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What can one cubic meter of natural gas do? It can provide one person with six hot baths, cook for a family of three for two days, and drive a car for 10 kilometers. One cubic meter of natural gas, from its extraction to entering thousands of households, has to go through a series of complex and rigorous technological processes. On the eve of the Spring Festival, a reporter from China Chemical Industry News followed a group of natural gas supply guarantee workers - the cadres and employees of the natural gas production and sales plant of Zhongyuan Oilfield, embarking on a supply guarantee journey to track the "blue gold".

The picture shows our reporter following the staff of the gas gathering station to learn about the maintenance of the gas transmission pipeline. (Cui Baoliang photo

A thousand meters underground, awakening the dormant "blue gold"

Under the warm winter sun, the wheat in the northern Henan Plain is a deep green, stretching as far as the eye can see. In a farmland in Danzhai Village, Hubuzhai Town, Puyang County, Henan Province, the 3-1H gas well of the Department is quietly extracting the "blue gold" - natural gas - from the depths of the earth.

The 3-1H gas production well of the department was put into operation at the end of last November and is also a major gas producer in our district. Currently, it produces about 20,000 cubic meters of natural gas per day. Early in the morning, Chen Yuhao, the production supervisor of Dongpu Gas Production Management Area of the natural gas Production and Sales plant, who came to inspect the well, introduced to the reporter.

After a series of "observation, auscultation and olfaction, inquiry and palpation", Chen Yuhao wrote in the gas production well inspection record book: The oil pressure is 7.5 megapascals, the jacket pressure is 12.2 megapascals, and the operation is normal. The remote transmission system installed at the wellhead can transmit the operation data of the well to the factory's central control room. Through manual well inspection, we can not only verify the remotely transmitted data but also closely check the operation status of the gas production well to prevent potential problems before they occur. Chen Yuhao said.

Crisscrossing pipelines safeguard the "highway" of gas transmission

The reporter saw at the production site that the natural gas extracted from the wellhead first entered the gas gathering station. Hu Yangdong, an employee of the station, held a detection device and carefully inspected every pipe joint to ensure there was no leakage at all. The gas gathering station not only collects natural gas but also conducts preliminary processing on it to remove some moisture and impurities, ensuring its subsequent long-distance transportation. Han Xuequan, the director of the gas gathering station, explained.

If the extensive pipeline network is compared to the unobstructed "highway" for natural gas, then the pipeline inspection team of the natural gas production and sales plant is the "road maintainer" of this "highway".

At 2 p.m., Fu Guopeng, the head of the Pucheng Pipeline Inspection Team of the factory's pipeline inspection team, and his team member Xing Zhiyuan worked together to start the second pipeline inspection of the day.

If the oil pipe leaks, the leakage point can be determined by the seeping oil stains, while the leakage of the gas transmission pipeline is more concealed. Fu Guopeng, who has been guarding this "highway" for ten years, has developed a sharp eye for detecting gas pipeline leaks. When a pipeline leaks, the wheat seedlings on the ground will change color or even die, and the soil will give off a smell similar to that of engine oil. Fu Guopeng told the reporter that not long ago, it was through these changes in the soil that he promptly discovered a pipeline leak and carried out repairs.

Precise regulation, "rushing" to thousands of households

The Liutun Gas Transmission Management Area of the Natural Gas Production and Sales Plant of Zhongyuan Oilfield manages four gas distribution stations and three booster stations. It mainly supplies natural gas to large and medium-sized enterprises such as Zhongyuan Dahua, Zhongyuan Ethylene, and Green Energy High-tech, local township enterprises in the oilfield area, and residents' daily lives.

The reporter followed the on-duty personnel to the natural gas transmission station and heard them say that the processed natural gas enters the transmission station through the pipeline network. After going through processes such as pressurization, metering and allocation, it can be "sent" to various production enterprises or residents' homes to "ignite" a happy life.

Preventing freezing and blockage is the key to the winter inspection at the station. This winter, the station has taken early insulation measures for pipes, valves and liquid level gauges that are prone to freezing and clogging. During maintenance, the frequency of sewage discharge for equipment such as orifice plates, manifes and separators has been increased from once every four hours to once every two hours.

Then, the reporter went to the "brain" of the gas transmission station - the control room. The real-time jumping data and constantly changing graphics on the large screen precisely display the operational status of each link in the gas transmission station. The regulators stared intently at the screen, their eyes focused. The mouse and keyboard in their hands were tapped and struck from time to time, precisely receiving or issuing various instructions.

Our job is like providing "real-time navigation" for the city's energy supply. Especially during the winter heating period, the demand for gas by residents increases significantly. We need to make adjustments in the first instance based on the upstream gas source conditions, downstream user demands and changes in pipeline pressure to ensure the safe, stable and efficient transportation of natural gas. Zhang Chao, deputy manager of the Liutun Gas Transmission Management Area, said.

Winter prevention and supply guarantee is a tough battle. We have heavy responsibilities and great pressure on our shoulders. But with early preparations and effective measures in place, we are confident of winning this tough battle! Zhang Chao is full of confidence.