Natural gas reserves estimates

Discuss how long it would be possible to maintain a hydrogen-based energy system if all hydrogen had to be produced from natiual gas as the sole primary resource (e.g., use the natural gas reserve estimates given in section 5.3). 

Figure 2.14. Global natural gas reserve estimates, 1967-2003. Source Oil Gas Journal 2003.

Until recently, many oil and gas companies considered natural gas locked in tight, impermeable shale uneconomical to produce. Advanced drilling and reservoir stimulation methods have dramatically increased gas production from unconventional shales. The Barnett Shale formation in Texas has experienced the most rapid development. The Marcellus Shale formation of the Appalachian basin, in the northeastern United States, potentially represents the largest unconventional gas resource in the United States. Other shale formations, such as the Haynesville Shale, straddling Texas and Louisiana, have also attracted interest, as have some formations in Canada. The resource potential of these shales has significantly increased the natural gas reserve estimates in the United States (Andrews, 2009). 

The decrease in petroleum and natural gas reserves has encouraged interest in and discovery and development of unconventional sources of these hydrocarbons. Principal alternatives to conventional petroleum reserves include oil shale (qv) and tar sands (qv). Oil shale reserves in the United States are estimated at 20,000 EJ (19.4 x 10 Btu) and estimates of tar sands and oil sands reserves are on the order of 11 EJ (10 x 10 Btu) (see Tarsands Shale oil). Of particular interest are the McKittrick, EeUows, and Taft quadrangles of Cahfomia, the Asphalt Ridge area of Utah, the Asphalt, Kentucky area, and related geographic regions. 

The potential of natural gas, which typically has 85—95% methane, has been recognized as a plentiful and clean alternative feedstock to cmde oil (see Gas,natural). Estimates (1 3) place worldwide natural gas reserves at ca 1 x (3.5 x 10 ft ) corresponding to the energy equivalent of ca... 

Confederation of Independent States (CIS) are denoted as explored reserves and include proved, probable, and some possible gas. The data for Canada also include some probable reserves. The worldwide natural gas reserves have continued to increase as the demand for gas has increased and exploration efforts have expanded. In 1976, the world natural gas reserves were estimated to be 6.58 x 10. In 1987, the reserves were 1.06 x lO ", and by 1992... 

Natural gas mixtures, pressure-volume-temperature (PVT) behavior of, 12 370 Natural gas production, 12 372-378 13 592 nitrogen in, 17 287 Natural gas reserves, 12 366-369 estimate of undiscovered, 12 368 Natural gas reservoirs, 12 372 Natural graphite, 12 771-799 analytical and test methods for, 12 786-790... 

Worldwide, the amount of energy available from coal is estimated to be about ten times greater than the amount available from all petroleum and natural gas reserves combined. Coal is also the filthiest fossil fuel because it contains large amounts of such impurities as sulfur, toxic heavy metals, and radioactive isotopes. Burning coal is therefore one of the quickest ways to introduce a variety of pollutants into the air. More than half of the sulfur dioxide and about 30 percent of the nitrogen oxides released into the atmosphere by humans come from the combustion of coal. As with other fossil fuels, the combustion of coal also produces large amounts of carbon dioxide. 

Data compiled for 1992 placed the wodd s estimated proved natural gas reserves at approximately 1.24 x 1014 m3 (4.38 x 1015 ft3) (4). Data for the Confederation of Independent States (CIS) are denoted as explored reserves and include proved, probable, and some possible gas. The data for Canada also include some probable reserves. The woddwide natural gas reserves have continued to increase as the demand for gas has increased and exploration efforts have expanded. In 1976, the wodd natural gas reserves were estimated to be 6.58 x 1013 m3. In 1987, the reserves were 1.06 x 1014 m3, and by 1992 the reserve estimates had grown to 1.24 x 1014 m3. The distribution of the reserves in 1992 by principal geographical areas is shown in Table 1. In 1992, the principal political/geographical entities of the United States, the Confederation of Independent States (CIS), and the Oil Producing and Exporting Countries (OPEC) held 3.87, 39.97, and 39.7% of the wodd s natural gas reserves, respectively. 

In terms of the conventional or traditional sources, natural gas is found in areas close to exposed or buried mountain ranges. Major deposits of natural gas are found in inclined strata where the rock formations dip away from the crest of a buried hill or the ridge of a buried mountain. Some of the common types of formations in which natural gas is found are shown in Fig. I. Although natural gas and crude oil are frequently found together, the largest natural gas reserves (about 70% of the estimated reserves) are in deposits neither in contact with, nor dissolved in, oil. 

Traditional estimates of oil-associated natural gas reserves historically have rated the former Soviet Bloc as holding nearly 40% of the reserves, Iran about 14%, and the United States nearly 6%, with additional fairly high reserves in Qatar. Algeria, and Saudi Arabia. At one time. North America was attributed to have a 60-year supply, but with revisions in estimating procedures, coupled with increased efficiency in natural gas production and gas combustion efficiency, the future is now believed to be in terms of at... 

The natural gas sources are spread unevenly over the world with almost 70% of the natural gas reserves located in the Middle East, Russia and the Caucasus region as shown on Figure 4. Provided the consumption of primary energy sources is maintained at present level the depletion time is reportedly 60.7 years for natural gas according to BP [3] (40.6 years for oil, and 204 years for coal)1. Although these estimates do not reflect the real source, they confirm that the fossil resources are rather limited and may be depleted within a few generations. 

Estimated recoverable coal [14]—929.3 billion tons Crude oil reserves [15]—1243 billion barrels Natural gas reserves [16]—6254 trillion ft3 Coal consumption [14]—6.74 billion tons/year Crude oil consumption [17,18]—83 million barrels/day Natural gas consumption [14]—104 trillion ft3/year... 

At any given time proven U.S. natural gas reserves seem to remain at approximately 10 years of indigenous supply at the then current consumption rates. Proven reserves estimates are subject to constant change, either up or down, depending on reservoir operating experience, field extensions resulting from additional drilling, and revised estimates. 

Natural gas, in recent years, has become an international commodity fuel. Current world reserves of natural gas are estimated at about 5000 tcf, the equivalent of about 40 percent of world petroleum energy reserves. About 35 percent of these reserves are in remote regions of the Former Soviet Union (FSU) and about 40 percent are located in the Persian Gulf countries of the Middle East. 

Estimates of the amount of recoverable oil and natural gas in the United States are 113 billion barrels of oil and 1,074 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Worldwide estimates of recoverable oil and natural gas are 1 trillion barrels of oil and 5 quadrillion cubic feet of natural gas. These worldwide reserves are expected to supply 45 years of fuel at current production rates with expected increases in demand. However, such estimates do not take into account reserves added through new discoveries or through the development of new technology that would allow more oil and natural gas to be recovered from existing oil and natural gas fields. 

In April 1969 the Canadian Petroleum Association estimated the ultimate potential raw recoverable natural gas reserves of Canada to be 720.9 Tcf (at 14.73 psia and 60°F). If the total raw recoverable gas discovered through 1970 is subtracted from this value, a remaining undiscovered potential of 634.8 Tcf of raw gas is derived. Much of this undiscovered potential is attributed to Canada s frontier areas comprised of Northern Canada, Arctic Islands, Mackenzie Delta, Hudson Bay, and the continental shelf areas off the Atlantic, Paciflc, and Arctic Coasts. 

In the United States, however, the renewed interest in conversion processes is stimulated by several factors. The major one is the need to ensure an abundant and inexpensive supply of pipeline gas to serve our economy. U.S. natural gas reserves are presently estimated to be sufficient to the year 2000. However, to ensure an adequate supply of pipeline gas at reasonable costs up to and through the year 2000, supplemental pipeline gas processes will be needed. 

States and in developing ones like China, chemists are actively trying to find new energy sources. Currently the major sources of energy are fossil fuels (coal, petroleum, and natural gas). The estimated reserves of these fuels will last us another 50-l(X) years, at the present rate of consumption, so it is urgent that we find alternatives. 

According to lEA Outlook 2010 in January 1, 2010, the world s total proved natural gas reserves were estimated at 6,609 trillion cubic feet. As of January 1, 2010, proved world oil reserves were estimated at 12 billion barrels (see Table A-1 in Appendix for the conversion of energy units and Tables 1.3, 1.4, and 1.5). The USA reported 22.5 billion barrels of proved reserves in 1998, proved reserves of 19.1 billion barrels were reported in 2009—a decrease of only 3.4 billion barrels despite the cumulative 24.2 billion barrels of liquids supplied from the US reserves between 1998 and 2009 (lEA Outlook 2010, p. 37). 

Fig. 16.9. Estimated world natural gas reserves. (U.S. Department of Energy.y...

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