Electrification of natural gas pipeline-a great opportunity for two capital intensive industries

At a time when the US natural gas pipeline infrastructure needs to be upgraded with new high-horsepower compressors to meet additional capacity demands, there exists an electric motor technology suitable for the task. The power electronic adjustable speed drive (ASD) controlled electric motor offers superior economics of initial, operating and maintenance costs compared to natural gas powered equipment. Coincidentally, natural gas pipeline deregulation is causing pipe line operators to evaluate electric drives as an alternative to gas driven equipment. Thus, an opportunity for load building is being offered to the electric power industry by the economics of the deregulated natural gas transmission industry. The gas transmission industry needs to upgrade equipment for more capacity. The new high-speed electric motor technology provides means for upgrading, at a fraction of the life cycle costs of conventional gas powered equipment.