Surplus gas in Russia’s gas transmission network due to gas export suspension, and ways to cope with it

Abstract

For technical, economic and political reasons the volumes of Russian pipeline gas export can be considerably reduced for relatively short periods of time. Such situations create unconsumed gas volumes in the gas transmission network of Russia, which can cause mal-function of the network. Here a problem arises of how to fast and optimally distribute the un-consumed gas to minimize various negative consequences. The paper presents a method for solving this problem. A focus is made on a model necessary to perform calculations within the proposed method. A situation of a short-term disruption of Russian gas delivery to European consumers through the territory of Ukraine is modelled, with an analysis of potential consequences and actions necessary to prevent them.