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ecisions about installations of pipelines in gas industry determine the directions and course of billion rupees every year. The complexity of decision can range from simple to complex but analytical. These decisions determine cost of installation, operational optimization, timing of increasing facility capacity and long term utilization of pipeline. The complicated decisions within a company can take months of preparation. Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd has an asset of 2.92 million consumers connected through standard distribution piping network which is connected to gas wells through transmission pipeline network. The transmission system is equipped with pipelines, valve assemblies, Cathodic Protection Stations and Compressor Stations while the distribution network contains Town Border Stations (TBSs), District regulatory Stations (DRSs) and Consumer meter stations connected through pipelines. The company has a broader pipeline network including 6,625 Kilometers of transmission pipelines and 51,911 kilometers of distribution pipelines. The network has rapidly been growing for last twenty years and yet expected to grow a lot.
Extensions in the existing pipeline network or installation of a new pipeline causes pipeline planner to keep his eyes on wrist with a calculator on the table and the manpower diagram on the desktop. The pipelines specification codes should be on the finger tips to go through a progressive pilot project. Statistics and ASME pipeline code standards are the wisdom bibles for the decision makers to evaluate uncertainty, reduce risks and choose workable solutions. More involved cases require a clearly figured sketch of decision alternatives that combines information from multiple disciplines for which Decision tree is a selectable option. A number of methods are available to help decision makers evaluate decisions. The methods include net present value (NPV) calculations, discounted cash flow analysis,