SEC 610 - Position Paper 2 - Natural Gas

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Southern New Hampshire University *

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610

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Geography

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Feb 20, 2024

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docx

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Uploaded by ChancellorQuetzalPerson607

Position Paper 2 – Natural Gas - Current status of energy technology, including the TBL Natural gas is a hot topic in the energy industry because it supports decarbonization. The decomposition of organic matter exposed to high temperatures and pressure led to the creation natural gas, petroleum, and oil (EIA, 2023). Exploring and producing natural gas closely mirrors the process of petroleum. Often, natural gas is located in the same reservoirs as oil, with gas typically found above oil due to its lighter density. Similarly to oil, some natural gas flows effortlessly to wells driven by the natural pressure within the underground reservoir, pushing the gas through the reservoir rocks (DOE, 2014). Due to natural gas being buried deep within the earth, powerful equipment must be utilized to remove the material. Currently, hydraulic fracturing is the most common technique employed to extract natural gas. Hydraulic fracturing, commonly employed in low-permeability formations such as tight sandstone, shale, and certain coal beds, serves to enhance the flow of oil and/or gas from petroleum-rich rock formations. Analogously, a comparable method is applied to enhance permeability in subterranean geothermal reservoirs. Additionally, a variant of hydraulic fracturing is utilized in low-permeability sediments and other tight subsurface formations to optimize the effectiveness of soil vapor extraction and other remediation technologies employed in contaminated site cleanup (USGS, 2019). In some cases, fracking has been successful in unlocking vast reserves of oil and natural gas previously inaccessible. However, it has also faced criticism and concerns regarding its potential environmental impacts, such as groundwater contamination, induced seismic activity, and methane emissions. Therefore, while fracking has been successful in increasing energy production in certain areas, its overall success is subject to debate and often depends on balancing economic benefits with environmental and social risks. Advancements in energy technology continue to drive innovation and improve the sustainability of natural gas production and utilization, aligning with the principles of the Triple Bottom Line framework to balance economic prosperity, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility. Such technological progression includes: - Seismic Imaging – Using sound waves to shape three-dimensional models of geological formations within the earth. The reflected sound waves are recorded, processed, and interpreted to discover the anatomy and configuration of the subsurface, facilitating the locating of oil and gas reservoirs (Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics, 2023). Advanced seismic imaging techniques are used to locate potential natural gas reservoirs more accurately, reducing exploration costs and environmental impact. - Horizontal Drilling – This technique entails drilling a well horizontally through a formation, maintaining a 90° angle from vertical. The extended lateral sections of the

well enhance contact with the reservoir, leading to improved productivity (Islam, M., & Hossain, M., 2020) - Methane Mitigation Technology - Methane detection and mitigation technologies aim to reduce fugitive emissions during natural gas production, addressing concerns about greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. Research and development (R&D) initiatives for methane mitigation encompass the advancement of pipeline construction materials, monitoring sensors, data management systems, and compressor stations with enhanced efficiency and flexibility. Additionally, efforts in quantifying methane emissions will concentrate on developing technologies for detecting, locating, and measuring these emissions. (FECM, 2023). - Water management technologies, including recycling and treatment systems, minimize freshwater usage and mitigate contamination risks associated with hydraulic fracturing operations. Veolia Water Technologies, for instance, has developed an Actiflo® High-Rate Clarifier/Softener, compact technology that uses micro-sand and polymer flocculation to accelerate settling velocity, removing over 99% of Total Suspended Solids (Veolia, n.d); polymer flocculation involves adding polymer molecules to liquid to clump suspended particles, which eases their removal through settling or filtration. It is widely used in water treatment, wastewater treatment, and industrial processes to enhance solid-liquid separation efficiency (Clearwater Industries, 2021). ClearWater Industries (2021, March 5). Polymer Water Treatment: How Coagulants and Flocculants Clean Wastewater . Clearwaterind.com. Retrieved February 10, 2024, from https://clearwaterind.com/polymer-water-treatment-how-coagulants-and-flocculants-clean- wastewater/ Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics (2023, March 1). Seismic imaging provides insight into the Earth's subsurface. Phys.org. Retrieved February 10, 2024, from https://phys.org/news/2023-03-seismic-imaging-insight-earth-subsurface.html Islam, M., & Hossain, M. (2020). Drilling Engineering Towards Achieving Total Sustainability (pp. 317-382). Gulf Professional Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-820193- 0.00003-4 Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (2023, October 23). Methane Mitigation Technologies . Energy.gov. https://www.energy.gov/fecm/methane-mitigation-technologies U.S. Geological Survey (2019, March 2). Hydraulic Fracturing. Usgs.gov. Retrieved February 10, 2024, from https://www.usgs.gov/mission-areas/water-resources/science/hydraulic-fracturing Veolia Water Technololgies, Inc. (n.d.). Oil & Gas Industry . Veoliawatertech.com. Retrieved February 10, 2024, from https://www.veoliawatertech.com/en/expertise/industries-we-serve/oil- gas

- Evaluation of current advances and trends, including the TBL As the world seeks to uncover effective tactics to improve the health of the planet by minimizing the toxic effects of greenhouse gases, global warming, and climate warming, natural gas is being considered as an alternative energy source to fossil fuels. A significant trend in the global natural gas industry is the categorization of products into types (Methane, Ethane, Propane, Other) and applications (Power Generation, Industrial Fuel, Household Fuel, Automotive Fuel, Chemical Industry) to accommodate its rapid expansion; the industry is forecasted to continue growing for decades to come due to its varied usage. Moreover, the current war in Ukraine has forced countries that generally rely on oil and petroleum from Russia to utilize other forms of energy (Global Research Insights, 2023). Thanks to its abundant resources, the US now produces most of the natural gas it consumes. In 2022, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported a record high in dry natural gas production, reaching approximately 36.35 trillion cubic feet (Tcf), with an average daily production of about 96.60 billion cubic feet. The Marcellus Shale, spanning several states including Pennsylvania and West Virginia, is one of the largest natural gas fields in the US, while the Permian Basin in Texas and New Mexico has seen a surge in gas production alongside its oil output. Other significant areas include the Haynesville Shale in Louisiana and East Texas, the Piceance Basin in Colorado, the Anadarko Basin across Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, and Colorado, and the Utica Shale beneath Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, offering significant future potential for gas production. In 2022, US dry natural gas production surpassed its total consumption by approximately 13%; dry natural gas refers to natural gas consisting of methane l acking significant amounts of liquid hydrocarbons like condensate or natural gas liquids (NGLs). Despite primarily relying on domestic production, the US still imports some natural gas (Ijaz, 2023). The top producers of natural gas in the US based on production include:  BP  ConocoPhillips  Direct Energy  EDF Trading NA  EQT Corp  Macquarie Energy  Shell Energy North America  Southwestern Energy Services  Tenaska  Williams Companies Inc

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Assessment of ongoing advancements and trends in natural gas, incorporating the Triple Bottom Line (TBL), involves analyzing various factors related to environmental, social, and economic impacts. An interest in renewable natural gas (RNG) is one such advancement. RNG is a high-quality biogas derived from the gaseous material emitted during the decomposition of organic matter that is able to be used as fuel in transportation. RNG can be generated from processing biological wastes from livestock, gases originating from the breakdown of materials in landfills, wastewater treatment, and other materials such as food manufacturing and wholesalers, grocery stores, restaurants, hospitals, and educational facilities (EERE, n.d.). The expansion of the natural gas market brought about a rise in carbon dioxide emissions. The Department of Energy reported in 2017 that key industrial sources of CO2 emissions in the United States involve natural gas processing, refineries, metals and cement production, and lime manufacturing. Carbon-capturing storage (CCS) is an emerging technology that is receiving global interest because it functions to separate and capture carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) from the releases of industrial processes before it is emitted into the atmosphere and maintains the CO 2 in subsurface geologic formations; this technology allows for polluting emissions to be decreased while the industry’s operating activities continue (NETL,n.d.).

Global Research Insights (2023, November 22). Natural Gas Market - Growth, Trends and Forecast (2023 - 2030) . Linkedin.com. Retrieved February 10, 2024, from https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/natural-gas-market-growth-trends-forecast-4omnf/ Ijaz, S. (2023, November 29). Top 25 Natural Gas Producers in the US . Finance.Yahoo.com/. Retrieved February 10, 2024, from https://finance.yahoo.com/news/top-25-natural-gas- producers-204113643.html National Energy Technology Laboratory (n.d.). What Is Carbon Capture And Storage? Netl.doe.gov. Retrieved February 10, 2024, from https://netl.doe.gov/carbon-management/carbon-storage/faqs/carbon-storage-faqs Statista (n.d.). Selected Natural Gas Producers in the United States In Q3 2022, Based On Average Production Volume . Statista.com/. Retrieved February 10, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/244505/leading-natural-gas-producers-in-the-us-based-on- production-volume/ US Department of Energy (n.d.). Carbon Capture Opportunities for Natural Gas Fired Power Systems . Energy.gov/. Retrieved February 10, 2024, from https://www.energy.gov/fecm/articles/carbon-capture-opportunities-natural-gas-fired-power- systems#:~:text=These%20technologies%20include%20first%2D%20generation,remove %20CO2%20during%20natural%20gas US Department of Energy (n.d.). Renewable Natural Gas Production . Afdc.Energy.gov/. Retrieved February 10, 2024, from https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/natural_gas_renewable.html#:~:text=Renewable%20natural %20gas%20(RNG)%20is,been%20processed%20to%20purity%20standards . - Identification of the costs, timelines, and policies necessary to make a viable source - Conclusions about the feasibility of the energy source in the future

SEC 610 - Position Paper 2 - Natural Gas

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