Natural gas increase

During the period from 1950 to 1992, the worldwide proven reserves of natural gas increased at an average annual rate of approximately 6.7% (3—5). In this same period, worldwide production iacreased at an average annual rate of approximately 5.7% (5) so that the annual worldwide consumption of natural gas as of 1992 was equivalent to approximately 1.7% of the proven reserves. This suggests that the proven reserves, assuming the reserves could be deUvered to the existing world markets, could satisfy the requirements of this market for more than 50 years. However, world population is expected to iacrease and the demand for natural gas is expected to expand both ia areas that are heavily iadustrialized and ia areas where iadustrialization activities are underway. 

From the onset of the Depression (1929) to the beginning of World War II (1941), petroleum s share of total U.S. energy consumption continued to expand, from 24 percent to more than 34 percent (while natural gas increased its share from 8 to 11 percent). Coal continued to lose share in the nation s energy output, from 62 percent to 54 percent. Over the same period, output of motor fuel, while not matching the growth of the previous decade, nevertheless continued its upward trend, from 256.7 million barrels to 291.5 million barrels. 

The process is conducted in totally enclosed equipment, often in two stages, and the methane produced is usually burned to supply energy. This process will become more desirable as the price of natural gas increases. 

B. Sour gas treating involves the removal of the acid gas components CO2 and H2S from natural gas. Most ways of doing this involve water solutions. Treating is normally at near ambient temperatures and at pressures to 7100 kPa (70 Atm). The treating of high acid gas content natural gas is becoming more important as the value of natural gas increases. 

Estimates of future costs for manufacturing refinery hydrogen have been calculated for the period 1980-2000 using 1980. The procedure involves comparing escalation rates during this period for each component of total cost with the general escalation rate of 5.0% per year for the general economy. Thus, if natural gas increases at 6.5% per year, the natural gas price for 1980 in 1980 is increased by about 1.5% per year to obtain the natural gas price (in 1980 ) for the year in question. For example, assume the natural gas price in 1980 (1980 ) is 3.15 per million Btu. The price in the year 2000 would then be ... 

Figures 6-12 and 6-13 show that the increases in natural gas use, measured in quads, are of similar magnitude to the decreases in gasoline use, although the natural gas increases with the possible future technologies will be somewhat smaller than the decreases in gasoline use will be. These figures suggest that it is unlikely that a transition to hydrogen based on natural gas would significantly increase energy security.

Natural gas increased by 8 billion cubic feet/year... 

The use of FGD and other methods of control of emissions of sulphur dioxide add to the cost of generating electricity especially from coal and this helps to explain the switch-over to the use of natural gas, particularly for the generation of electricity. In the U.K. from 1960 to 1993 the proportion of electricity supplied by natural gas increased from 0.6% to 9.9%. ... 

As the price of natural gas increases, the Modem plant becomes more favorable. This is due to the overall feed and fuel efficiency advantage of the Modem plant. For example, if the natural gas price were changed from 4 to 8 per MM Btu (double the base case credit), the overall production cost would increase by 1,326 per M SCF of hydrogen for the Modem plant and 1,804 for the Old tyle plant. The higher natural gas price would increase the average annual savings for the Modem plant from 12.9 MM to 28.6 MM. 

However, since 2000, the price of global crude oil has increased significantly, while the price of natural gas increased until about 2010 and since then has significantly decreased due to the shale gas revolution in the United States. 

In the end, it may not be concern about global warming that weans the human race from fossil fuels. It may become a matter of economics. As the price of petroleum and natural gas increases, and the price of alternative energy sources decreases, carbon-free technologies may win out simply because they may become more affordable. In the meantime, conservation measures also have a major impact and need to be pursued as much as possible. 

Gas composition effects can be significant. The concenuation of carbon dioxide in natural gas, for example, can affect its rate of permeation (per unit of partial pressure differential). Data provided by Hogsett and Mazur (1983) indicate that increasing the CO2 concentration from IS to 50% in 200 psia natural gas increases the CO2 permeation rate from about 4.0 to 5.0 (scf)/(ft )(hrK100 psi) with GASEP membranes. 

Oil shocks occurred twice, in 1973 and 1978, giving a terrible blow to the electric power generation industry, which triggered moves for fuel diversification and energy saving. Consequently, the demand for liquid natural gas increased as the most immediate effective substitute fuel. 

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