Gas pipelines and city gas
High-pressure transmission lines with compressor stations, and low-pressure city gas mains.
Transport · Liquid and gaseous fuels · No. 57
- Transport
- Form: Gaseous fuel
Gas creeps through pipelines at only 16-32 km/h, and the pipes themselves double as a store that swings every day.
Chart: Illustration: Gas pipelines and city gas
Where it comes from
Chart: Map of where it comes from
Gas from wells is cleaned, then pushed through steel pipes 60-90 cm across at about 55-83 bar. Every 65-160 km a compressor station squeezes the pressure back up.
Three things to know
- Germany plans a 9,040 km hydrogen core network by 2032, with about 60% of it converted natural gas pipe.
- Measured methane leaks from US city gas mains come to about five times the official EPA inventory figure.
- In 2024, local distribution and retail made up about 70% of the price US households paid for gas.
The journey
- 1 WellsGas cleaned of water, sulphur and liquids
- 2 Trunk lineSteel pipe at about 55-83 bar
- 3 CompressorsRe-boost pressure every 65-160 km
- 4 StorageLine pack and underground stores balance demand
- 5 City gatePressure cut, odorant added, mains deliver