Black Point Gas Pipeline Storage Pressure Letdown Control Valves

A long 778 km high pressure, submarine pipeline supplying natural gas will serve multiple combined cycle gas turbine peaking units on the Pacific Rim. The gas supply flow into the pipeline is constant, but the power plant will primarily operate during daylight hours or in certain situations, operate in a two-shift mode. So the pipeline essentially serves as an increasing pressure, gas storage vessel during the night, and pressure falls off during the day as the gas is fired. Hence, the gas letdown receiving station presented many critical design challenges. Among these were the need for constant plant service pressure control, especially during individual power generator unit startup, shutdown, and upset conditions. In addition, there was a very severe noise attenuation requirement and high gas flow rangeability was required. This complex, integrated gas pressure, control valve letdown system and its operation is described in detail.