PROCESSING

Natural Gas Fundamentals

Natural gas is a naturally gaseous mixture that

is formed under the Earth’s surface. is
a naturally occurring hydrocarbon used as a
source of energy for heating, cooking, and
electricity generation. It is also used as a fuel for
vehicles and as a chemical feedstock in the
manufacture of plastics and other commercially
important organic chemicals.
 Background
• The term natural gas refers to hydrocarbons–rich gas
; it is a gaseous fossil fuel that is found in oil fields,
natural gas fields and coal beds.
• The first recorded natural gas well was drilled by
William Hart, who is considered to be America’s
“Father of Natural Gas” in 1821 in Fredonia, United
States.
• In its pure state, natural gas is colorless, shapeless and
odorless. It is a combustible gas, and it gives off a
significant amount of energy when burned.
• Considered to be an environmental friendly clean fuel
when compared with other fossil fuels.
 According to BP Statistical Review of World
Energy (2015), the total worldwide proved reserves of
natural gas were 187.1 trillion cubic meters at the end
of 2014, with a growth of approximately 0.3%
compared with the end of 2013 (186.5 tcm)

Globally, natural gas accounts for 23.7% of

primary energy consumption. The expected growth of
the global natural gas demands is 1.9% per annum
over the BP Energy Outlook. The usage of power and
industrial sectors accounts for over 80% of the growth
in the global demand for natural gas.
 Natural Gas Origins
• Thermogenic Process

This process involves the relatively slow

decomposition of organic material that occurs in
sedimentary basins under the influence of the
temperature and pressure with associated
increased depth. As a result of this decomposition
reaction, natural gas and petroleum are presumed
to be formed.
 Gas is derived from two types of kerogen:

1. LABILE KEROGEN, which can generate

both gas and oil with mass ratio of 0.2 in the
temperature range between 100 and 150°C.

2. REFRACTORY KEROGEN, which

generates gas at temperature between 150 and
220°C.
• Biogenic Process

In this process, methane is formed by the

action of living organisms ( methagenic bacteria)
on organic materials during the deposition of the
sediments and in the early part of their burial.
 The methanogenesis from oil or coal involves
different process through the action of various
groups of micro-organisms.

1. ACIDOGENESIS , through the action of the

heterotrophic bacteria that hydrolyze the large,
complex organic polymers to produce smaller and
simpler substrates.
2. ACETOGENESIS, through the fermentation of
the produced simple substrates by the action of
syntrophic bacteria to produce acetate, format, H2
and CO2.

3. METHANOGENESIS, through the formation

of methane from the fermented product by the
action of methanogenic Archaea.
• Abiogenic Process

In this process, the starting material is the

volcanic gases. Methane os formed by the
reduction of carbon dioxide during the magma
cooling, commonly in hydrothermal systems
during water-rock interaction.
 Natural Gas Reservoir

A gas reservoir is a naturally occurring storage

area; it consists of permeable and porous rock
surrounded by impermeable materials. Natural
gas is formed underneath the surface; it migrates
through the underground faults and fissures until
reaching the reservoirs.
• Classification of Natural Gas
• Classification according to Origin
1. Conventional Gas
A. Associated Gas, is a form of natural gas
which is found with deposits of petroleum, either
dissolved in the oil or as a free "gas cap" above the
oil in the reservoir. Historically, this type of gas
was released as a waste product from the
petroleum extraction industry.
B. Non-Associated Gas, also known as free gas or
dry gas is a naturally occurring gas that is not
dissolved in crude oil in a reservoir where oil is
extracted. Sometimes, it is found above some
fluids or under the oil present in the oil
reservoir but in a state of equilibrium. This gas
is also found in gas and condensate wells where
there is little or no crude oil present. Trenchless
drilling technology employing drilling rigs are
used to extract this gas to the surface.
2. Unconventional Gas
A. Shale Gas, is found in low-permeability
shale, impermeable sandstone, siltstones, sandy
carbonates, limestones, dolomite and chalk
reservoirs. The methane produced from these
reservoirs is not associated with oil. Shale gas can
be originated from thermogenic, biogenic and/or
mixture between pathways. The origin of the
natural gas in the shale basins have been approved
using the stable isotopes combined with hydro
geochemistry characteristics.
B. Shale Gas, also called tight gas refers to natural
gas that is trapped within shale formations. Shales are
fine-grained sedimentary rocks that can be rich
sources of petroleum and natural gas. It is natural gas
trapped in rock formations that have smaller pore
spaces and lower permeability than traditional
reservoirs.
C. Coal Bed Methane, also called Coal Mine
Methane is found in coal seams and is formed
during the coalification process. Thermogenic
coal-bed methane is formed during the
coalification process. Thermogenic coal-bed
methane is formed by the action of increasing
temperature and pressure in the buried organic
matter that is slowly transformed into coal.
D. Deep Aquifers Gas, is found during gas
migration through the aquifers to the reservoirs
rocks; the aquifers are then largely saturated with
methane . The solubility of methane in water is
low, so the aquifer gas content is influenced greatly
by the pressure, salinity and temperature.