Page 49 - Impiantistica Industriale - Settembre Ottobre 2014
P. 49
. 2 - Major options avai- 2.2 Unconventional gas 3.1 Transportation
lable for gas monetisation,
classified as being either Gas which cannot be recovered without special The remote location of many of the gas reserves
transportation or transfor- enhanced recovery techniques such as hydraulic allow monetisation margins to be improved via
mation fracturing being required. Further classified accor- transport methods. Transportation typically is via:
ding to type as follows: • pipeline;
• tight gas - gas that is trapped in sandstone or • LNG including Floating LNG (FLNG);
• Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
limestone formations with unusually low per-
meability to gas flow; 3.2 Transformation
• shale gas - gas which is trapped in clay-like
carbon-rich particles in huge formations of Technologies utilised in the transformation of na-
low permeable shale rock. New hydraulic frac- tural gas to liquids for transport fuels, petrochemi-
turing techniques have led to increased reco- cals, methanol and ammonia are large, complex
veries using a mixture of high pressure water, projects.
sand and other chemicals to fracture the shale There are numerous options available for transfor-
and keep the fractures open to allow the gas mation of natural gas to different products. The
to be released and recovered; commercial viability of products varies greatly de-
• coal seam gas – also known as coal bed me- pending on the location of gas reserve and sale
thane, is gas adsorbed in coal seams or dis- market.
solved in associated water; The changes in international oil and gas markets
• gas hydrates - gas which is trapped in ice-like and in particular the widening of the gap between
structures in cold polar regions or deep sea gas and crude oil prices mean that the economics
continental shelf. of these processes are changing and schemes
that were previously unattractive may now become
3. Gas monetisation viable.
technologies This paper will focus on some of the transformation
technologies, except power generation.
The following diagram (figure 2) summarises the
major options available for gas monetisation, clas- 4. The syngas
sified as being either transportation or transforma-
tion. Irrespective of the end product (methanol, die-
48 Impiantistica Italiana - Settembre - Ottobre 2014
lable for gas monetisation,
classified as being either Gas which cannot be recovered without special The remote location of many of the gas reserves
transportation or transfor- enhanced recovery techniques such as hydraulic allow monetisation margins to be improved via
mation fracturing being required. Further classified accor- transport methods. Transportation typically is via:
ding to type as follows: • pipeline;
• tight gas - gas that is trapped in sandstone or • LNG including Floating LNG (FLNG);
• Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
limestone formations with unusually low per-
meability to gas flow; 3.2 Transformation
• shale gas - gas which is trapped in clay-like
carbon-rich particles in huge formations of Technologies utilised in the transformation of na-
low permeable shale rock. New hydraulic frac- tural gas to liquids for transport fuels, petrochemi-
turing techniques have led to increased reco- cals, methanol and ammonia are large, complex
veries using a mixture of high pressure water, projects.
sand and other chemicals to fracture the shale There are numerous options available for transfor-
and keep the fractures open to allow the gas mation of natural gas to different products. The
to be released and recovered; commercial viability of products varies greatly de-
• coal seam gas – also known as coal bed me- pending on the location of gas reserve and sale
thane, is gas adsorbed in coal seams or dis- market.
solved in associated water; The changes in international oil and gas markets
• gas hydrates - gas which is trapped in ice-like and in particular the widening of the gap between
structures in cold polar regions or deep sea gas and crude oil prices mean that the economics
continental shelf. of these processes are changing and schemes
that were previously unattractive may now become
3. Gas monetisation viable.
technologies This paper will focus on some of the transformation
technologies, except power generation.
The following diagram (figure 2) summarises the
major options available for gas monetisation, clas- 4. The syngas
sified as being either transportation or transforma-
tion. Irrespective of the end product (methanol, die-
48 Impiantistica Italiana - Settembre - Ottobre 2014
