Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
FIGURE 8.5
Gas storage field surface facilities.
1/600 of the space of underground storage and allows high deliverability on
very short notice because LNG storage facilities are generally located close
to market and the gas can be trucked to consumers, thus avoiding pipeline
tolls.
Pipeline Capacity
Gas can be temporarily stored in a pipeline system via a process called line
packing—adding more gas into a pipeline by increasing the pressure. During
periods of high demand, greater quantities of gas may be withdrawn from
a pipeline in the market area than are injected at the production area. Line
packing is usually performed during off-peak times to meet the next day's
peaking demand. This method, however, is only a temporary, short-term
substitute for traditional underground storage.
Gas Holders
Gas can be stored above ground in a holder, largely for balancing purposes,
not for long-term storage. Holders store gas at district pressure so they can
provide extra gas very quickly at peak times. Gas holders are perhaps most
common in the United Kingdom and Germany and are of two types. One
type includes column guides that are always visible regardless of the posi-
tion of the holder frame. Spiral guides have no frames and utilize concentric
runners.
