Islamabad, 27 May 2024, (GNP): Pakistan’s gas transmission and distribution system is in danger due to rising line pack pressure, which has escalated to a hazardous level of 5.13 billion cubic feet (bcf) as of May 5.
The pressure in the gas transmission system was manageable, ranging from 4.570 to 4.97 bcf between May 5 and May 25.
However, it has now surged to critical levels due to decreased usage of Re-Gasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG) by the power sector, a senior official informed the publication.
“Now, the gas system has come again under duress on May 25-26 mainly because of reduction in the use of RLNG by the power sector,” the official said, adding that the pipeline could burst any time as the gas transmission system becomes more vulnerable if the gas pressure surges past 5bcf-mark.
The official’s remarks came as line pack pressure was recorded at 5.13 bcf on Sunday, down from 5.17 bcf on Saturday. Local Exploration and Production (E&P) companies have reduced gas flows by 176 mmcf, from 783 to 605 mmcf, which is hazardous for gas field operations.
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The power sector has cut its RLNG usage to 475 mmcf for electricity generation, leading to a rise in line pack pressure to 1.530 bcf and putting the gas transmission system under stress.
Meanwhile, gas consumption in the fertilizer industry was 52 mmcf compared to Saturday’s 40 mmcf, with Fatima Fertilizer using only 24 mmcf of RLNG due to the startup of their plant at 1900 hrs on May 24 after completing their Annual Turn Around (ATA).
Additionally, Engro Fertilizer’s system gas consumption was halted at 2200 hrs on April 22 due to the startup of their plant’s ATA, expected to last about 54 days.
With the current RLNG consumption rate at 32 mmcfd, the data indicates extremely high-pressure conditions throughout the transmission network due to reduced RLNG offtake by the power sector.
To address the situation, authorities have begun reducing gas flows from local fields into the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) system to lower line pack pressure.
However, the official warned that this reduction in gas flow from local fields significantly risks maintaining current local gas production levels.
He recalled repeated warnings from exploration and production companies against the “perilous” practice of reducing local gas flows to protect the transmission system. Gas wells nearing depletion must cut natural gas flows, causing irreparable damage, and they cannot return to their original flow levels.
These wells require significant investment in artificial lift methods to resume production, he concluded.
