Abstract: | Natural gas flows in the USSR are modeled using the out-of-kilter algorithm after the transmission system is abstracted into a network of demand and supply nodes and bounded arcs. Evaluation of the resulting flow pattern is done for 1970, 1975, 1980, and 1985. Shifts in gas supplies from the European area to Central Asia and now to West Siberia have necessitated changes in the Soviet natural gas pipeline system. The system is entering a period of long run stability between the geographic distribution of supply and demand in contrast to a continually changing distribution pattern before 1980. |