1. Basic Definition
Natural gas pipeline is a dedicated pipeline system for transporting natural gas over long distances, mainly used to transport natural gas from extraction sites or treatment plants to urban distribution centres, industrial users or residential areas, and is the core method of large-scale transportation of natural gas on land.
2. Classification and Function
Gas transmission pipeline: connecting gas fields and urban gate stations, responsible for inter-regional high-pressure transport (e.g. China-Russia East Line, West-East Gas Transmission Project);
Gathering pipeline: gathering natural gas from multiple wells to a treatment plant for initial purification and pressurisation;
Distribution pipeline: branching from the city regulator to end-users, usually low-pressure pipeline network (e.g., exposed pipeline on the outside wall of the neighbourhood).
3. Materials and structure
Steel pipe: including seamless steel pipe (small calibre) and spiral welded pipe (large calibre), suitable for high-pressure scenarios, but anti-corrosion treatment is required;
Polyethylene (PE) pipes: used in low-pressure gas distribution systems, corrosion-resistant and easy to install.
4. Technical features
Safe design: Exposed gas distribution pipeline for easy leakage detection and maintenance, while adding an odourising agent (tetrahydrothiophene) to enhance the early warning capability;
Pressure-resistant grade: High-pressure gas pipelines need to meet the yield strength standard of ≥415MPa (e.g. L415/X60 grade steel).
Summary: Natural gas pipelines realise efficient energy distribution through a hierarchical network of high-pressure transmission and low-pressure distribution, and their material selection and structural design take into account both safety and economy, supporting the efficient operation of the global energy transmission system.
