Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) has become increasingly popular in recent years due to its environmental friendliness and higher efficiency than traditional fuels like coal, gasoline, and diesel. However, to use CNG, specialized transportation vehicles and equipment are required. Let's explore what is natural gas compression? How CNG is produced, distributed, and transported to the point of consumption?
1. What is natural gas compression?
Natural gas compression plays a vital role in the overall natural gas production process, encompassing the essential task of elevating the pressure of natural gas. This elevation in pressure facilitates the transportation of natural gas through pipelines and various other networks, ensuring its accessibility for consumer use.
Natural gas compression is typically carried out at natural gas processing plants or compressor stations strategically positioned along pipeline routes. These facilities employ sizable motors and compressors to elevate the pressure of natural gas before it enters the pipeline network. This augmentation in pressure facilitates the smooth flow of gas through the pipelines, ensuring its secure and efficient transit to its designated destination.
The effectiveness of natural gas compression hinges on various factors, such as the size and potency of the compressors in use, along with the compression duration. In general, larger compressors exhibit greater efficiency compared to their smaller counterparts, as they can handle larger volumes of natural gas at elevated pressures within shorter timeframes. Moreover, advancements in technology have ushered in more efficient and cost-effective compression processes than ever before.
Natural gas is extracted from natural gas fields or associated gas during the process of oil extraction. It is then transported through pipelines to shore and gas processing facilities where the natural gas undergoes various processing stages to meet quality standards.
After being processed, Natural gas undergoes the process of natural gas compression at the compressor station, where it is subjected to pressure elevation from a pressure of 14-22 barg to 200-250 barg into specialized tanks to increase the amount of gas transported for long distances.
Most CNG tanks are designed in a cylindrical shape, ensuring even distribution of pressure and avoiding concentrated forces that could lead to the rupture of the CNG containers. These containers are fixed on iron frames, stacked on top of each other, and connected through pipelines with gas valves, along with safety devices, thermometers, and pressure gauges.
After being compressed into specialized tanks made of composite materials or steel, Compress Natural Gas is transported to the customer's consumption points. Both the tanks and the transportation vehicles must adhere to regulations and safety standards for the storage and transportation of CNG.
The tank trucks take CNG to customer’s sites or consumption points, then CNG is taken from tank trucks with the pressure of 200-250 barg going through a Pressure Reducing Unit (PRU) system, pressure is reduced by two stages (Stage 1: pressure reduced to 60 barg, Stage: 2 pressure reduces to 2-7 barg) to supply customers upon request.
The PRU system is designed and installed in compliance with international standards and Vietnam’s standards and regulations, ensuring absolute safety. From the pressure reduction station outlet, the gas is conveyed through pipelines and metering systems to the customer’s furnace system.
Gas South is currently the sole company that owns two strategically located CNG compression stations: the My Xuan CNG compression Station (in Ba Ria - Vung Tau province) and the Hiep Phuoc CNG Station (in Ho Chi Minh City). Alongside these, Gas South possesses a modern fleet of transportation equipment, including tanks and trailers that meet international standards, ensuring a continuous and safe supply of CNG to customers at competitive and stable prices. Our services include CNG transportation, installation of pressure-reducing stations, and operation of such stations.
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