Natural gas network

Gasum Oy is responsible for operating, maintaining and extending the natural gas pipeline in Finland. At year-end 2006, the natural gas transmission pipeline was 1,030 km long and had 189 delivery points. A parallel pipeline alongside the existing one in the Karelian Isthmus was completed the summer 2000. This new pipeline  increases natural gas transmission capacity to Finland. The natural gas network also consists of around 1,600 km of distribution pipelines.

Gasum supplies gas on a 24/7 basis to almost two hundred delivery points in Finland. The natural gas transmission system includes underground steel pipes, valves, compressors to maintain the pressure required to keep the gas flowing, and modern SCADA-system to monitor and control the gas transmission system and register the gas volumes and composition.

Preventative maintenance helps ensure Gasum’s transmission pipeline remains safe and reliable. Maintenance is carried out in keeping with the written instructions of Gasum’s certified preventative maintenance programme. During the year, some 2,500 maintenance points are carried out. Pipeline inspection gauges or smart pigs are used to analyse the condition of the pipeline.

Natural gas equipment represents the latest technology, and is being constantly developed around the world. Natural gas is a major global source of energy. Thus it is only to be expected that new technology will successfully further reduce the adverse environmental impacts of natural gas.

Gasum has launched the Expansion 2010 project to extend and develop the Finnish natural gas transmission network.

Link:: Expansion 2010 brings more clean energy (pdf) .