GasNet deploys backup gas supply from a tanker in Czechia

Customers in the Lovosice area received extraordinary assistance at the start of the heating season. Because of a fault in the transmission system, GasNet crews supplied five municipalities with liquefied natural gas from a tanker at the start of winter. Using this technology in distribution is still relatively unusual. For the largest Czech gas distributor, it is another modern technology its gas crews have mastered, enabling them to strengthen the safety and, above all, the reliability of the distribution network in the event of unexpected incidents.

As a leader in natural gas distribution, GasNet is bringing a range of technological innovations to the gas industry. Connecting a tanker carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG) directly to a delivery station is one of them. It is another way to ensure reliable supplies when necessary, including at times when they are critically needed—as during the period of peak gas demand in winter.

“Our absolute priority is the safety and reliability of the distribution network. Using liquefied gas technology helps us achieve this goal and maintain a very high level of supply reliability. Whenever possible, when working on gas pipelines we choose solutions that avoid restricting or even interrupting gas supplies. At our delivery station in Charvatce, in Martiněves, the LNG tanker allowed us to maintain supplies to five nearby municipalities without any customers noticing a change in their gas supply,” says GasNet Operations Director Petr Koutný.

Liquefied gas in distribution

While customers have grown accustomed to water tankers during water supply outages, seeing a gas tanker is still unusual.

LNG technology, however, is not new to GasNet’s gas crews. In addition to distribution, the company also operates five LNG filling stations for heavy goods vehicles. Its crews therefore have experience with this form of gas. What is new is using LNG to supply a local distribution network.

At Charvatce, a mobile storage tank was connected to the delivery station’s equipment. Before entering the distribution system, the liquefied natural gas was regasified and odorised, then supplied to the distribution network at an operating pressure of 290 kPa. Customers therefore received natural gas in the form they are used to. The distribution control centre monitored the supply process online throughout.

After two days, normal operation at the delivery station was restored and the gas crews were able to disconnect the mobile storage tank. The tanker supplied gas to a total of 600 customer connection points.

“We decided to take this exceptional step to maintain gas supplies as winter approached and gas boilers began running at full capacity. We never want to leave customers in the lurch, and whenever circumstances allow, we always look for an alternative source of gas. This has confirmed that deploying an LNG tanker is an effective measure in the event of a network outage,” concludes GasNet Operations Director Petr Koutný.