AGA
— American Gas Association.
Air-gas-ratio
— The ratio of the air supply to the gas supply,
necessary to achieve proper combustion.
BTU —
British Thermal Unit — A unit of
heat measurement which is defined as the amount of
heat required to raise one pound of water one degree
Fahrenheit. Processed natural gas typically contains
1,000 BTU/cubic foot.
Base Pressure
— The pressure used as a standard in determining
gas volumes. The pressure condition used to define a
cubic foot of natural gas if four ounces per square
inch.
Cathodic
Protection — A method of preventing
the corrosion or deterioration of underground pipe
and connected equipment, through the control of
electrolysis.
Ccf
— Abbreviation for 100 cubic feet of natural
gas.
City Gate
— The point or measuring station at which a gas
distribution utility receives natural gas from
pipeline transmission company.
Cubic Foot
— Basic unit of measurement by which natural gas
is generally sold.
Distribution
System — The mains, service piping
and equipment operated by a distribution company to
deliver natural gas to customers.
Gas, Natural
— A naturally occurring mixture of hydrocarbon
and non-hydrocarbon gases found in porous geological
formations beneath the earth’s surface. The
principal component is methane.
Leakage
— Volume of gas lost through holes in pipes or
fittings, bad joints, or broken pipes or fittings.
LDC —
Local Distribution Company — A
natural gas utility company that delivers natural gas
directly to the consumer.
Load
— The rate of natural gas from one point to
another. As contrasted with service piping, mains
generally carry larger volumes for general or
collective use.
MAOP
— Abbreviation for maximum allowable operating
pressure. Refers to the maximum gas pressure at which
a piping system is allowed to operate.
Mcf —
Abbreviation for 1,000 cubic feet of natural gas.
Meters
— Devices used to measure and record the usage
of natural gas. Typical types are orifice, positive
displacement, rotary and turbine.
Mmcf
— Abbreviation for one million cubic feet of
natural gas.
Odorization
— The placing of malodorant, usually mercaptan,
in natural gas for the purpose of detecting its
presence. Especially helpful for reporting and
investigating possible leakage.
Pipeline
— Piping designed to deliver larger volumes of
natural gas over great distances; are usually
operated by gas transmission companies and often are
larger diameter pipes operating at high pressure.
Most city gates receive natural gas from a pipeline.
Pressure
Regulator — Device used to reduce and
maintain a constant pressure to a piping system.
Pressure
Regulating System — Consists of
equipment installed for the purpose of reducing and
regulating pressure to natural gas mains.
Relief Valve
— Over-pressure protection device designed to
exhaust excess natural gas pressure to atmosphere and
prevent piping from operating above the MAOP.
Service Line
— Piping delivering natural gas from the
distribution main to the customer’s premises.
Therm
— a quantity of heat equal to 100,000 BTU.
Approximately the same heat content as 100 cubic feet
of natural gas
