Managing Lost and Unaccounted for Gas Volumes

摘要

(PGJ) - Lost and unaccounted for (LAUF) gas is a calculated value that compares the amount of gas coming into a system (purchased) to the amount of gas leaving that system (sold or otherwise accounted for). Although LAUF is often equated to leaking pipes and equipment, leaks generally only represent a small portion of the value. LAUF is more often largely the result of poor accounting and improper adjustment and correction of measured values. This article will focus on managing this portion of the LAUF value. For the remainder of this article, the term LAUF will be re-branded to unaccounted for gas(UFG). This is a much more definitive description. This article uses nomenclature, terms, and values associated with the distribution segment of the natural gas industry in the United States(U.S.). However, the concepts and issues presented are applicable regardless of the segment or location of the operation.