24/040 - High Volume Gas Escape Tool

Description du marché

GNI has a target for reducing Unintentional Emissions of Natural Gas from equipment by 50 percent by 2030. To align with this goal, there is a focus on treating High Volume Gas Escapes (HVGEs) on distribution mains. Approximately 85-100 third party strikes occur on distribution mains annually, normally caused by excavators. This damage contributes significantly to the overall methane emissions from the GNI network. The purpose of this project is to develop tools that can be deployed quickly and efficiently to the site of a gas escape and bring that gas escape safely under control to prevent further emissions. The High Volume Gas Escape tools will be suitable for gas pipelines operating up to 4 bar pressure, on a polyethylene network and will be deployed from a position remote from the damaged main (outside of the trench). It will allow for a gas escape to be significantly curtailed on the main in a time efficient manner (under 1 hour) whilst allowing flow through the pipeline. The main types of damage are top tee strikes and tears occurring on the top exposed quadrant of the pipeline, the rest of which remains buried. The project must develop the tools and complete a field trial in a live natural gas environment. The High-Volume Gas Escape tool must minimise the volume of gas that escapes into the atmosphere and contribute to GNIs net zero emissions ambition. The tool must be able to be deployed and operated safely in a natural gas atmosphere without risk of ignition (ATEX compliant). The tool must be compliant with Hydrogen and Hydrogen - Natural gas blend.

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