Hassan Montazer Torbati, CEO of National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) says: "Gas transmission through pipeline remains attractive in the world and Iran's neighboring countries still have good capacity to receive natural gas via pipeline."

He added: "But LNG exports are envisaged for farther spots. Many international issues and sanctions have impacts on gas exports, but in the long-term we will have good conditions because the Europeans are now assured about Iran's gas exports stability."

Montazer Torbati said Iran had been sustainably exporting gas to Turkey despite pressures.

Gas Grid Can Handle Any Volume

Iran's gas transmission network is currently ready to handle any volume of gas treated at gas treatment facilities. Of course, increasing the amount of refined natural gas requires expansion of gas transmission lines and gas compressor stations. Therefore, based on plans envisaged for the gas industry, the length of high-pressure gas pipelines will exceed 64,000 kilometers from the current 37,000 kilometers. Based on forecasts, the number of gas compressor stations will increase from 80 to 140. That would place Iran in the rank of countries with the most expanded gas transmission networks in the world.

Iran with more than 37,000 km of high-pressure pipeline intends to operate new projects in order to maintain its fourth position in the world in terms of the extent of gas distribution.

At the time of 1979 Islamic Revolution victory, the gas industry was 13 years old. By that time, Iran had only one pipeline for exporting gas. It was IGAT1 which carried gas to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Iran's gas supply owes eighty percent of its volume to Iran's Minister of Petroleum Bijan Zangeneh who had already served as Minister of Petroleum for eight years from 1997 to 2005.

Iran's gas transmission industry with more than half a century of history in the energy sector is currently the most significant supplier of energy in the country. This position was hardly imaginable when NIGC was established five decades ago. But strategic and macro planning by the Petroleum Ministry and NIGC senior officials on one hand and daily growing demand for gas to supply national energy needs, earn the country revenue from gas exports for investment and operating infrastructure industries on the other, paved the ground for the fast and structural development of the gas industry.

According to BP's annual statistics review of 2017, Iran sits atop 33.2 tcm of gas, coming second behind Russia. Iran holds 17.2% of the world's total gas reserves. Qatar and Turkmenistan trail behind.

Iran is producing 223.9 bcm/y of gas, standing third behind the United States and Russia. Therefore, Iran holds a 6.1% share in global gas production.

Iran Unrivalled in Mideast

Transmission of natural gas from reservoirs and refineries to consumers is of high significance. Iran's gas transmission network is handled by IGAT1-IGAT10. IGAT11 has been built and is about to come on-stream. Gas compressors are installed throughout the trunklines.

Iran's 38,000-km pipeline, fitted with 81 gas compressors, is able to carry more than 800 mcm/d of gas.

Until the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran had only 2,900 km of pipeline. But under Iran's 20-year Vision Plan, the country should have 70,000 km. Before the Revolution, Iran had only 14 gas compressors, which is now 81 and would go to 140 under the Vision Plan.

Saeed Tavakoli, CEO of the "Iranian Gas Transmission Company" (IGTC), said there is currently over 36,829km of high-pressure gas pipeline in the country. He added that by using 82 gas compressors, 240 bcm of gas was transmitted across Iran in the last calendar year to March.

Also in the last calendar year, 5,740km of cleaning pigging as well as 7,457 km of smart pig-running was done.

Other measures undertaken in gas transmission in the last calendar year were: reducing gas waste in Iran's gas grid by 6%, formulating the package of outsourcing the Safa Shahr 4 gas compressor installations, successful overhaul of ZORYA DJ 59 turbine for the first time, relying on IGTC manpower and saving IRR 46 billion, carrying out research project to improve technology for producing injection current anodes with a view to upgrading resistance to corrosion, level of corrosion, mechanical properties, joint failure and current density with a view to increasing the lifetime of pipelines at IGTC, producing compressor to be used in INGROSOLL-RAND air compressors of IGTC at industrial scale, signature of MOU between IGTC and the "Iranian Spatial Agency" for communication services and meeting industrial communications' needs of Iran.

In January, Iran transmitted 761 mcm/d of gas, which was a new record for Iran's gas industry.

Chief among the major plans pursued by Iran's gas transmission industry in the current calendar year are: removing blowdown valve leaks, studying new methods of pigging pipes after manufacturing, examining the recent flooding problems and finding solutions, studying international standards and experience with regard to access to pipes, gas quantity management, upgrading energy and carbon management, upgrading project management and engineering, improving risk management, carrying out renovation projects and development of strategic companies.

Techno-Engineering Service Exports

Iran is currently exporting technical and engineering services to neighboring countries thanks to its   domestic experts' potentiality. This achievement was made through the Iranian gas industry's planning and all-out support for the private sector during years of tough sanctions.

The Self-Sufficiency Committee of IGTC was recently established, while a self-sufficiency code of conduct was drawn up to outline the procedure of self-sufficiency through using domestically manufactured products in the gas transmission industry through domestic companies, as well as parks of science and technology.

The issue of self-sufficiency is very important in drawn up strategies for Iran's gas transmission. The establishment of specialized working groups at the Self-Sufficiency Committee of IGTC in recent years bears proof to this fact.

Ever since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran's gas industry has been seeking to free itself from dependence in infrastructure industries, save hard currency, reach self-reliance, develop sector-wise, and pursue designs based on needs. To that end, it has taken big strides to reach self-sufficiency in the manufacturing of commodities and items needed in the gas industry. Upgrading quality to meet national and international standards, using domestic potentialities to maximum level, timely delivery and finally proper price, have topped the agenda of Iran's gas industry. At present, many items needed in the gas industry are designed and manufactured by domestic manufacturers.

In the gas supply sector which involves the urban network and pressure decompressors, more than 400 items of commodities are used. More than 98% of these items including pipes, steel and polyethylene joints, valves, gas meters and regulators are manufactured domestically. In the gas transmission sector, more than 500 items of products are used. More than 90% of these items are domestically manufactured.

In the refinery equipment sector, most metallic equipment and pressurized tanks equipment like scrubber and separator, as well as tower equipment and chemicals, humidity absorbents and catalysts of some refineries have been domestically manufactured.

Regarding support for domestic manufacturers, IGTC has moved to identify such companies and/or individuals and adopted incentives, offered intellectual thinking and reduced bureaucracy, provided them with necessary information, established close contacts between manufacturers and researchers in the gas industry and encouraged investors to support knowledge-based companies.

Designing gas turbines, smart pig, domestic manufacturing of turbine control systems, DCS control system  of refineries, turboexpander control system, turboexpander designing and manufacturing, compressor gearbox, flame and gas detection sensors, covering nanofluid, and quake-sensitive valves are just examples of NIGC achievements in supporting domestically manufactured equipment.

4,000km Gas Pipeline in 6 Years

Based on the current instructions for Iran's gas transmission industry, 580km of gas transmission lines is to become operational in the current calendar year while 4,100km is planned up to 2025.

In the gas transmission line, 850km of pipes is being built; 2,000km will be outsourced while 200km of pipes would be produced in the current year.

Implementing 41,00km of gas transmission line, 300,000 square meters of administrative complexes, more than 20 pressure facilities, five main refining units and 100,000 square meters of production centers are among the major plans for "Gas Engineering and Development Company" up to 2025. Gas transmission safety index reached 100% last January, when Iran was transmitting 761 mcm/d of gas.

Iran has 294 turbocompressors in its gas transmission network, which are all being maintained without assistance of any foreign company. The turbocompressors are operating without any problem. Every category of oil used by IGTC has been domestically manufactured thanks to confidence in the private sector.

Courtesy of Iran Petroleum