Gazprom Research Articles

Demand Matrix for Information, Measuring, and Control System for the Diagnostics and Safety of Gazprom Gas Distribution Stations

We consider the salient aspects of unification of the diagnostic parameters necessary for optimally managing the development of the OAO Gazprom system of gas distribution stations now functioning or being overhauled.

Comparison of the Results of Natural Gas Flow Measurements in Compliance with Russian and ISO Standards

The results of measurements of natural gas flow rates in compliance with ISO/FDIS 5167-1/..4-2002(E) and GOST 8.563-97 are compared. An analysis is made on the basis of raw data typical of the operation of OAO Gazprom gas measuring stations. Control examples for corner and flange tapping of the preferential pressure across an orifice plate are given for circular-section conduits 400 and 500 mm in diameter.

Effect of heating and power plants on the environment

The OAO Gazprom has proposed that the consumption of natural gas by heating and power plants in Russia be decreased by 30 billion m3 per year and that this volume of gas be replaced by coal. Data on the environmental effects and effects on human health resulting from enterprises in the coal industry and heating and power plants burning coal and natural gas are analyzed. The volume of emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere when 30 billion m3 of gas are replaced at heating and power plants by kansko-achinsk and hard kuznets coal is calculated (for three variants). The calculations show that decreasing the amount of gas burned by heating and power plants and increasing at the same time the consumption of coal results in a substantial increase in harmful emissions into the environment.

TRACE wins YAK 42 VIP completion for GAZPROM

TRACE wins YAK 42 VIP completion for GAZPROM

Russian natural gas policy and its possible effects on European gas markets

There is a growing perception among Western European gas experts that Russia has developed a considerable gas surplus — the Russian gas bubble. Thus, the question clearly arises how much gas is available for export and how much gas, over the next 15 to 20 years, can the Russian quasi-monopolist Gazprom market in Western Europe. We consider that Gazprom's export strategy mirrors the approach of Russia's natural gas policy towards the Western European market. In this paper, we will focus on the characteristics of Gazprom's export strategy, its underlying logic, and its impact on Western European gas markets. A quantitative approach to managing natural gas flows characterizes Russian natural gas policy towards domestic as well as foreign markets. The Russian government's way of managing and regulating Gazprom clearly has an influence on the company's export strategy, as indicated by the importance of gas exports for the Russian gas industry's, and indeed the whole country's, financial situation. As a consequence of Gazprom's export strategy, the Russian gas company faces today a price quantity dilemma. Gazprom's problem is to place as much gas as possible in the growing Western European gas market, without destroying downstream gas prices. We argue that Gazprom has adopted a market share expansion and downstream vertical integration strategy, aimed at capturing a part of the downstream gas rent. Although this strategy appears to have initiated a form of gas to gas competition in a number of European consumer markets, this strategy is not based on an aggressive price policy. However, in order to live up to its ambitions, there is a chance that Gazprom will have to somewhat relax traditional contract clauses, such as contract length, indexation terms and take or pay conditions.