Natural gas. Its properties, extraction and chemical composition. What is natural gas
The gas industry of the Russian Federation is one of the components of the fuel and energy complex. It includes enterprises for the production of electricity and its transportation (power industry), extraction and processing of all types of fuel (this is the fuel industry).
The development of the fuel industry is primarily due to the available reserves various kinds fuel. After all, if they are not there, then there can be no prey. However, in reality it is more difficult.
Natural gas occupies one of special places in fuel and energy and raw material base due to high consumer properties, low production and transportation costs, a wide range of applications in many areas of human activity. To date, there is a high rate of increasing natural gas reserves and its consumption.
Natural gas is the most valuable mineral resource, as the cheapest environmentally friendly fuel in preparation for the transition to a wider use of alternative non-traditional types of electricity (wind, solar, tidal, internal heat of the earth). That is why a thorough analysis of the gas industry is necessary, as one of the most important industries for the Russian economy. It is distinguished by:
Simplicity of extraction, does not need artificial pumping;
Ready for use without intermediate processing;
Transportation in both gaseous and liquid state;
Minimum emissions harmful substances during combustion;
The convenience of supplying fuel in an already gaseous state when it is compressed (lower cost of equipment using this species fuel);
Stocks are more extensive than other fuels (less market value);
Use in large sectors of the national economy;
A sufficient amount in the bowels of Russia;
Emissions of the fuel itself during accidents are less toxic to the environment;
High combustion temperature for use in technological schemes of the national economy.
The use of natural gas leads to an increase in the efficiency of social production. Because the extraction of natural gas is much cheaper than the extraction of oil and coal. If we consider the cost of coal (in terms of 1 ton of reference fuel) as 100%, then the cost of gas will be only 10%.
Natural gas is also one of the most highly economical sources of fuel and energy resources. Natural gas has a high natural labor productivity, which contributes to its widespread use in many sectors of the national economy. Favorable natural conditions for natural gas and high level scientific and technological progress in its transportation largely ensures the accelerated development of the gas industry.
The gas industry of the Russian Federation is still a very young branch of the fuel complex. It consists of the following elements:
Extraction of natural gas;
Associated gas production;
Production of combustible gas from coal and shale;
Gas storage.
The main proven sources are concentrated in two regions - in the countries of the CIS and the Middle East, despite widespread explored gas reserves in the world.
compressed natural gas motor fuel
Of the total explored reserves, Western Siberia accounts for 36.2 trillion cubic meters. m (77.7%), on the shelf of the northern seas - 3.2 trillion cubic meters. m (6.8%), on Eastern Siberia and the Far East - 2.8 trillion cubic meters. m (6%) (see Fig. 1.1). In general, the explored gas reserves in Russia (free gas and gas "caps") amount to approximately 48 trillion cubic meters. m.
Rice. 1.1
As can be seen from Figure 1.1, almost 73% of gas reserves are located in 22 unique (over 500 billion cubic meters of gas) fields, such as Orenburgskoye, Urengoyskoye, Yamburgskoye, Zapolyarnoye, etc. In 104 large deposits contains about 24% of gas reserves, and only 3% of explored reserves are accounted for by numerous (663) small and medium deposits federal Service state statistics [Electronic resource] - Access mode: http: //irkutskstat. gks.ru/ (date of access: 02.05.2016). .
It should be noted that the gas industry is a source of significant income for the state, so its development takes a fairly large amount of money and attention from the government. This leads to the fact that the industry is constantly developing and improving. This is due to the fact that new pipelines are being introduced, which are of high quality and reliable. We use unique gas production technologies, equipment and modern equipment. All this leads to the fact that the gas industry is constantly developing and becomes a source of such a large income that another industry can be developed for these funds. New gas fields are being discovered, which increases profits. It can be said with certainty that gas industry expects effective and continuous development, which will affect the country's economy as a whole. It should also be noted that Gazprom acts as a monopolist, so there is no need to worry that the gas sector will be unstable, since a single monopoly structure will not allow the breakdown of economic ties, as it could be in a competitive environment. At the same time, the company is constantly introducing new innovative technologies, participates in various projects, as well as all its activities are aimed at increasing the efficiency of the gas industry.
Today, the demand for gas in Russia is growing. Gas is consumed by more than 2 thousand cities, 3.5 thousand urban-type settlements, more than 190 thousand rural settlements. The share of gas in Russia's fuel balance is 48.8%. Behind last decade volumes of deliveries of blue fuel in the domestic market increased significantly. It is safe to say that there is significant growth potential, since at the moment gasification in countryside reaches only 31%.
Gas is used in the metallurgical, cement, light, food industries of the national economy as a fuel. The gas is also used as a feedstock for the chemical industry. Often gas replaces conventional fuels such as coal, fuel oil or peat. Thanks to high quality gas when it is used increases production efficiency. For example, in the metallurgical industry, the use of gas can save expensive coke, increase the productivity of furnaces and improve the quality of the metal produced. The use of gas at thermal power plants can significantly save on fuel transportation, increase the operating time of boilers, automate control of the power plant and reduce the number of required personnel. Recently, an important area of application of gas is its use as a fuel for cars. This approach allows to reduce the emission of harmful substances formed during the operation of an automobile engine by 40-60%.
In Russia, 93% of pig iron, 59% of open-hearth steel, 49% of rolled ferrous metals, 100% of refractories, 89% of sheet glass and 45% of precast concrete are produced using natural gas. The share of natural gas in the consumption of fuel and energy resources by power plants reaches 61% Federal State Statistics Service [Electronic resource] - Access mode: http: //irkutskstat. gks.ru/ (date of access: 02.05.2016). .
The engineering industry is also one of the large consumers natural gas. In the fuel balance of the machine-building industry, combustible gas accounts for about 40%. Heating and thermal furnaces are the main consumers. The use of natural gas in these furnaces instead of other types of fuel makes it possible to reduce the cost of heating, improve its quality, increase the efficiency of furnaces and create more favorable sanitary and hygienic conditions in industrial premises. Companies in this industry have varied structure energy consumption.
The presence at the enterprises of technological equipment with different temperature conditions opens up the possibility of a wide application of the method of integrated use of natural gas. Of great interest in industrial energy are autonomous combined schemes for the use of natural gas for the simultaneous generation of heat and electrical energy. In such plants, natural gas is burned in a gas turbine or internal combustion engine to drive power generators.
The method of direct reduction of iron from ores is also based on the use of gaseous fuel. In cupolas, the use of gas reduces the consumption of coke by half.
IN Food Industry gas is used for drying vegetables, fruits, food products, baking bakery and confectionery. The following gases are widely used as coolants: air and less often gaseous products of exothermic processes (oxidation of ammonia, production of sulfuric anhydride, etc.), combustion products.
The use of natural gas opens up great opportunities for the creation of simple, less metal-intensive and more economical boilers (steam and hot water) operating on natural gas. The efficiency of boiler installations at power plants increases by 1-4% when switching from solid to gas fuel; the number of service personnel is reduced by 21-26%. The total reduction in fuel consumption by increasing the efficiency and reducing the consumption of electricity for own needs is 6-7%. Combustion of natural gas in the furnaces of small capacity boilers increases the efficiency compared to solid fuel boilers by 7-20% (depending on the type of fuel) and increases productivity by 30% or more.
Also wide application natural gas found in public utilities. And it is impossible to imagine the existence of our world without it. beneficial substance. Life would just stop. Use of natural gas in everyday life modern man so familiar and ordinary that it seemed like it had always been like that. Using gas equipment is very convenient, and, most importantly, cost-effective. In fact, gas stoves, gas water heaters, gas water heaters do the same work as their electric counterparts, but they ask for much less pay for their work. Especially if you act wisely, and besides gas equipment have gas meters at home.
The use of liquefied gas for heating greenhouses during the cold season allows you to automate the heating process, as well as increase the level of carbon dioxide production for successful photosynthesis of greenhouse plants. Additional heat is required even for small barns or stables, and liquefied gas is also effectively used to dry feathers or dispose of them.
Liquefied gas is indispensable in many areas of farming and is used not only for heating industrial and residential premises. Thanks to the high calorific value of propane, you can grow, process and store crops with maximum efficiency, while maintaining the required level of environmental friendliness.
Using liquefied gas as energy for a grain dryer, it is required to install an autonomous gas supply system. Depending on the production capacity, containers of various sizes are installed. An underground gas pipeline is laid from the gas storage to the gas-using equipment. The amount of gas in the tank can be monitored using telemetry devices, which will allow timely fuel deliveries.
In the cold season, a variety of heating systems are used to produce heat in greenhouses and greenhouses, while the source of energy is a fundamental factor in economic benefits.
The use of energy-saving equipment such as infrared heaters will reduce the cost of liquefied gas. Radiant heating characterized by limited heat loss, efficient use of resources and minimal emissions. For objects remote from highways, the use of liquefied gas is the best solution.
Farms are usually located at a considerable distance from the main energy highways. At the same time, energy is one of the most important factors in the operation of the farm: energy supply is required for space heating and water heating, combustion organic waste, steam production and other technological processes. These tasks are effectively solved by installing an autonomous gas supply system. Liquefied gas is the optimal source of energy if the farm is located far from natural gas networks. Delivery of liquefied gas is carried out throughout Russia, even to the most remote areas. excellent calorific value and the efficiency of propane will keep your income going through the harshest of winters.
In medical practice, the use various gases. The most common are oxygen and nitrogen.
The breadth of the use of medical oxygen is quite large - this is the enrichment of gas mixtures used for respiratory disorders, for decompression sickness, for the treatment of asthmatic diseases of various etiologies, for the prevention of hypoxia - in the manufacture of oxygen cocktails and filling oxygen bags. Oxygen concentrators are the most popular now, due to their safety, reliability, mobility, economic efficiency and, of course, the high concentration of "produced" oxygen - up to 95%. The main sources of oxygen are primarily oxygen concentrators, special devices for chemical production oxygen, and then oxygen enrichment systems and cylinders with liquid or gaseous oxygen. Medical oxygen differs from any other in its higher concentration and the absence of various impurities.
It is necessary to use medical oxygen in emergency situations, during extensive surgical operations, during anesthesia, where artificial ventilation of the lungs is required, during resuscitation. Serious diseases such as stroke, heart attack, chronic respiratory failure also require oxygen treatment. But in Russia, medical oxygen is one of the most expensive medicines - oxygen is brought to many hospitals in our country from other cities.
Another gas used in medicine, but in smaller volumes, is helium. Gaseous pure helium is used for the production of breathing mixtures. Air filled with helium is several times lighter than ordinary air and breathing it, respectively, is several times easier. The most common in medicine are mixtures of helium and oxygen because of their optimal viscosity. This "helium" air is used to treat asthma, suffocation and other diseases associated with breathing difficulties.
As well as oxygen, nitrogen finds its application in liquid and gaseous form. In medical practice, the distribution of its use is about 90%. It is used to preserve blood, blood-containing preparations, blood substitutes, to preserve various organs and tissues in frozen form, as well as to prepare some powder medicines. Do not forget about another area where medical nitrogen is used - inhalation anesthesia. Nitrous oxide is used in operative gynecology, painful childbirth, during surgical operations, and sometimes even in myocardial infarction, since its toxic effects on the respiratory and cardio - vascular system extremely insignificant. Nitrous oxide is also used in analgesic attacks of acute pancreatitis, to relieve pain in acute coronary insufficiency. The supply of medical nitrogen is carried out in special steel cylinders with a volume of 10 liters, filled at the enterprises.
Today, natural gas is the most economical, environmentally friendly and safe fuel. The cost of 1 cu. m of gas as of May 1, 2016 for transport on average in Russia is 14 p. Natural gas belongs to the safest class of combustible substances. At the same time, the engine of such a vehicle corresponds to highest standards- Euro-5 and Euro-6. Two types of natural gas are used as a motor fuel: compressed (CNG) and liquefied (LNG).
Target market segments: compressed natural gas - passenger, light freight, passenger cars and municipal vehicles; liquefied natural gas - main road, rail, water transport, quarry and agricultural equipment.
Thus, the products of the sector under consideration are provided by industry (about 45% of the total national economic consumption), thermal power industry (35%), and public utilities (more than 10%). Gas is the most environmentally friendly fuel and a valuable raw material for the production of chemical products. More than 30 different gases are used in technology. Gases in engineering are mainly used as fuel; raw materials for the chemical industry: chemical agents in welding, gas chemical-thermal treatment of metals, creation of an inert or special atmosphere, in some biochemical processes, etc.; coolants; working body to perform mechanical work(firearms, jet engines and projectiles, gas turbines, combined-cycle plants, pneumatic transport, etc.): the physical environment for gas discharge(in gas discharge tubes and other devices).
Natural gas - gaseous hydrocarbons formed in the bowels of the earth. It is classified as a mineral, and its components are used as fuel.
Properties and composition of natural gas
Natural gas is flammable and explosive in proportion to about 10% of the volume of air. It is 1.8 times lighter than air, colorless and odorless, these properties are due to the high content of gaseous alkanes (CH4 - C4H10). The composition of natural gas is dominated by methane (CH4), it occupies from 70 to 98%, the rest of the volume is filled with its homologues, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, mercaptans, mercury and inert gases.
Classification of natural gases
There are only 3 groups:
- The first of these is almost excluding the content of hydrocarbons with more than two carbon compounds, the so-called dry gases, obtained exclusively in fields intended only for the production of gases.
- The second is gases produced simultaneously with primary raw materials. It's dry liquefied gases and natural gasoline, mixed with each other.
- The third group includes gases consisting of dry gas and a significant amount of heavy hydrocarbons, from which gasoline, naphtha and kerosene are isolated. In addition, the composition contains a small amount of other substances. These substances are extracted from gas condensate fields.
Properties of constituent substances
The first four members of the homologous series under normal conditions are combustible gases that do not have color and smell, are explosive and combustible:
Methane
The first substance of the alkane series is the most resistant to temperatures. It is slightly soluble in water and lighter than air. The combustion of methane in air is marked by the appearance of a blue flame. The most powerful explosion occurs when one volume of methane is mixed with ten volumes of air. At other volumetric ratios, an explosion also occurs, but of lesser force. In addition, irreparable harm can be caused to a person if a high concentration of gas is inhaled.
Methane can be in a solid state of aggregation in the form of gas hydrates.
Application:
It is used as an industrial fuel and raw material. Methane is used to produce a number of important products - hydrogen, freons, formic acid, nitromethane and many other substances. With the help for the production of methyl chloride and its homologous compounds, methane is subjected to chlorination. With incomplete combustion of methane, finely dispersed carbon is obtained:
CH4 + O2 = C + 2H2O
Formaldehyde appears through the course of the oxidation reaction, and when reacting with sulfur - carbon disulfide.
Breaking the carbon bonds of methane under the influence of temperature and current realizes the production of acetylene used in industry. Hydrocyanic acid is produced by the oxidation of methane with ammonia. Methane - a derivative of hydrogen in the generation of ammonia, as well as the production of synthesis gas, occurs with its participation:
CH4 + H2O -> CO+ 3H2
Used to bind hydrocarbons, alcohols, aldehydes and other substances. Methane is actively used as fuel for vehicles.
Ethane
The hydrocarbon of the limiting series C2H6 is a colorless substance in the gaseous state, weakly illuminating during combustion. It is soluble in alcohol in a ratio of 3:2, as they say, “like in like”, but almost insoluble in water. At temperatures above 600 ° C, in the absence of an accelerator, ethane decomposes into ethylene and hydrogen:
CH4 + H2O -> CO+ 3H2
Ethane is not used in the fuel industry, the main purpose of its use in industry is the production of ethylene.
Propane
This gas is poorly soluble in water and is a widely used type of fuel. It produces a lot of heat when burned, practical to use. Propane is a by-product of the oil industry's kracking process.
Butane
It has low toxicity, a specific smell, has intoxicating properties, inhalation of butane causes asphyxia and cardiac arrhythmia, negatively affects the nervous system. Appears during the cracking of associated petroleum gas.
Application:
The undeniable advantages of propane are low cost ease of transportation. Propane-butane mixture is used as fuel in settlements, where natural gas is not supplied, when processing low-melting materials with a small thickness, instead of acetylene. Propane is often used in the procurement of raw materials and the processing of scrap metal. In everyday life, the sphere of necessity is space heating and cooking on gas stoves.
In addition to saturated alkanes, the composition of natural gas includes:
Nitrogen
Nitrogen consists of two isotopes 14A and 15A and is used to maintain pressure in wells during drilling. To obtain nitrogen, air is liquefied and separated by distillation; this element makes up 78% of the composition of air. It is mainly used for the production of ammonia, from which nitric acid, fertilizers and explosives are obtained.
Carbon dioxide
Connection passing at atmospheric pressure from a solid (dry ice) to a gaseous state. It is released during the respiration of living beings, is also found in mineral springs and air. Carbon dioxide is a food additive used in fire extinguisher bottles and air guns.
hydrogen sulfide
A very toxic gas is the most active of the sulfur-containing compounds, and therefore it is very dangerous for humans by direct effects on the nervous system. Colorless gas under normal conditions, characterized by a sweetish taste and a disgusting odor rotten eggs. Let's well dissolve in ethanol, unlike water. Sulfur is obtained from it sulfuric acid and sulfites.
Helium
This is a unique product that slowly accumulates in the Earth's crust. It is obtained by deep freezing gases containing helium. In the gaseous state - an inert gas that does not have an external expression. Helium in a liquid state, also odorless and colorless, but can affect living tissues. Helium is non-toxic, cannot explode or ignite, but causes asphyxiation at high concentrations in air. It is used when working with metals and as a filler for balloons and airships.
Argon
Noble non-flammable, non-toxic, tasteless and colorless. It is produced as an escort for the separation of air into oxygen and nitrogen gas. Used to displace water and oxygen to extend the shelf life of food, it is also used in metal welding and cutting.
Definition
Natural gas is a mineral in the gaseous state. It is widely used as a fuel. But natural gas itself is not used as a fuel, its components are separated from it for separate use.
Composition of natural gas
Up to 98% of natural gas is methane, it also includes methane homologues - ethane, propane and butane. Sometimes carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and helium may be present. This is the composition of natural gas.
Physical properties
Natural gas is colorless and odorless (if it does not contain hydrogen sulfide), it is lighter than air. Flammable and explosive.
Below are more detailed properties of natural gas components.
Properties of individual constituents of natural gas (consider the detailed composition of natural gas)
Methane(CH4) is a colorless, odorless gas, lighter than air. Flammable, but still it can be stored with sufficient ease.
Ethane(C2H6) is a colorless, odorless and colorless gas, slightly heavier than air. Also combustible, but not used as a fuel.
Propane(C3H8) is a colorless, odorless gas, poisonous. It has a useful property: propane liquefies at low pressure, which makes it easy to separate it from impurities and transport it.
Butane(C4H10) - similar in properties to propane, but has a higher density. Twice as heavy as air.
Carbon dioxide(CO2) is a colorless, odorless gas with a sour taste. Unlike the other components of natural gas (with the exception of helium), carbon dioxide does not burn. Carbon dioxide is one of the least toxic gases.
Helium(He) - colorless, very light (the second of the lightest gases, after hydrogen) without color and odor. Extremely inert, under normal conditions does not react with any of the substances. Does not burn. Not toxic, but high blood pressure can cause anesthesia, like other inert gases.
hydrogen sulfide(H2S) is a colorless heavy gas with a smell of rotten eggs. Very poisonous, even at very low concentrations it causes paralysis of the olfactory nerve.
Properties of certain other gases that are not part of natural gas but have uses similar to those of natural gas
Ethylene(C2H4) - A colorless gas with a pleasant smell. It is similar in properties to ethane, but differs from it in lower density and flammability.
Acetylene(C2H2) is an extremely flammable and explosive colorless gas. With strong compression, it can explode. It is not used in everyday life due to the very high risk of fire or explosion. The main application is in welding work.
Application
Methane used as fuel in gas stoves.
propane and butane as fuel in some vehicles. Lighters are also filled with liquefied propane.
Ethane it is rarely used as a fuel, its main use is the production of ethylene.
Ethylene is one of the most produced organic matter in the world. It is a raw material for the production of polyethylene.
Acetylene used to create very high temperature in metallurgy (reconciliation and cutting of metals). Acetylene it is very combustible, therefore it is not used as a fuel in cars, and even without this, the conditions for its storage must be strictly observed.
hydrogen sulfide, despite its toxicity, is used in small quantities in the so-called. hydrogen sulfide baths. They use some of the antiseptic properties of hydrogen sulfide.
Main useful property helium is its very low density (7 times lighter than air). Helium fill balloons and airships. Hydrogen is even lighter than helium, but at the same time combustible. are very popular among children air balloons inflated with helium.
Toxicity
Carbon dioxide. Even large quantities carbon dioxide does not affect human health in any way. However, it prevents the absorption of oxygen when the content in the atmosphere is from 3% to 10% by volume. At this concentration, suffocation and even death begin.
Helium. Helium is completely non-toxic under normal conditions due to its inertness. But with increased pressure, the initial stage of anesthesia occurs, similar to the effect of laughing gas *.
hydrogen sulfide. The toxic properties of this gas are great. With prolonged exposure to the sense of smell, dizziness and vomiting occur. The olfactory nerve is also paralyzed, so there is an illusion of the absence of hydrogen sulfide, but in fact the body simply does not feel it anymore. Hydrogen sulfide poisoning occurs at a concentration of 0.2-0.3 mg / m3, a concentration above 1 mg / m3 is fatal.
combustion process
All hydrocarbons, when fully oxidized (excess oxygen), release carbon dioxide and water. For example:
CH4 + 3O2 = CO2 + 2H2O
With incomplete (lack of oxygen) - carbon monoxide and water:
2CH4 + 6O2 = 2CO + 4H2O
With an even smaller amount of oxygen, finely dispersed carbon (soot) is released:
CH4 + O2 = C + 2H2O.
Methane burns with a blue flame, ethane - almost colorless, like alcohol, propane and butane - yellow, ethylene - luminous, carbon monoxide - light blue. Acetylene - yellowish, strongly smokes. If you have a home gas stove and instead of the usual blue flame, you see yellow - you know, this is methane diluted with propane.
Notes
Helium, unlike any other gas, does not exist in a solid state.
Laughing gas is the trivial name for nitrous oxide N2O.
Comments and additions to the article - in the comments.
Gas is one of the most widely used minerals. It is used in many areas of human life as a fuel and allows you to perform tasks that were previously unattainable. Natural gas, like coal or oil, is extracted from the earth's interior using special equipment. It was formed under the influence of high temperature and pressure from the remains of organic matter of animal origin over thousands of years.
Quite heterogeneous, depending on the places of occurrence and various external factors it may include different quantities: nitrogen, ethane, butane, propane, hydrogen, hydrogen sulfide, etc.
How is gas used in the modern world?
Basically, gas is used as a fuel for cars, thermal power plants, fuel for heating residential and storage facilities as well as for heating and cooking. It is widely used in the chemical and fuel and energy industries. Due to its affordable price and absolute environmental friendliness (gas is considered the most harmless mineral fuel in nature), it is used for both domestic and industrial needs throughout the planet.
How is natural gas used in the chemical industry?
The use of natural gas in the chemical industry has made it possible to synthesize substances such as polyethylene that did not previously exist in nature. In addition, it is used as a raw material for the creation of a variety of organic substances: acids, alcohol, plastics, rubber, etc.
By itself, natural gas is odorless and colorless. Because of this feature, it cannot be used in its pure form, since its leakage will be completely invisible. To protect people, substances that have bad smell, such as ethyl mercaptan.
How is natural gas transported and where is it used?
Natural from wells, after which it is purified from various impurities, a flavoring agent is added and fed into the pipeline under a pressure of 75 atmospheres. It is pumped through the gas transmission system to distribution stations, from which it is sent to consumers under much lower pressure.
There is also a method of liquefying natural gas, which allows it to be transported using special tankers. Further use of such gas is no different from the previous version. In the port, gas is pumped out and fed into the gas transmission system.
Natural gas, which we are all so accustomed to in our kitchens, is a close relative of oil. It consists mostly of methane with impurities of heavier hydrocarbons (ethane, propane, butane). In natural natural conditions it also often contains impurities of other gases (helium, nitrogen, hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide).
Typical composition of natural gas:
hydrocarbons:
- Methane - 70-98%
- Ethane - 1-10%
- Propane - up to 5%
- Butane - up to 2%
- Pentane - up to 1%
- Hexane - up to 0.5%
impurities:
- Nitrogen - up to 15%
- Helium - up to 5%
- Carbon dioxide - up to 1%
- Hydrogen sulfide - less than 0.1%
Natural gas is extremely widespread in the bowels of the earth. It can be found in the thickness of the earth's crust at a depth of several centimeters to 8 kilometers. As well as oil, natural gas, in the process of migration to earth's crust, falls into traps (permeable formations limited by an impermeable rock mass), resulting in the formation of gas fields.
Five largest gas fields in Russia:
- Urengoy (gas)
- Yamburgskoye (oil and gas condensate)
- Bovanenkovo (oil and gas condensate)
- Shtokmanovskoye (gas condensate)
- Leningrad (gas)
Natural (hydrocarbon) gas is a frequent companion of oil fields. It is usually contained in oil in dissolved form, and in some cases accumulates in the upper part of the deposits, forming the so-called gas cap. For a long time, the gas released during oil production, called associated gas, was an undesirable component of the extraction process. Most often it was simply burned in torches.
Only in the last few decades, mankind has learned to fully use all the advantages of natural gas. Such a delay in mastering this is extremely valuable species fuel is largely due to the fact that the transportation of gas and its use in industry and everyday life require a fairly high technical and technological level of development. In addition, natural gas, when mixed with air, forms an explosive mixture, which requires increased safety measures when using it.
Gas application
Some attempts to use gas were made as early as the 19th century. Luminous gas, as it was then called, served as a source of illumination. The development of gas fields at that time was not yet carried out, and gas produced together with oil was used for lighting. Therefore, such gas is often called oil. Such oil gas, for example, for a long time illuminated Kazan. It was also used to illuminate St. Petersburg and Moscow.
At present, gas plays more and more significant role in the energy of the world. The range of its application is very wide. It is used in industry, at home, in boiler houses, thermal power plants, as a motor fuel for cars and as a feedstock in the chemical industry.
Gas is considered relatively clean view fuel. When gas is burned, only carbon dioxide and water are produced. At the same time, carbon dioxide emissions are almost two times less than when burning coal and 1.3 times less than when burning oil. Not to mention the fact that when oil and coal are burned, soot and ash remain. Due to the fact that of all fossil fuels, gas is the most environmentally friendly type, it occupies a dominant position in the energy of modern megacities.
How gas is produced
Just like oil, natural gas is extracted using wells, which are distributed evenly over the entire area of the gas field. Production occurs due to the pressure difference in the gas-bearing reservoir and on the surface. Under the action of reservoir pressure, the gas is pushed through the wells to the surface, where it enters the collection system. Next, the gas is supplied to the installation integrated training gas, where it is purified from impurities. If there is a small amount of impurities in the produced gas, then it can be immediately sent to the gas processing plant, bypassing the complex treatment unit.
How gas is transported
Gas is transported mainly through pipelines. The main volumes of gas are transported main gas pipelines, where the gas pressure can reach 118 atm. Consumers get gas through distribution and intra-house gas pipelines. First, the gas passes through the gas distribution station, where its pressure is reduced to 12 atm. Then, through gas distribution pipelines, it is supplied to gas control points, where its pressure is again lowered, this time to 0.3 atm. After that, through the intra-house gas pipelines, the gas enters our kitchen.
All this huge gas distribution infrastructure is a truly large-scale picture. Hundreds and hundreds of thousands of kilometers of gas pipelines that have entangled almost the entire territory of Russia. If all this web of gas pipelines is stretched in one line, then its length will be enough to get from the Earth to the Moon and back. And this is only the gas transportation system of Russia. If we talk about the entire global gas transportation infrastructure, then we will talk about millions of kilometers of pipelines.
Since natural gas has neither odor nor color, in order to be able to quickly detect gas leaks, it is artificially given an unpleasant odor. This process is called odorization and takes place at gas distribution stations. Sulfur-containing compounds, such as ethanethiol (EtSH), are commonly used as odorants, that is, unpleasant smelling substances.
Gas consumption is seasonal. In winter, its consumption increases, and in summer it decreases. To smooth out seasonal fluctuations in gas consumption, underground gas storage facilities (UGS) are being built near large industrial centers. These may be depleted gas fields adapted for gas storage or artificially created underground salt caves. In summer, the surplus of transported gas is sent to UGS facilities, and in winter, on the contrary, a possible lack of capacity of the pipeline system is compensated by gas withdrawal from storage facilities.
In world practice, in addition to gas pipelines, natural gas is often transported in liquefied form by means of special vessels - gas carriers (methane carriers). In liquefied form, the volume of natural gas is reduced by 600 times, which is convenient not only for transportation, but also for storage. For liquefaction, the gas is cooled to the condensation temperature (-161.5 ° C), as a result of which it turns into a liquid. In such a chilled form, it is transported. The main producers of liquefied natural gas are Qatar, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia and Nigeria.
Outlook and trends
Due to its environmental friendliness and the constant improvement of technology and technology, both in the production and use of gas, this type of fuel is becoming increasingly popular. BP, for example, forecasts demand for gas to outpace other fossil fuels.
The growing demand for gas leads to the search for new, often unconventional, sources of gas. These sources can be:
- Coal bed gas
- Shale gas
- Gas hydrates
♦ Coal bed gas mining began only in the late 1980s. This was first done in the USA, where the commercial feasibility of this type of mining has been proven. In Russia, Gazprom began testing this method in 2003, when it began trial production of coal-bed methane in Kuzbass. Gas production from coal seams is also carried out in other countries - Australia, Canada and China.
♦ Shale gas. The shale revolution in gas production that has taken place in the United States in the past decade has been on the front pages of periodicals. The development of horizontal drilling technology has made it possible to produce gas from low-permeability shale in volumes that pay back the costs of its extraction. The phenomenon of the rapid development of shale gas production in the United States is spurring other countries to develop this direction. Beyond the USA active work shale gas production is carried out in Canada. China also has significant potential for the development of large-scale shale gas production.
♦ Gas hydrates. A significant part of natural gas is in a crystalline state in the form of so-called gas hydrates (methane hydrates). Large reserves of gas hydrates exist in the oceans and in the permafrost zones of the continents. Estimated gas hydrate reserves currently exceed the combined reserves of oil, coal and conventional gas. The development of economically viable technologies for the extraction of gas hydrates is being intensively pursued in Japan, the USA and some other countries. Japan pays special attention to this topic, deprived of traditional gas reserves and forced to purchase this type of resource at extremely high prices.
Natural gas as a fuel and a source of chemical elements has a great future. In the long term, it is considered to be the main type of fuel that will be used during the transition of world energy to cleaner renewable resources.
