Application of systems engineering and information models to optimize operation of gas export systems

This paper presents the use of systems engineering in analysis and optimization of gas export system operation. The Norwegian dry gas export system is selected as the subject for the analysis. The gas export system at the Norwegian Continental Shelf is the largest offshore gas transport network in the world, and it consists of many components, such as pipelines, platforms, processing and exit terminals, and many routing possibilities. There are two important factors that a gas export system shall satisfy. First, the system shall secure that the customers receive the gas that they have ordered. Second, the system shall do this in as energy efficient way as possible, i.e., minimize operating costs and environmental emissions. For the operator of gas export systems it is of vital importance that equipments and pipelines in the system are optimally integrated. This will secure flexibility, capability, availability and energy efficiency of the system, and enhance understanding between different system operators. Operational experience shows that there is a substantial need to analyze the integration between the system components and the effects on optimum operation, energy consumption and environmental emissions. The objective of this work is to demonstrate how systems engineering and information models have been applied as tools for analyzing the integration in and overcoming the complexity of gas export systems and system operation, and further for developing models that optimize the energy efficiency of system operation. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Eng