GROWTH IN THE USE OF POLYETHYLENE PIPES IN MEA FOR NATURAL GAS UTILITY DISTRIBUTION
Sultan Alkendi, Mohamed Jaber, Ahed Atef Helal
# 2021 Amsterdam
The current push to reduce governmental energy subsidies has moved the need to adapt utility gas distribution networks toward the top of Middle Eastern governmental near-term agendas. Egypt is at the forefront of this push towards gasification. The United Arab Emirates has started on the path towards gasification with large-scale projects underway, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will be quick to follow. This has presented opportunities for the regional plastic pipe industry, as well as some challenges specific to the use of plastic pipes in the region.
The specification of colored pre-compounded pipes and fittings, manufactured using PE100+ listed materials for natural gas utility distribution in Emirate of Abu Dhabi by the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council, QCC, has greatly elevated the quality requirements of plastic pipes used in this gasification effort. The specification of PE100 and PE80 pipes and fittings for natural gas utility distribution networks will also help future growth in this industry regionally. National standards and specifications have not yet been put into place, utilities rely on international standards, including ISO, GIS, and industrial standards.
The major challenge faced by gas utilities when using plastic pipes, PE100, for natural gas utility distribution in the region is high ground temperatures. International standards define de-rating factors for elevated ground temperatures. As per Abu Dhabi National Oil Company for Distribution, ADNOC Distribution, specifications MOP is typically reduced to 4 barg (refer to Table 2) to maintain a design life time of 50 years [1]. This de-rating limits the operating pressures of gas distribution networks, therefore limiting the technical and economic value that plastic pipes can add to the utilities’ gas network.