The Vulnerabilities and Risks of Gas Networks

Why is risk important in gas networks? Is it important to think about the risks? In the first part of this section we will discuss why we consider risk in gas networks. The remainder of this section thoroughly explains all existing vulnerabilities and risks in gas networks.

Why Is Risk Investigation Important?

The material presented in this section has been mostly excerpted from a US federal commission [10]. Gas has a very complicated network and is the subject of much attention nowadays in the energy sector, which is why it is really important to con­sider the associated risks. These can be considered an important challenge for coun­tries, especially in the future. The reliability of gas networks has been affected by many factors, including the following:

• Gas has becomc very popular, giving rise to a competitive market in which equipment has been extensively used.

• The age of pipelines is an important matter. Pipes are usually exposed to failure risks because of leakage. In many countries, pipes are very old. creating an increasing risk of failure.

• Environmental considerations have becomc more crucial lately, and gas networks will be financially affected as they consider these issues. In fact, gas networks have already causcd considerable harm to the environment.

• Many countries are dependent on imported gas from other countries. This creates great risk when they do not know how reliable their supply may be for many reasons, including politics and the environment.

• The use of information technology (IT) has led to more efficient operations, but on the other hand it has caused major problems. The networks are increasingly exposed to cyber attacks. In addition, the commitment of employees has declined in recent years.

With the aforementioned reasons in mind, we now consider certain challenges that exist in all countries that need to be addressed and solved, including the following:

Reliable systems of delivery that can manage change must be developed.

The ncreasing complexity of the network must be managed well because it is interdepen­dent with other systems such as electrical systems.

Mainline systems must be protected against disturbances that can cause long-term problems in delivery.

Having the conditions in which the network can be seen as a whole, so the public and private sectors can experience helpful interactions.

Appropriate regulations and policies must be developed and applied to ensure reliable deliver)' of natural gas.