Gas distribution plant (GDP) – an aggregation of units and technical equipment, measuring instruments and auxiliary gas distribution / pressure control systems. Gas distribution plants are elements of gas distribution systems. There are the following types of such plants: gas distribution facilities at the end-points of trunk pipelines or at spur lines with throughput of up to 500 thousand cubic meters per hour; field gas distribution plants; control and distribution points; gas regulating points; automated gas distribution plants.

Field gas distribution plants are designed for processing gas produced at the field and for supplying gas to the closest residential community. Control and distribution points are designed for feeding gas to industrial or agricultural sites, as well as to circular gas pipelines built around cities. Automated gas distribution plants supply gas to small communities and settlements, agricultural enterprises located at spur gas lines.

The key equipment blocks of a gas distribution plant are the following: shutdown devices; gas treatment facilities; equipment to prevent formation of hydrates (if needed); automated reducers (gas flow and pressure control instrumentation); automated odorizing units. From the inlet pipeline gas is received into shutdown block and then is sent to treatment facilities, such as wet dust collectors or viscous fluid filters. After that gas goes to the automated pressure control block and then – into the outlet low-pressure gas pipelines where the flow rate is measured and where the metering/accounting and odorizing of gas take place. The number of reducing pipelines at gas distribution plants depends on gas flow rate; and there is always one stand-by line. Automated gas distribution plants are equipped with a set of shut-off valves, which is activated automatically in case of emergency to shut-off operational and stand-by reducing lines.