Reliable instrumental metering of natural gas is the key to Ukraine’s energy independence

Abstract

By virtue of geographical and historic factors, Ukraine has been playing an important role in oil and natural gas deliveries to European energy markets. Such status is basically attributed to the fact that West and Central European countries, while being rather big consumers of natural hydrocarbons, have shortage in their own energy resources. On the other hand, major natural gas and oil reserves are concentrated in the Russian Federation, Caspian region and the Gulf area. Currently Ukraine has become a major juncture in the transit of gas and oil from Russia and Kazakhstan to European markets. The expected increase in consumption of natural hydrocarbon resources, as well as their uneven distribution make Ukraine, owing to its suitable geographical location and the developed gas and oil network, an “energy bridge” between the exporting countries and consumers in the industrialized Europe. In the article the author considers the modern gas supply system of Ukraine. The author carried out a study on the technical feasibility of calibration of flow meters on the environment of natural gas under pressure. Currently in Ukraine calibration is performed only in the air. This does not make it possible to reduce the error in the instrumentation of natural gas. Given the volume of natural gas consumption in the country (about 20 billion m3/year), this leads to huge non-production losses, negative impact on economic performance and inflated cost for end users. The European experience was analyzed: PTB, DNV, PIGSAR, SICK, INOTECH. Modernization of the gas industry of Ukraine is proposed.