WOC 5.4 reviews, at a management level, the application of remote monitoring and control systems for distribution networks. Gas distribution companies have to carefully balance the safety, quality, economic and financial aspects of managing geographically distributed assets to meet customer needs. Remote systems are a key tool in meeting these objectives. A questionnaire was developed to identify the key drives for the selection of remote monitoring and control systems, high level company parameters and current technologies in use. The field in questionnaires received by the WOC 5.4 shows that monitoring equipment and remote control systems for gas distribution in various configurations are commonly utilized by the firms operating in this field. The reason why the firms themselves did not adopt a remote control system mainly depends on safety as well as on a reduction of operating costs due to reduction in the personnel and related overheads associated with the management of the system.


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    Titel :

    Report of Working Committee 5. Distribution


    Weitere Titelangaben:

    Der Konferenzbericht der Arbeitsgruppe 5: Gasverteilung


    Beteiligte:
    Fevre, L. Le (Autor:in)


    Erscheinungsdatum :

    2000


    Format / Umfang :

    137 Seiten, Bilder, Tabellen, Quellen


    Medientyp :

    Aufsatz (Konferenz)


    Format :

    Datenträger


    Sprache :

    Englisch




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