Linepack planning models for gas transmission network under uncertainty

Open market transient behaviours create challenges for National Grid, the UK gas transmission network operator, in meeting limits on pressure and linepack, i.e. the quantity of gas in the network. In this paper, four mixed-integer linear programming models are proposed for the optimal linepack planning to compensate for the fluctuation of gas demand. The first model minimises total deviation between planned and targeted linepacks such that all the customer’s demand and other network constraints are satisfied. The second model determines actions, including timings, to minimise total cost for resolving the gas deficit. We then extend this to a third model to deal with the periodical supply shortfall in the gas transmission network, and a fourth model to investigate the impact of compressor failure on the linepack management. The efficiency of these models is investigated and validated using real case study data. Experimental results show that our models can produce the optimal linepack plans under certain scenarios that current tools at National Grid cannot achieve.