In order to tackle the possible “gas drain” in the winter, Tianjin plans to build another large-scale underground gas storage facility in Dagang. Construction Phase I is expected to complete by the end of next year. The storage will not only provide adequate gas supply for Beijing and Tianjin citizens, but also buttress the development of Binhai New Area.
Ever since the city suffered from its first gas shortage last year, the local gas sector has been busy working out a solution. They finally got one: funded by Petro China and TianjinGas, Petro China Tianjin Gas Pipeline Co Ltd was established at Binhai New Area, with registered capital of 500 million yuan and a total project investment of 2.3 billion yuan. Under the administration of the company, the gas storage, which saves gas in the summer and releases it in the winter, will start construction before long. Having a gas capacity of 500 million sqm in Phase I and one billion sqm by the end of the second phase, the storage will cover people’s gas need even at the winter peak.
Advantages: safe and economical
Underground gas storage, in most cases, takes place in an airtight container buried deeply beneath the earth’s surface. Instead of building new facilities, the gas container can take the place of the deserted empty oil tank. Therefore, it is economical. In addition, compared with the high-pressure gas tank in the open air, underground ones are safer.
News background:
Underground gas storage is a common way to store gas resources. The gas inventory usually accounts for 10% of its total consumption in global society. In some countries, the percentage can hit 15%, while in China, it remains lower than 3%.
