Gas Storage In Italy - Potential And Perspectives

Gas consumption in Italy is growing, while domestic production is declining. Hence gas import will continue to grow at a steadya steady pace and, given the seasonality of the gas consumption, rates flexibility will become more important. In this paper interactions among all categories of gas supply (consumers?) are taken into account, to put in perspective role and size of gas storage necessary to cope with seasonal and daily demand variations. The beneficial effect of storage availability in negotiations for better terms in gas import contracts is also analysed. The technical aspects of the six depleted gas fields object of the bid, issued by the Italian Ministry for Industrial Activity (Ministero delle Attivita Produttive), for their conversion into gas storage, are analysed in relation to additional gas storage needs and to the role of the new actors in the gas storage sector in the Country. An overview of these prospective new gas storage projects is presented from a technical standpoint. Technical risks, relevant to their geology and production history, together with engineering approach to manage them in dealing with the conversion projects are described. The interactions are considered of the major players in the new liberalized gas (storage) market; i.e. (1) the Statutory Body in charge for mining activities (UNMIG), the (2) "Ministero per le Attivita Produttive", the (3) gas storage companies, and (4) the Authority. A possible mean to facilitate these structure of interactions, both in technical and operational fields, is discussed to give a contribution to the creation of the conditions for a healthy gas storage industry. (e giusto parlare di structure?) This technical and commercial (non sono sicuro si tratti di un'analisi commercial) analysis leads to a general proposal on the way the new gas storage sector could possibly follow to promotincrease know-how diffusion and promote a positive approach to the technical challenges relevant to the new projectssaid gas storage.