Cloud you please anyone help me to calculations of natural pipe line size.

Please find the attached steam velocity criteria at different pressures, is it applicable for
natural gas pipe line sizing calculations?
• Generally gases consider maximum velocity 30 m/sec for pipe line sizing
calculations, is it applicable applicable for all gases? for different pressures?
• is it available similar kind of velocity chart for natural gas also?

Natural gas conditions and properties:

Molar Flow : 35 MMscfd (35680 kg/hr)

Molecular Weight :20.43
Operating Pressure Barg: 75
Operating Temperature Deg C : 50
Density :68.62 kg/m3
Viscosity:0.014 Cp
Compressiblity factor:0.8261

Thanks,
Best Regards,

A pipeline system needs to consider not only the velocity but also the pressure drop in the
pipeline. This is specifically true when we are talking of long distance sales gas (natural gas)
transmission pipelines and the required pressure at the terminal end of the pipeline governs
the line size along with the velocity.

Velocity of 30 m/s is obviously very high. There are also considerations related to erosion
due to high velocities which need to be taken into account. Companies like "Shell"
recommend that gas velocities in transportation of natural gas through long-distance
pipelines should be in the range of 5-10 m/s for continous operation and a maximum up to
20 m/s for intermittent operation.

The normal sizing procedure for gas transmission pipelines is to assume a line size and
check the pressure drop and velocity for the assumed line size using equations for single-
phase gas pipeline equations such as the AGA (American Gas Association), Weymouth,
Panhandle A and Panhandle B. A very detailed excel workbook including all the above
mentioned equations, calculation of flow or pressure drop based on these equations and
calculation of erosion velocity is available at the online store of "Cheresources" at the
following link:

ORSOK P-001 SIZING OF GAS LINES (Page 12-13)

When sizing gas lines the sizing criteria will be a compromise between the maximum velocity
and allowable pressure drop
Maximum velocities
In lines where pressure drop is not critical, gas velocity shall not exceed limits which may
create noise or vibrations problems.

As a rule of thumb the velocity should be kept below:

V = 175 X (1/ρ)^0.43

Where, V is the maximum velocity of gas to avoid noise in m/s and ρ is the density of gas in
kg/m3.

When dP is not critical:

Velocity is 60 m/s (or the lowest value)

When dP is critical:
dP is set depending on the operating pressure.

Refer Table 4:Recommended pressure drop for operating pressure in NORSOK

STANDARDS on page 13.

See attached NORSOK Standard P-001

Regards
Shivshankar
AttachedFiles

1. Following notes are from "Handbook of Natural Gas Transmission and Processing",
by S Mokhatab, W A Poe, J G Speight, pages 418 - 421, Section 11.6 - Design
Considerations on sales gas pipelines, subsection 11.6.1 - Line Sizing Criteria,
Elsevier, 2006.
α. Most cost effective gas pipelines should have a pressure drop between 3.50 and
5.83 psi/mile. However for those pipelines (short ones) in which pressure drop is of
secondary importance, the pipe could be sized on fluid velocity only.
β. In systems with CO2 as low as 1-2 %, velocity should be limited to 50 ft/s or lower,
for it is difficult to inhibit CO2 corrosion at higher velocities.
γ. In most transmission pipelines recommended gas velocity is 40 - 50% of the
erosional velocity.
As a rule of thump, pipe erosion begins when velocity exceeds the value of C/SQRT(ρ)
in ft/s, where ρ = gas density (in lb/ft3) and C = empirical constant (in lb/s/ft2)
(starting erosional velocity).
 δ. C=100 in most cases. API RP 14E (1984) suggested C=100 for continuous and 125
for non continuous service. In addition C = 150 to 200 may be used for continuous,
non corrosive or corrosion controlled services without solid particles present.
2. Attached "NGvel.xls" estimates starting erosional velocities, in function of
operating pressure, for either the NG described by cnu879 or pure methane at 15
oC. The low erosional velocity corresponds to C=100, the high one to C=200 per API
14E. Recommended gas velocities are considered as 50% of corresponding
erosional velocities, low is represented by the orange line of the diagram, high by
the red line. Recommended max allowable velocities by Norsok Standard P-001 are
also presented for comparison (green line on diagram).
α. According to above, allowable max gas velocity under the conditions specified by
cnu879 would be 7.4 - 14.7 m/s, versus 28.4 m/s given by Norsok Standard. Indeed,
recommended velocities are quite low for high pressure pipe lines.
β. If operating pressure of the gas were 0.2 barg (which could more or less occur in a city
distribution network, with no polyethylene pipes ), allowable max gas velocity would be 64 - 127
m/s, versus 60 m/s per Norsok Standard.
γ. The lower the pressure the higher the max allowable velocity. Reasonable, since
density decreases with pressure (yet density * estim max allowable velocity decreases with
pressure).
Recommended gas velocities should report corresponding operating pressure.
δ. Norsok Standard gives much higher velocities for pressures higher than about 15
barg (approaching starting erosional velocities for C=200). For lower pressures it
gives a flat value of 60 m/s.
3. Questions to promote clarification of the matter.
"Handbook of Natural Gas Transmission and Processing" gives a method to specify
max allowable gas velocity, depending on conditions.
3.1 What is considered as starting erosional velocity in normal NG pipe lines, per API
14E ? Shall we use C=100, or C=200 in the formula (in lb/s/ft2)?
C=100 when there may be condensate, or corrosion? How is it that the gas contains
solid particles?
3.2 A flat allowable max velocity at low operating pressures (60 m/s per Norsok
standard) seems reasonable to apply in the case of NG pipe line. Can you confirm
applicability and recommend flat value? The Handbook of Natural Gas does not
seem to mention something similar.
3.3 Any other comment on the above or the "NGvel.xls"?

4. Note: For additional info that could be useful, refer to the links below.

. Not having access to API 14E, I can say that post No 7, para 1, reflects the writing of
"Handbook of Natural Gas Transmission and Processing" , subsection 11.6.1 (Sales Gas
Transmission - Line Sizing Criteria). as explained there. There is no mention of two phase
flow in this subsection. Exact wording of the relevant point is as below:
"In most pipelines, the recommended value for the gas velocity in the transmission pipelines is
normally 40 to 50% of the erosional velocity (Mohitpour et al., 2002). As a rule of thump, pipe
erosion begins to occur when the velocity of flow exceeds the value given by Equation (11-22)
(Beggs, 1984): Ve = C/ρ^0.5 (11-22)
where Vc is erosional flow velocity, ft/sec; ρ is density of the gas, lb/ft3; and C is empirical
constant.
In most cases, C is taken to be 100. However, API RP 14E (1984) suggested a value of C=100
for a continuous service and 125 for a noncontinuous service. In addition, it suggests that
values of C from 150 to 200 may be used for continuous, noncorropsive or corrosion controlled
services if no solid particles are present".
2. http://www.cheresources.com/invision/topic/10801-c-factor-in-the-erosional-velocity-eqn-
as-per-api-rp-14e/ proposes higher values for C to be used in the erosional velocity formula.
It refers to two phase flow in "flowlines and pipelines", understood as any gas line (if not,
please clarify). The previous limitation "allowable gas velocity = 40 - 50% of erosional
velocity" is understood to concern long distance pipelines only.
3. It is improbable that authors of "Handbook of Natural Gas Transmission and Processing"
misinterpret API 14E. Probably some condensation of hydrocarbons / water is quite possible
in long distance pipelines, even if gas is initially without condensates; so allowable velocity
should be based on erosion velocity, even if quantity of formed condensates is minimum.
Casual changes of gas composition can also result in condensates. Clarifications on this
point would be welcomed. We speak here of condensates formed in the pipeline, not in the
Pressure Reducing (and metering) stations.
4. Erosion in gases is accepted to be due to entrained liquids or solids, since increasing
velocity of gas (without liquids or solids) will create rather noise / vibrations than erosion.
Assumption of condensation could explain the low recommended velocities (say 10 m/s) in
high pressure pipelines. Besides it could explain difference to allowable velocity per Norsok
standard (for pressures higher than ~ 15 barg).
Influence of solids on erosional velocity is estimated by API 14E for two phase flow, what
about same influence for gas without any condensate?
5. In order to estimate NG allowable velocities in long distance pipelines, I think we need
answers to the following (after consideration of the above).
5.1 For a gas introduced "dry" to the pipeline, will it usually "create" condensates (water /
hydrocarbons) somewhere or not? Water and hydrocarbon dew points may suggest "not",
but what happens in practice?
5.1a. If not (i.e. dry gas always), how can we specify max allowable velocity in function of
actual density or other parameters? Objective is to have a guide for allowable velocity at
various operating conditions, at least in usual case concerning condensates.
5.2 How could we interpret / comment on relevant text of "Handbook of Natural Gas
Transmission and Processing" (para 1)?
5.3 Any response to point 3.2 (even assuming two phase), or 3.3 of post No 7?

Long-Distance Sales Gas Transmission pipelines have water specifications of a maximum of

7 lb per MMSCF as required in the United States . In Canada it is <= 5 lb per MMSCF. Water
is a strict no-no in gas transmission lines since it can cause corrosion as well as slugging
due to water accumulation. So probability of water has to be ruled out.

Most long-distance pipelines for sales gas run buried. Temperature variations are thus
minimized. As long as the temperature in the pipeline is above its cricondentherm value,
hydrocarbon condensation is ruled out irrespective of the pressure. Again dropout of
hydrocarbons is detrimental to the operation of the pipeline since it can cause slugging and
can lead to increased pressure drop thus disrupting the pipeline operation. In most cases the
HC dewpoint of sales gas is below -20°C. So once again the probability of some
condensation of hydrocarbons in a sales gas transmission pipeline is ruled out. Similar to the
water content specification for gas transmission lines, pipeline operators have also defined
limits for "liquefiable HCs" in pipelines and these figures are quite low. For a reference to
allowable "water content" and "liquefiable HCs" in gas transmission lines in North America
refer the link below:
Bulk velocity at any cross-section of the pipeline is nothing but the flow rate @ operating
pressure / temperature divided by the cross-sectional area of the pipe.

v=Q/A

where:

v = velocity

Q = flow rate

A = cross-sectional area of the pipeline

The presentation you have provided has no name for the author. E. Shashi Menon's book
"Gas Pipeline Hydraulics" whose reference is given in the presentation does talk about
erosional velocity and there is no denying the fact that erosion velocity is a factor to be
considered. However, the point is that E. Shashi Menon's book fails to consider that erosion
is a factor related to the metallurgy of the pipeline for evaluating "C" factors in the erosion
velocity equation. It is obvious that the "C" factor cannot be the same for carbon-steel and
stainless steel. "C" value of 100 as provided in Menon's book is far too conservative and not
practical in today's context when production economics need to be carefully evaluated from
gas-condensate wells. When I mention gas-condensate wells it is gas and condensate as a
2-phase fluid, and not sales gas.

I have myself proposed in post #6, that long-distance sales gas transmission pipleines
should not have velocities exceeding 10 m/s. This is based on experience of companies like
Shell and considers a variety of factors such as pressure drop, erosion/corrosion, pipeline
terrain, operational flexibility, periodic maintenance and the life-cycle cost of the pipeline.

A point raised in post #9 says about pressure reducing stations. Gas transmission pipelines
do not have pressure reducing sations along the pipeline terrain, instead they generally have
pressure booster stations using booster compressors due to unamanageable pressure drops
in long distances of the pipeline. Pressure reducing stations are required only at the terminal
or consumer end of the pipeline. The pressure at the start point and the terminal point i.e. the
required pressure drop along with the velocity plays a major role in determining the pipeline
diameter.

Another important point to note for all new design engineers who have just been introduced
to pipeline hydraulics is that a lot of natural gas pipeline hydraulic simulation is done using
TGNET software from PIPELINE STUDIO. TGNET is a single-phase gas pipeline simulator
and is not meant for 2-phase flow which reiterates the fact that sales gas pipeline needs to
be modelled as single-phase and not 2-phase.

hanks for interesting discussion.

I am now clear about when to use Weymouth, Panhandle A & B and Spitz glass equations to
calculate single phase gas velocity along with erosion velocity for long distance transmission
of natural gas.
In API 14E the gas velocities may be calculated using following derived equation.

v = 60*Z*Q*T / d^2* P

Where,

v = Gas velocity (ft/s)

d = Pipe inside diameter, inches
Q = Gas flow rate MMscfd (at 14.7 psia and 60 ° F)
T = Operating Temperature ° R
P = Operating presssure, psia
Z = Gas compressibility factor

However, I don't know how this equation is derived ?

and erosional velocity is given as

v(e) = C/ √ρ

Where,

v(e) = Fluid erosional velocity (ft/s)

C = Empirical Constant
ρ = Gas Density (lbs/ft3)

For solids-free fluids values of c = 100 for continuous service and c = 125 for intermittent
service are conservative.
For solids-free fluids where corrosion is not anticipated or when corrosion is controlled by
inhibition or by employing corrosion resistant alloys, values of c = 150 to 200 may be used
for continuous service: values up to 250 have been
used successfully for intermittent service.

Regards

Below are notes on sales gas pipeline sizing. Questions were asked by kkala in post No 9
and replies given by ankur2061 in post No 10 and other. Comments are by kkala.
1. Q: For a gas introduced "dry" to the pipeline, will it usually "create" condensates (water / hydrocarbons)
somewhere or not? Water and hydrocarbon dew points may suggest "not", but what happens in practice?
A: ...The conclusion is that sales gas transmission has to be treated as a
single-phase flow and not as a "probable" two-phase flow. Also there is an
inference that copying from a book does not make it entirely true and one has
to do an in depth study of the subject before coming to any conclusions.
Engineering just does not work on the theory of probability.
Comments: Post No 9 clearly indicates this is a question, not a statement. Mentioned
derogating hints have no place in an engineering forum, lessening its reliability. Nevertheless
they do not make an insult to kkala.
-Following is taken from "New Folder(4).zip" attached to post No 11 by Shivshankar, "Sales
Gas Pipeline Part I", section "Single Phase Gas flow".
"Erosional velocity: Higher velocities will cause erosion of the pipe interior over a long period
of time. The upper limit of the gas velocity is usually calculated approximately from the
following equation:
Vmax (ft/s) = 100/SQRT(ρg (lbm/ft3)).
Usually, an acceptable operational velocity is 50% of the above".
"Pipeline efficiency: In Practice, even for single phase gas flow, some water or condensate
may be present. Some solids may be also present. Therefore the gas flow rate must be
multiplied by an efficiency factor (E).
A pipeline with E greater than 0.9 is usually considered clean".
I have heard of NG liquids formed along the pipeline and of slug catchers; yet these cases
can represent non normal operation (e.g. change in composition spec) resulting in lower gas
flow rate.
2. Q: If not (i.e. dry gas always), how can we specify max allowable velocity in function of actual density or
other parameters? Objective is to have a guide for allowable velocity at various operating conditions, at least
in usual case concerning condensates.
A: gas velocities in transportation of natural gas through long-distance
pipelines should be in the range of 5-10 m/s for continuous operation and a
maximum up to 20 m/s for intermittent operation...
I would not design a long-distance natural gas transmission pipe line for a
velocity of more than 10 m/s normally...
Long-distance sales gas transmission pipelines should not have velocities
exceeding 10 m/s. This is based on experience of companies like Shell and
considers a variety of factors such as pressure drop, erosion/corrosion,
pipeline terrain, operational flexibility, periodic maintenance and the life-
cycle cost of the pipeline.
Comments: Above evidently concerns sales gas pipelines without any condensate in it (dry
gas), according to answer 1. One would expect gradually higher allowable velocities as
operating pressure goes lower e.g. from 70 barg downswards; not a flat 10 m/s. On what
pressure this velocity refers to?
Clarification would be welcomed, so that allowable velocity could be estimated for any
operating condition.
- An explanation why dry gas allowable velocity is so low at high operating pressures would
be also useful.
Erosion is understood not to affect a dry gas pipeline without solids (post No 9, para 4),
where allowable max velocity is specified by noise, vibration results, potential corrosion.
Economics affect allowable (frictional) ΔP per unit length and may dictate a lower velocity.
Allowable max velocity (initially specified) does not seem to depend on allowable ΔP per unit
length. Advice on this point appreciated.
3. Q: How could we interpret / comment on relevant text of "Handbook of Natural Gas Transmission and
Processing"?
A: ...there is an inference that copying from a book does not make it entirely
true and one has to do an in depth study of the subject before coming to any
conclusions...
Comments: Placing the question to the forum, could have hopefully made things clearer.
-Text from Shivshankar attachment complies with 50% erosional velocity for sales gas
pipelines, too. This concept seems to predict the low allowable velocities at high pressures
(say 70 barg), otherwise how could these velocities be explained? Or these 10 m/s
correspond to optimum ΔP/unit lenth, while allowable max velocity is actually higher?
4. Q: Any response to point 3.2 (even assuming two phase), or 3.3 of post No 7?
Commenton 3.2, post No7: Answer is pending.
Concerning dry gas, a flat allowable max velocity is anticipated at low pressures (like in
Norsok std).
For two phase flow, does API 14E specify a flat max allowable velocity at low pressures? (no
mention of it so far).
Commenton 3.3, post No 7. General comments on posts 7, 9, 17 welcomed (numerous, if
possible).
- "Handbook of Natural Gas Transmission and Processing", Chapter 3, notes that flow is often multiphase in
the raw gas transmission lines from wells (different to sales gas pipelines). Post No 7 is anticipated to be
applicable for these multiphase flows (allowable velocity = 50% of erosional) with the revised values of C.
Can you confirm or advise accordingly?
ot much research has been done in this area. One of the most comprehensive documents
related to erosion know to me is by "BP Amoco" titled "Erosion Guidelines" which provides
some values on "C" factors. Below is what they list out for the "C" factor for various materials
and flow conditions:

CS: a) "C" = 135 if nominally solids free (solids less than 1 pound of solid per thousand
barrel of liquid)
b) "C" = 200 or Ve = 65.6 ft/s whichever is lower if totally solids free

13Cr Steel: "C" = 300 if nominally solids free

DSS: "C" = 350 if nominally solids free

Single Phase Liquid Flow:

CS: "C" = 250 (under CO2 corrosion and no corrosion inhibition)

13%Cr Steel: "C" = 300
DSS: "C" = 450 if nominally solids free

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Ankur.