Aksa Natural Gas Distribution, Inc. Case Study

Aksa Natural Gas Distribution, Inc. sought an automation system for its Natural Gas Regulating and Metering Stations (RMSs), which are divided into three separate types (A, B, C) according to pressure classes. These stations reduce and regulate downstream pressure, measuring the quantity of energy transferred from Aksa’s natural gas transmission system to medium pressure networks or to consumers who are connected directly to the transmission system. They also add the distinctive odor to the gas, providing prompt detection of any leakages, as required by national and international safety standards. Aksa required the stations’ data to be gathered by a central HMI/SCADA system via OPC servers and PLCs. Alarms are generated from critical values within the received data. Aksa required that their selected alarm management system be able to integrate with their RMS system, as well as to provide notifications. The alarm management system needed to handle thousands of tags, with each tag’s status made available to multiple locations, and if necessary, allow for expected intervention within 15 minutes.

Aksa Natural Gas Distribution, Inc., headquartered in Istanbul, Turkey, is a natural gas distributor subsidiary of Kazanci Holding, operator of multiple power generation, natural gas distribution, energy generation, and electricity distribution and sales companies throughout Turkey. Aksa operates its natural gas distribution and retail sales activities in 214 districts within 27 Turkish provinces. By the end of 2021, the company increased its total network size to over 34,000 kilometers, its subscriber number to over 4 million, and provided over 11 billion cubic meters of gas distribution.