Transmission Pipeline Network Research Articles

Reliability-based maintenance optimization of long-distance oil and gas transmission pipeline networks

This paper presents a maintenance model for optimal planning of pipeline network inspections subjected to corrosion and residual stress. The proposed model includes predictive degradation modeling, spatio-temporal reliability, and expected cost minimization. The pipeline networks are formed by linear segments and irregular zones such as elbows, weld joints, and flanges for putting pipes together and changing the direction of gas or liquid flow. The mean of Karhunen-Loève expansion is used to model space-variant corrosion, residual stress, and stochastic dependency in different exposure zones. Monte Carlo simulations are employed to compute the failure probability of individual components. Subsequently, a Bayesian network evaluates the failure probability of the complex pipeline network and identifies the most critical components. Depending on the objective or market demand uncertainties, a cost model is also proposed to optimize the inspection policy. The methodology is applied to a case study, and the results show that it can provide valuable insights to decision-makers to enhance complex systems' safety and reliability.

The hydrogen perspective for Türkiye, which is on the Asia-Europe energy transition route. Can Türkiye become hydrogen hub?

This study examines the potential for hydrogen to undertake a leading role in the transition to sustainable energy in Türkiye. Türkiye, with its well-established energy infrastructure and increasing focus on renewable energy, has the potential to undertake a significant part in the worldwide hydrogen market. The research uses a multi-level perspective to analyse the interactions between different region connected with Türkiye, and the processes and strategies within the national energy system. The findings suggest that hydrogen production and transport in Türkiye has the potential to significantly contribute to the decarbonization of the industry and flexibility services in Asia, Europe and Africa. However, the ongoing advancement in the field of hydrogen in Türkiye is at a critical juncture where coordinated efforts are necessary to fully realize its potential. Türkiye recently announced the Hydrogen Technologies Strategy and Roadmap. Under the new Hydrogen Technologies Strategy and Roadmap, Türkiye plans to significantly increase the production of hydrogen. Türkiye plans to significantly increase its installed electrolyser capacity to support the production of hydrogen. Specifically, the plan aims to increase the installed capacity to 2 GW by 2030, 5 GW by 2035, and 70 GW by 2050. Turkey's strategic investments and policy adjustments could propel its green hydrogen production to 3.4 million tons yearly by 2050. With an anticipated domestic demand for hydrogen at 1.9 million tons annually, Turkey could potentially export between 1.5 and 1.9 million tons yearly by 2050. Türkiye boasts an extensive network of transmission and distribution pipelines for natural gas, totalling 10,000 km, including those with large diameters. The existing pipelines could transport hydrogen in its pure form or blended with natural gas. The natural gas pipeline capacity in Turkey stands at 32 billion cubic meters. This infrastructure enables the transportation of an estimated 575 million tons of hydrogen yearly to neighboring countries by employing a mix of 20 % hydrogen and natural gas. With an extensive network of natural gas transmission and distribution pipelines, Turkey positions itself as an integral part of the interconnected hydrogen energy infrastructure, linking the nation with Europe and neighboring regions. The results of this study present new approaches into the dynamics of the energy system and contribute to ongoing discussions about transition routes and consider the current status of hydrogen in Türkiye, the country's renewable energy potential, the policy and regulatory framework, and the infrastructure and market conditions necessary in order to foster the growth of a hydrogen hub.

EVALUASI KINERJA JARINGAN PIPA TRANSMISI MATA AIR PEBINI KECAMATAN KINTAMANI KABUPATEN BANGLI

The existing transmission pipeline network in Kintamani District, especially in the RV-II Reservoir in Catur Village to the RV-III Reservoir in Belantih Village, often experiences disruption due to leaks. The existing transmission pipe has a diameter of 12 inches and is of the Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) type. The current condition of the existing transmission pipe has been repaired several times due to leakage problems and the age of the pipe can be categorized as old. This research is to determine the condition of the existing transmission pipe network and find solutions to overcome problems in the leaking transmission pipe network. So that the water discharge pumped to RV-III Belantih Village can be maintained at 60 l/sec. Hydraulic analysis of pipe networks using the Epanet program. Based on primary data, the total pipe length from RV-II Catur Village to RV-III Belantih Village is 5,050 m. However, the plan to replace the existing transmission pipe is only 1,200 m long. Based on the results of the analysis of population growth in Catur Village and Belantih Village, the calculation results show that it is 0.0127% per year. The service distribution network to Catur Village and Belantih Village of 18.75 l/s is only able to meet the population's water needs until 2036. Simulation using the Epanet program, at nodes RP2.16 to RP2.40, the Ø10 inch PVC pipe design has a maximum pressure of 8,857 bar while the existing Ø12 inch PVC pipe has a maximum pressure of 9.3 bar. The simulated flow discharge for 24 hours is constant at 60 l/s resulting in a flow velocity of 1.22 m/s. Replacing pipes using Ø 10 inch PVC pipes is safer and more cost effective.

A Pragmatic Approach to the Economic Assessment of Green Synthetic Methane Power in the Baltics

The synthesis of methane from hydrogen and carbon dioxide creates an energy resource that is suitable for long-term storage. Once this process is powered by renewable electricity, it produces a clean fuel for producing electricity and heat and supports large-scale renewable energy deployment, energy transition and climate change mitigation. This paper proposes a pragmatic approach to assessing the economic potential of synthetic methane-based power. Today, natural gas plays an important role in the Baltic region due to the existing infrastructure, which includes a transmission and distribution pipeline network, gas power plants and a large underground storage reservoir. Replacing natural gas with synthetic methane would fulfil carbon emission reduction ambitions. In this paper, we simulate electricity producers’ actions at market conditions and consider the generation portfolio in the Baltics and the interconnections with Scandinavia and Poland operating in the NORDPOOL electricity market. As a result of these calculations, we obtain the volume of the synthetic gas, the production costs, the volume of gas storage, the installed capacity of the gas power plant, and the investments required to ensure energy transition and system adequacy. These results are essential for the informed decisions made by policymakers, investors and system operators.

Performance Analysis of Deep Learning Implementation in Operational Condition Forecasting of a Gas Transmission Pipeline Network

Monitoring natural gas transmission in a pipeline network is important to maintain the supply and demand balance in natural gas transactions and distribution. Gas pressure, temperature, flowrate, and gas properties must be monitored during the transmission process. These variables, also known as operational conditions, need to be simulated carefully to understand the dynamics and behavior over time. Commonly used physical equations, such as thermodynamic or hydraulic equations, have limitations in simulating future trends because they need some known boundary conditions to be solved. In that case, data-driven method is needed, especially nowadays when data management is widely implemented. This paper implements a deep Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) to forecast the future behavior of gas pressure as an operational condition in a gas pipeline network receiving platform. Different types of recurrent cells are used, i.e., Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) and Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU). The model is trained in 8 years of a gas pipeline network operational data. Historical flowrate data in the end-nodes become the forecast input in addition to the past pressure data. The sensitivity of the model and learning parameters is experimented with and analyzed to understand the capacity of the RNN in the given task. Mean absolute error is set as the satisficing metric, whereas the training time is set as optimizing metrics. The obtained best model successfully forecasts the future pressure of one day ahead with only around 2% relative error.

Cenozoic Sedimentary Characteristics of the East China Sea Shelf Basin and an Evaluation of the Suitability of Geological Storage of Carbon Dioxide in the Saline Water Layer

Carbon sequestration in the sea area, with the advantages of high storage potential, high safety, low environmental impact, and a long storage period, serves as an important way to achieve the goals of “carbon peaking and carbon neutrality”. The East China Sea Shelf Basin has a large area, and the target layer of carbon storage has a large thickness and wide distribution. Due to the high tectonic stability of the basin and the absence of earthquakes of magnitude 7 or higher, the basin is a subcooled–subthermal basin in terms of geothermal field characteristics. In addition, the basin has a high degree of oil and gas exploration and development, some of the reservoirs are in production depletion, the oil and gas transmission pipeline network is well developed, and the development engineering data are informative. Therefore, it enjoys the characteristics of shallow seawater depth; being close to the surrounding industrial areas; and having a short transmission distance, large effective space, and mature engineering conditions. Among the oil-and-gas-bearing basins in China’s waters, the suitability of carbon dioxide (CO2) geological storage in the saline water layer of the East China Sea Shelf Basin is highly suitable. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is used to comprehensively evaluate the suitability of CO2 geological storage in the saline water layer of each tectonic unit in the basin, and it is concluded that Taipei Depression and Zhedong Depression are highly suitable zones, Changjiang Depression and Haijiao Uplift are moderately suitable zones, and Yushan East Uplift, Hupijiao Uplift, and Pengjiayu Depression are generally suitable zones.

Research on transient composition tracking in natural gas condensate pipeline networks

Offshore pipelines are hailed as the “lifeline” of an offshore oil and gas production system and are essential for offshore oil and gas development. Component tracing technologies for the oil and gas multiphase transmission pipeline networks need to be urgently developed to predict the fluid composition changes in pipeline networks. Instead of assuming the fluid components are constant, we consider they varied with flow. The component conservation equations and a phase change model are established. The equation of state of the fluid is adopted to determine the equilibrium state of each component in real time. Considering the macroscopic flow calculation, microscopic fluid components, and phase equilibrium, the component tracking algorithm is established for natural gas condensate pipeline networks, which can dynamically track the fluid composition in pipeline networks and calculate the phase exchange amount and related flow parameters in real time. Three case studies are performed to verify the effectiveness of the algorithm. These findings are of great practical significance for understanding the gas–liquid two-phase flow in pipeline networks, promoting further engineering applications of component tracking on pipeline networks.

Hydrogen transport in large-scale transmission pipeline networks: Thermodynamic and environmental assessment of repurposed and new pipeline configurations

One key strategy to achieve global climate targets is implementing climate-friendly hydrogen as a versatile energy carrier, commodity, and feedstock in the most energy-intensive sectors. Transmission pipeline networks are suited particularly for connecting primary hydrogen producers and consumers over medium distances to meet the future hydrogen demand in regions that strongly rely on energy imports. Nonetheless, the development and operation of large-scale hydrogen pipeline networks may have various yet unknown impacts on the environment. This work investigates the energetic efficiency and the environmental performance of hydrogen transport via pipeline by means of thermodynamic analysis and life cycle assessment. Pertinent technical specifications for large-scale hydrogen pipeline networks were derived based on the current design of state-of-the-art hydrogen pipelines and compressor stations. Since the energy-efficient operation of the pipeline network is essential for a climate-friendly hydrogen transport, thermodynamic analyses were performed to determine the resulting energy demand. Depending on the impact category considered, there are advantages and trade-offs in aiming for an energy-efficient as well as environmentally friendly hydrogen transport solution. The most decisive parameters to reach these aims are the condition of the line pipe’s inner layer, the applied load capacity, as well as the compression ratios, -stages and -positioning. By varying these parameters and considering multiple transport variants, we recommend three measures for the design and operation of new or repurposed hydrogen pipelines: 1) Installing new smooth line pipes or cleaning existing ones to minimize the roughness of the inner surface; 2) Moderately reducing the load capacity, and 3) Shortening the transport intervals by installing intermediate compressor stations. Ultimately, reducing pressure losses within the pipeline system is crucial for ensuring an energetically efficient as well as environmentally friendly hydrogen transmission via large-scale pipeline networks.

The potential risk to public safety posed by the economic regulation of gas infrastructure

Studies into the causes of major disasters have emphasized the extent to which cost cutting by senior management has contributed to the potential for accidents in the medium to long-term. Setting budgets for safety expenditure is considered an internal company matter with the required spending level meeting, at a minimum, regulatory requirements for safety. For companies also subject to pricing regulation (such as monopoly natural gas suppliers), economic regulation—seeking to emulate the price pressures of competition— requires that all expenditure, even that related to safety, must be deemed as ‘efficient’.Drawing on 49 stakeholder interviews, document review and case studies, this research—focusing on the Australian gas transmission pipeline and distribution network (infrastructure) sector—considers the extent to which economic regulation influences safety expenditure and thus potential long-term public safety outcomes. The economic regulatory submission, prepared by regulated gas companies, can be conceived as a boundary object that mediates the social worlds of the economic regulator and the regulated company. Such a conceptualization reveals differing orientations towards safety expenditure and what this means for the public good. We argue the Australian economic regulatory framework, as currently enacted for the natural gas sector, is significant for the management of public safety risk. We conclude that minimizing risk to the public from a major gas transmission pipeline or distribution network failure would be better served by the economic regulatory regime considering safety-related expenditure separately from all other expenditure categories, and that consideration should be informed by the technical safety regulator’s view. The findings of this research will be of interest to jurisdictions around the world where economic and safety regulatory regimes intersect.

Analisis Ketersediaan Air Waduk Gadjah Mungkur dengan Adanya Pembangunan Intake dan Jaringan Pipa Trasmisi Wosusokas

Gadjah Mungkur Reservoir is one of the multipurpose reservoirs built by damming the flow of the Bengawan Solo River. The Gadjah Mungkur Reservoir has existed for a long time with the main purpose of controlling flooding, but over time, this reservoir is also useful as a hydropower plant, irrigation, and also to meet the raw water needs of Wonogiri City. The potential of the Gadjah Mungkur Reservoir itself in meeting the needs of drinking water is an essential function in the people’s life around the reservoir. Therefore, the expansion of the scope of providing drinking water can be used to develop the potential of the Gadjah Mungkur Reservoir. This coverage expansion was realized through the construction of the Wosusokas intake and transmission pipeline network to drinking water receiving areas, namely Wonogiri, Sukoharjo, Solo, and Karanganyar, with service coverage of drinking water access resepectively ±78,38, ±70,97%, ±81,85%, and ±70,97%. This study aims to analyze the water availability of the Gadjah Mungkur Reservoir with additional coverage for drinking water services. The method used is a simple reservoir routing calculation by processing secondary data obtained in the form of inflow, outflow, and reservoir storage characteristics. The results of the analysis show that elevation variations with the construction of the Wosusokas intake and transmission pipeline have an annual average of +132,56 m in 2017, with a reservoir storage volume reaching 216,27 MCM and +134,29 m in 2018, with a reservoir storage volume reaching 284,92 MCM. However, there are some elevation values that exceed +138,0 m, namely at February to March 2018. However, overall, the results of the analysis show that the Wosusokas construction can increase the potential utilization of the Gadjah Mungkur Reservoir without endangering the reservoir with water level fluctuations that can still be controlled and in accordance with the regulation of reservoir water level.

Dynamic Simulation of Natural Gas Transmission Pipeline Systems through Autoregressive Neural Networks

Transmission of natural gas from its sources to end users in various geographical locations is carried out mostly by natural gas transmission pipeline networks (NGTNs). Effective design and operati...

The role of the hydrocarbon transmission system towards achieving the status of energy superpower in the 21st century

This article aims to introduce the energy policy program assumptions of the Russian Federation. An analysis led to the conclusion that the Russian Federation avails the network of hydrocarbon transmission pipelines to obtain an energy superpower status. The transformation of the energy sector is not restricted to measures aimed at increasing efficiency. It similarly plays a vital role in building the state's potential. More so, it co-creates the crucial instruments of international influence. Through building the network of pipelines, the Kremlin consistently attains its geopolitical aim of being an important player in the international arena. Ineffective endeavours to get out of the Russian domination in that area has allowed Russia to maintain its infrastructure monopoly and dominance of Russian gas on the markets of Central and Eastern Europe.

Modular approach for optimal pipeline layout

Oil and gas production systems are getting deeper, more complex, and far away offshore where energy companies are targeting further resources. These complexities are transforming the problem of field layout design optimization into a much more pressing need. Considering the various pipeline design and layout constraints and associated investment costs, planning and development of production gathering and transmission pipeline networks for oil and gas fields is gaining further importance in field development planning. The optimization of transmission and gathering pipeline networks is conducted to accommodate the encountered topological complexities and significantly reduce total investment cost for the corresponding fields. Although many optimization schemes are developed and widely available in literature, these methods are either prohibitively slow with exhaustive search required, or they don't account for the various topological complexities typically encountered in real scenarios. Thus, the deficiency associated to these optimization schemes becomes drastically more limiting in the case of a concept-select phase of field development planning where many scenarios need to be assessed in a relatively short timeframe.In this study, the optimal shortest path A* algorithm is introduced to the field of pipeline placement optimization. A* is successfully used in other applications such as unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and robots motion planning. A benchmark comparison is presented with the Dijkstra algorithm; another algorithm that assures optimal shortest path solution that was recently introduced into this field. This comparison is performed on a varied set of pipeline layout scenarios accounting for different topological complexities and dynamic conditions. The conducted tests show the superiority of the A* algorithm in terms of accounting for the application heuristics and assuring an optimal and efficient solution.

Study Correlates Hydrate Blockage Risk and Gas/Liquid Flow Pattern In Horizontal Pipelines

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Judy Feder, contains highlights of paper Paper SPE 197534, “Study on the Correlation Between Hydrate Formation-Blockage Risk and Gas/Liquid Flow Pattern in Horizontal Pipelines,” by Wenyuan Liu, Jinqiu Hu, and Fengrui Sun, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, et al., prepared for the 2019 Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference, Abu Dhabi, 9–12 November. The paper has not been peer reviewed. Current research into the risk of hydrate formation and blockage in pipelines is limited to prediction of hydrate formation. However, hydrate generation often does not lead to flow barriers. Hydrate growth and deposition rates are important to hydrate generation as a blockage risk. To help solve the problem of flow assurance in horizontal gas/liquid pipelines, this paper analyzes the risk of hydrate formation and blockage, aiming at various gas/liquid flow patterns and considering the phase distribution and interface distribution characteristics of different flow patterns. Introduction Hydrate blockage risk in transportation pipelines is one of the most important topics in the study of flow assurance. Large-scale natural gas development, for example, requires construction of large-scale gathering and transmission pipeline networks. Natural gas is often transported by horizontal or small inclined pipelines, and water generation and flow are often present in natural gas pipelines, which undoubtedly increases the risk of hydrate formation and blockage. When gas and water exist at the same time, there will often be a variety of gas/liquid flow patterns in pipelines, and different flow patterns will have different risk of hydrate formation and blockage. To avoid hydrate risk, it is necessary to study the correlation between hydrate generation blockage risk and gas/liquid flow pattern. Research of Hydrate Growth and Deposition Based on the hydrate formation-growth-deposition mechanism and combined with the hydrate experiment in the flow loop, the characteristics of hydrate formation-growth-deposition in pipe-lines under different gas/liquid flow patterns was studied. The results show that different flow patterns yield different hydrate formation and deposition characteristics as a result of different phase and interface distributions. The bubble flow, cluster flow, and slug flow have some similarities in flow patterns. The gas phase in the flow system exists in the form of bubbles, and the occurrence of thin liquid film on the tube wall under these three flow patterns is relatively rare. Accordingly, the similarity of laminar flow, wave flow, and annular-mist flow shows that thin liquid film or gas/liquid pipe wall three-phase interface will always appear in the flow process. Thus, the hydrate formation and deposition risk of the latter three flow patterns is significantly greater than that of the former three. Comprehensive analysis shows that the hydrate risk of each flow pattern is in the order of, with greatest risk first, annular-mist flow, laminar flow and wave flow, slug flow, cluster flow, and bubble flow. The annular-mist flow is the most dangerous flow pattern for hydrate formation and blockage. In this case, special attention should be paid to hydrate prevention and control. The complete paper presents a detailed historical discussion of correct division of flow pattern and of research on hydrate growth models. Researchers have established a series of hydrate-growth kinetics models combined with crystallography, heat transfer, mass transfer, and other principles. Recent models established a hydrate growth model based on heat transfer.

Assessment of Black Powder Concentrations in Natural Gas Pipeline Networks

Natural gas transmission pipeline networks are facing serious issues related to the solid particles deposition that is called black powder (BP). The creation of BP inside natural gas pipeline is not completely understood, but it mainly results from the pipelines inner walls corrosion, which is a complex chemical reaction between the natural gas and pipelines. Moreover, the exact BP generation time, amount, and location are still vague. This work aims to reduce the effect of BP by estimating BP concentrations in natural gas networks. This will significantly help natural gas pipeline networks operators to plan more effective maintenance schedules. This work takes into account the industrial need for simple, fast, and accurate techniques for estimating BP concentration in natural gas pipeline networks. The proposed BP estimation technique is based on a lookup table (LT) which is constructed from a one-dimensional model of BP deposition and transport. This technique eliminates the need for extensive computational efforts and long estimation times that are necessary for other optimization-based BP estimation techniques. The proposed LT-based BP estimation technique is validated and compared to other BP estimation techniques using simulation studies. The results of the proposed BP estimation technique show that it is promising and has potentials for application in existing and future natural gas networks.

Dynamic Simulation Model for Gas Transmission Pipeline Network System

The dynamic simulation calculation of gas pipeline network is complicated. Usually, for each pipeline, energy conservation, mass conservation and momentum conservation are used to establish the non-linear equations[1-2]. For some complex pipeline network flow with multiple entries and outlets, the calculation is very slow, and cannot achieve real-time calculation. This study presents a new method for calculating the pressure between pipelines by assuming that the pipeline is a single vessel, calculating the flow rate between the pipelines by the pressure difference between the pipelines, and then using the flow rate as the intermediate coupling relationship to calculate pipe pressure. This method is simple, fast, with few boundary limitations, which can assist the design and operation verification of complex pipeline networks.

Dynamic Simulation Model for Gas Transmission Pipeline Network System

Dynamic Simulation Model for Gas Transmission Pipeline Network System

Optimization of city gas network: a case study from Gujarat, India

A natural gas flow network consists of city gate station, district regulator, pipelines, compressors and valves. The performance of such a complex system cannot be studied by analysing individual constituents. Simultaneous performance of integrated system can be expressed using non-linear equations to simulate and forecast operational behaviour. The operational behaviour is subject to various alternative operational conditions also. Nodal analysis is performed to calculate the flow capacity of each network segment and the pressure at each node. Two conditions are evaluated, namely, keeping flow capacity unknown or by making nodal pressure primary unknown. The resulting set of governing equations are then solved simultaneously. Genetic algorithm method is applied to solve the desired target unknown. Compressor governs the energy supply required to transport gas from one end to another. The compressor equation is also incorporated in city gas network simulation. The simulations are performed by straight gas ducts and complex gas ducts. Boundary conditions are dependent on the form in which gas duct is fed. It is assumed that the gas duct takes gas from City Gate Station at x = 0 and supplies the gas to a consumer located at x = L according to a time variable curve demand Qn (L, t). The capacity of the compressor is also changed and it is observed that the demand is usually periodic in nature. Flow demand at individual node of a gas pipeline network is calculated. Pressures at various nodes are also calculated and matched with original pressure at nodes. Percentage deviation error suggest a range between 0 and 1.02%. The aim of this paper is to optimise certain parameters of a gas transmission pipeline network namely flow rate, mass, cost and pressure. This optimization is performed to gas transmission pipeline network of Gandhinagar, district, where Gujarat State Petronet Limited (GSPL) and Sabarmati Gas Limited (SGL) are the major players. The network which has been chosen for pipeline network consists of 10 CNG stations and 10 DRS.

Application of Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm for Black Powder (BP) source identification in gas pipeline network based on 1-D model

Black Powder (BP) is a worldwide challenge that spans all stages of the natural gas industry from the producing wells to the consuming points. It can endanger the pipeline operations, damage instruments and contaminate customer supplies. The formation of BP inside natural gas pipeline mainly results from the corrosion of internal walls of the pipeline, which is a complex chemical reaction. This work aims to develop a novel algorithm for BP source identification within gas pipelines network based on a 1-D model of BP transport and deposition. The optimization algorithm for BP source identification is developed based on the well-known Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm, which can solve constrained optimization problems. By applying this optimization algorithm on the gas transmission pipeline network, the BP source at different junctions could be identified and quantified simultaneously. Extensive simulation studies are conducted to validate the effectivity of the optimization algorithm.

Optimal Operation of a Multi Source Multi Delivery Natural Gas Transmission Pipeline Network

Abstract Transportation of natural gas from gathering station to consumption centers is done through complex gas pipeline network system. The huge cost involved in transporting natural gas has made pipeline optimization of increased interest in natural gas pipeline industries. In the present work a lesser known application of Ant Colony in pipeline optimization, has been implemented in a real gas pipeline network. The objective chosen is to minimize the fuel consumption in a gas pipeline network consisting of seven compressors. Pressures at forty-five nodes are chosen as the decision variables. Results of Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) have been compared with those of GAMS that utilizes ‘Generalized gradient principles’ for optimization. Our results utilizing ACO show significant improvement in fuel consumption reductions. Similar procedures can be adopted by researchers and pipeline managers to help pipeline operators in fixing up the pressures at different nodes so as the fuel consumption in compressors gets minimized.