Optimizing Natural Gas Pipeline Operation

Flowing of natural gas in the pipeline needs the compressors to offer the energy to overcome the friction resistance of the pipeline. The empirical operation data indicate that the compressors consume about 3%~5% of the transported gas. This transportation cost is significant because the amount of gas being transported is huge. This makes the problem of minimization the fuel cost for the gas pipeline significantly important. This article reviews the current state of the art in optimization of pipeline operation and discusses how to choose the object function and considers constraint conditions to model the pipeline system. Finally, several ways to solve the problem are presented. Integrating the current development trend some ideas and suggestion are given.