The  measurement  of gas composition  is used to analyse and calculate calorific values, wobbe  index and other  quality parameters  of the natural gas.

Calculating the delivered energy to the customers is performed on the basis of all the analyses and calculations. The method of calculation takes into consideration regional differences in gas composition as a result of the actual operating conditions. The information is not to be used to calculate the size of the gas settlement for the particular month in question, but solely to evaluate operating conditions.

Calorific value, hydrogen sulphide, overall sulphur content, wobbe index and methane number are described below:

The calorific value (brændværdi in Danish)
The overall term describes the amount of heat generated during combustion of the natural gas. The customer pays for the delivered amount of energy, and not for the delivered amount of natural gas. The calorific value is used to calculate how much energy each customer has received.

The Net Calorific Value
A term describing the amount of heat generated, when the temperature of the combustion air and the natural gas prior to combustion is 25°C, when the combustion products (flue gas) are cooled to 25°C, and when the water produced during combustion is present in the form of steam.

The Gross Calorific Value
A term describing the amount of heat developed by combustion of one cubic metre of gas at constant pressure when the gas and air for the combustion have a temperature of 25°C, the combustion products being brought to that temperature and the water formed by the combustion being present in liquid state.

The delivered amount of energy is calculated by multiplying the delivered amount of gas by the calorific value.

Hydrogen Sulphide and Overall Sulphur Content
Natural gas from the North Sea contains, among other things, small amounts of hydrogen sulphide (H2S - svovlbrinte in Danish). The hydrogen sulphide content is especially important for determining whether the pipeline network will be subject to corrosion. For this reason, the hydrogen sulphide content should be kept as low as possible.

When the gas is being processed in fields in the North Sea, the hydrogen sulphide content is reduced in order that the gas deliveries comply with the requirements set out in the Danish Gas Regulation. The natural gas to the Danish market may contain up to 5 mg/m3n of hydrogen sulphide as a daily average, although a temporary exceedance of the hourly values up to 10 mg/m3n (and a maximum overall sulphur content of 10 mg/m3n in addition to the hydrogen sulphide in the content) is permitted.

When the natural gas is delivered for distribution (to the customers), a sulphurous smelling substance is added - THT (Tetrahydrothiophene). The smelling substance ensures that the otherwise odourless natural gas can be detected in the event of a gas leak. The amount of the smelling substance added is equal to a sulphur content of 4-7 mg/m3n. The overall sulphur content (totalsvovl in Danish) of the gas is approx. 6-15 mg/m3n.

Wobbe Index
The wobbe index offers information about the heating effect a burner is exposed to during combustion of a fuel. The greater the wobbe index, the greater the heating effect and thereby the greater the load on the burner. The load on a burner is thus directly proportional to the wobbe index. Different gases with the same wobbe index will impose the same load on the burner.

The wobbe index is used also as a safety parameter, in the sense that too high a wobbe index can result in the production of carbon monoxide and thermal overload. The wobbe index is regulated according to Section A, Appendix 1A of the Danish Gas Regulation.

Methane Number
The methane number is calculated using an algorithm developed by DGC. A methane number characterises the gas's tendency to resist detonation. It can be compared to the octane number for petrol. A low methane number can lead to detonation and damage to the gas engines if no adjustment is made to the engine's operation.