Natural Gas
[Due to the increasing size of the archives, each topic page now contains only the prior 365 days of content. Access to older stories is now solely through the Monthly Archive pages or the site search function.]
GE and STW Resources Collaborate to Recover Up to 70% of Hydraulic Fracturing Wastewater
July 17, 2008
GE Water & Process Technologies and STW Resources, Inc., (STW), a new company formed to use GE technology in water reclamation, formed a collaborative that will use a new, cost-effective process and patented GE thermal evaporation technologies to help oil and gas customers recover up to 70% of their hydraulic fracturing wastewater. Hydraulic fracturing is common technique used to increase the production rate of oil and gas wells, and creates billions of gallons of wastewater annually.
A conventional hydraulic fracture system combines freshwater with proppant (sand) and a polymer system. The polymer portion provides viscosity or thixotropic characteristics to carry the proppant into the reservoir. The fluid is pumped into the oil or gas bearing zone at very high pressure and cracks or fractures the structure, enabling the proppant to penetrate far back into the zone.
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Westport Innovations in Alt-Fuel Vehicle JV with China’s Largest Heavy-Duty Engine Manufacturer
July 16, 2008
Westport Innovations Inc.; Weichai Power Co. Ltd, China’s largest heavy-duty engine manufacturer; and Hong Kong Peterson (CNG) Equipment Limited have formed a joint venture—Weichai Westport Inc. (WWI)—to research, develop, design, manufacture, market, distribute and sell advanced, alternative fuel engines (plus relevant parts and kits) for use in automobiles, heavy-duty trucks, power generation and shipping applications.
Westport supplies a range of systems such as HPDI (earlier post) and H2DI (earlier post) enabling engines to operate on cleaner-burning gaseous fuels such as compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), hydrogen-natural gas blends (HCNG), hydrogen and biofuels such as landfill gas. Westport’s joint venture with Cummins Inc.—Cummins Westport Inc.—manufactures and sells low-emissions alternative fuel engines for commercial transportation applications such as trucks and buses.
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Global Energy Consumption Rises as Supplies Lag; Coal Still the Fastest Growing Fuel in the World
June 18, 2008
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| Global consumption of energy, in million tonnes of oil equivalent. Click to enlarge. |
According to the just-published BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2008, the ongoing strength of world economic growth last year, despite financial market turmoil which began in August, continued to support global energy consumption. Although growth in primary energy consumption slowed in 2007 compared to 2006, at 2.4% it was still above the 10-year average for the fifth consecutive year.
Coal remained the fastest-growing fuel, but oil consumption grew slowly. Oil is still the world’s leading fuel, but has lost global market share for six consecutive years, while coal has gained market share for six years.
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Mercedes Introduces New Natural Gas B-Class Model
May 22, 2008
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| In addition to the gasoline tank, the B 170 NGT has five natural gas reservoirs with a total capacity of 16 kilograms. Click to enlarge. |
Mercedes-Benz has introduced a new natural-gas platform in its revamped B-Class range: the B 170 NGT BlueEFFICIENCY. (Earlier post.)
The bi-fuel drive B 170 NGT can run on both natural gas and premium grade gasoline while delivering an identical maximum output of 85 kW (116 hp). Five natural gas tanks with a total capacity of 16 kg provide a natural gas range of more than 300 kilometers (186 miles). With the gasoline tank, the B 170 NGT has a total range in excess of 1,000 kilometers (621 miles).
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China and US Researchers Make Progress With Catalyst for Conversion of Stranded Methane to Transportable Liquid
Researchers in China and the US have identified details of the structure of a known catalytic material that can turn methane into a safe and easy-to-transport liquid. The insight lays the foundation for converting stranded methane in oil fields into a variety of useful fuels and chemicals.
The catalyst—molybdenum oxide sitting on a zeolite mineral—converts methane gas into the more tractable liquid benzene. The process is not yet commercially viable, as the scientists do not yet understand enough about the molecular details to improve the catalyst. Now, researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics in Liaoning province have worked out some of the details that will help researchers zoom in on an efficient catalyst.
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Senators Introduce Bill to Increase Domestic Oil and Natural Gas Production; Coal-Derived Fuel Mandate
May 04, 2008
US Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM), ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, introduced the American Energy Production Act of 2008 (S.2958) to increase domestic production of oil and natural gas and to fund the development of oil shale and coal-to-liquids technology. Eighteen other senators co-sponsored. Included in the bill is language for a coal-derived fuels mandate.
The bill would open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) as well as the Atlantic and Pacific regions of the Outer Continental Shelf for exploration and production; and lift the one-year moratorium on developing oil shale in Colorado, Wyoming and Utah.
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San Diego Launches CNG Hybrid-Electric Bus
April 29, 2008
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| The CNG hybrid bus. |
The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) has launched its first commercial bus with a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) hybrid-electric drive system (CNG Hybrid Drive System). ISE Corporation (ISE) developed and supplied the system, a variant of its ThunderVolt gasoline hybrid drive, and integrated it into a standard 40-foot transit bus supplied by MTS.
The $1-million CNG hybrid prototype bus will further cut emissions and fuel consumption of the CNG buses in the MTS fleet, providing more power and a quieter ride. Funding for the program was provided by grants from the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), San Diego Air Pollution Control District (APCD), and the California Air Resources Board (CARB).
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University Spin-Off to Begin Field Trial of Methanogenic Degradation of Heavy Oil Next Month
Researchers from Canada and the UK expect to begin field trials next month on the ability of anaerobic microbes to process in-situ heavy oil to produce methane—i.e., methanogenic degradation of heavy oil.
Scientists at Newcastle University, England, and the University of Calgary, Canada, have set up a company, Profero Energy Inc, to build on their recent research, which demonstrated how naturally-occurring microbes convert oil to methane over tens of millions of years. The team recently published a paper on their latest work in the journal Nature. (Earlier post.)
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Mercedes-Benz to Introduce New-Generation A- and B-Classes at Leipzig Show; Start/Stop Function on High-Volume Models
March 28, 2008
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| The new-generation A-Class. |
Mercedes-Benz will introduce its new-generation A- and B-Class vehicles at the Auto Mobil International (AMI) motor show in Leipzig (5-13 April). The new line-up features a number of fuel-saving enhancements, including a start/stop microhybrid function on high volume A- and B-Class vehicles. The B-Class is also now available with a gasoline/natural-gas drive system.
Fuel consumption for the standard new-generation A-Class models range between 4.9 and 8.1 liters per 100 kilometers (48 to 29 mpg US). Fuel consumption of the direct-injection diesel engines has been reduced by more than 8 percent or 0.5 liters per 100 kilometers compared with the outgoing models.
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UPS Deploys 167 Additional CNG Vans
March 27, 2008
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| The new CNG UPS van. |
UPS has deployed 167 additional Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) delivery vehicles in Texas, Georgia and California, joining more than 800 CNG vehicles already in use by UPS in the United States.
While previous CNG vehicles in UPS’ fleet were converted from gasoline and diesel vehicles in the 1980s to run on alternative fuels, the new vehicles are originally manufactured for alternative fuel use. The CNG truck bodies are identical externally to the signature-brown trucks that now constitute the UPS fleet although they will be marked as CNG vehicles.
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EPSRC Funds CO2 to Methane and Methanol Project
March 11, 2008
The UK’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is providing £167,530 (US$336,000) in funding for an 18-month research project that aims to develop an efficient, inexpensive aerogel photocatalytic diode that will reduce carbon dioxide and generate methane and methanol for use as fuels. The project begins 1 April 2008.
The project, left by Professor Andrew Mills at the University of Strathclyde, is in partnership with Johnson Matthey, a specialty chemical company with skills in catalysts, precious metals, fine chemicals and process technology.
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Mercedes Putting New Natural Gas Sprinter Van Into Series Production
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| The Sprinter NGT |
Mercedes-Benz is putting its Sprinter 316 /516 NGT natural gas van into series production, with market launch targeted for May 2008. The company began showing prototypes of the Sprinter NGT at vehicle shows last year. (Earlier post.)
Although Daimler has offered a natural gas version of the Sprinter since 1997, this is the first time the company has built a compressed natural gas version of the Sprinter from first principles. In the past, the NGT Sprinters have used a conversion from a gasoline engine—the M 111 E 23.
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VW Introduces Dual-Fuel CNG Passat at Geneva
March 06, 2008
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| The Passat Estate TSI EcoFuel. |
Volkswagen unveiled the dual-fuel Passat Estate TSI EcoFuel concept—a car powered by either natural gas or conventional gasoline—at the Geneva Motor Show. In mainland Europe the vehicle will be introduced in both saloon and estate bodystyles before the end of the year. Sales of the vehicle in the UK are yet to be confirmed.
The Passat Estate TSI EcoFuel is powered by a 1.4-liter TSI 110 kW (148 hp) engine running on either natural gas or gasoline. The engine features both a supercharger and a turbocharger operating sequentially to provide relatively high power outputs from a small capacity engine.
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Hyundai Introduces i-blue Systems at Geneva; Diesel and CNG Applications
March 05, 2008
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| The i10 blue offers CO2 emissions of 95 g/km. |
Hyundai Motor Co. is presenting its i-blue systems concept, an optimized combination of currently available technologies (i-blue package) with a completely new engine and a CNG application, at the Geneva Motor Show. The result is a range of technologies, based upon the i10, i10 CNG, i30 and the forthcoming i20, that are engineered to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions and that can be applied across existing models.
While the individual models differ in the exact combination of i-blue features, the overall package comprises advances in drag reduction, increased engine and transmission efficiency, and chassis fine-tuning.
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Natural Gas Roadster to Debut at Geneva Auto Show
February 06, 2008
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| The PGO Cévennes Turbo-CNG roadster. |
BRA GmbH and its partners, PGO Automobiles and gasmobil, will introduce a roadster with a methane (biogas/natural gas)-fuelled turbo engine at the upcoming International Auto Salon in Geneva from 6-16 March.
The PGO Cévennes Turbo-CNG roadster sports a 4-cylinder, 1.6-liter turbocharged engine coupled with a 6-speed manual transmission. Compression ratio in the engine is 11.0:1, and the engine offers maximum output of 110 kW (150 hp) at 5,600 rpm, with maximum torque of 210 Nm (155 lb-ft) at 2,300 rpm.
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Researchers Develop “Molecular Nanovalves” for Gas Storage in Metal Organic Frameworks; Potential for H2 Storage
February 02, 2008
Researchers at the University of Calgary (Canada) have developed a new process for capturing and storing gas in metal organic frameworks based on the use of “molecular nanovalves”. The new method of gas storage could yield benefits for capturing, storing and transporting gases more safely and efficiently.
Using the orderly crystal structure of a barium organotrisulfonate, the researchers developed a unique open-channel material that shifts structure to form closed pores in the solid when dehydrated. This occurs through multiple single-crystal to single-crystal transformations. The gas composing the atmosphere during dehydration becomes trapped in the resulting air-tight chambers. On rehydration, the pores open to release the trapped gas.
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Scientists Link Methane Formation by Bacteria in Shale Rock to Increases in Atmospheric Methane During Deglaciation; Production of the Gas Was Relatively Rapid
January 29, 2008
Researchers from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and Amherst College have linked the methane production of a subsurface consortium of fermentative and methanogenic bacteria in shale rock to increases in concentrations of atmospheric methane associated with the retreat of the continental ice sheets. The study also concluded that these bacteria produced large amounts of methane in a relatively short time.
Steven Petsch, assistant professor Geosciences at U Mass-Amherst, and his colleagues studied natural gas reservoirs in Michigan’s Antrim Shale. Their results are published in the February issue of the journal Geology.
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New MOF Methane Storage Material Exceeds DOE Goals for Adsorbed Natural Gas Storage by 28%
January 21, 2008
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| A nano-sized crystalline cage that shows promise as a superior storage material for methane. Click to enlarge. Courtesy of Shengqian Ma, Miami University. |
Researchers have developed a new metal-organic framework (MOF) material with what they believe to be the highest methane storage capacity yet measured. Methane adsorption studies of the new material—PCN-14—at 290 K (16.9°C or 62°F) and 35 bar show an absolute methane-adsorption capacity of 230 v/v (standard temperature and pressure equivalent volume of methane per volume of the adsorbent material), 28% higher than the US Department of Energy (DOE) target (180 v/v) for on-board methane storage.
The PCN-14 compound, composed of clusters of nano-sized cages, has a high surface area of 2,176 m2/g and a pore volume of 0.87 cm3/g. Hong-Cai Zhou and colleagues describe the development of PCN-14 in an report in the 23 January edition of the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
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Researchers Say Horizontal Drilling Key to Tapping Unconventional Natural Gas Reservoirs in Pennsylvania; Could Boost Proven US Reserves by Trillions of Cubic Feet
January 17, 2008
Natural gas distributed throughout the Marcellus black shale in northern Appalachia could conservatively boost proven US reserves by trillions of cubic feet if gas production companies employ horizontal drilling techniques to exploit natural fracture patterns, according to a Penn State and State University of New York, Fredonia, team.
Terry Engelder, Penn State professor of geosciences, working with Gary Lash, professor of geoscience, SUNY Fredonia, has estimated that the Marcellus shale contains 168 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in place and optimistically suggests that the amount could be as high as 516 trillion cubic feet.
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Energtek and Philippines Launch Project to Convert Three-Wheelers to ANG
December 21, 2007
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| ANG storage material. Click to enlarge. Source: Energtek |
Energtek Inc., the Department of Energy (DOE) of the Republic of the Philippines, and the Philippines National Oil Company Exploration Corporation launched a project for the conversion of three-wheel vehicles to natural gas-powered systems with adsorbed natural gas (ANG) storage, in the Republic of the Philippines.
Energtek’s adsorbed natural gas (ANG) technology addresses the two and three wheel vehicles market, which represents the fastest growing segment of the world automotive market. Most of the vehicles in this segment—currently estimated at about 200,000,000 units—are in Asia.
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Hunton Energy to Build Synthetic Natural Gas Plant at Dow Facility
December 13, 2007
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| Layout of the proposed SNG facility. Click to enlarge. |
Hunton Energy and the Dow Chemical Company have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will result in Hunton Energy building and operating a Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG) plant at Dow’s Oyster Creek Facility on the Texas Gulf Coast.
Under the proposed 15-year agreement with Dow, the Hunton Energy facility is slated to produce SNG and will use steam turbines to produce additional power from its byproduct steam. Processes in Hunton’s gasification system will capture 100% of the CO2 emissions from the facility for use in enhanced oil recovery, according to Hunton.
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Direct Injection of HCNG Extends Lean Limit, Increases Thermal Efficiency, and Can Reduce NOx
December 06, 2007
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| Emissions profiles for HCNG and CNG under part load condition. Click to enlarge. |
The use of a 30% hydrogen blend with natural gas in a direct injection natural gas engine results in a significant extension of the lean limit; an increase in engine thermal efficiency; a reduction in CO2 and HC emissions; and a reduction in NOx under certain conditions, although with a slight increase in others according to a paper presented by engineers from Orbital at the ANGVA Natural Gas Vehicle conference in Bangkok.
A variety of other studies have shown that the use of a blend of hydrogen and compressed natural gas (HCNG) in a conventional spark injected gaseous engine extends the lean limit, improves thermal efficiency and reduces emissions. Direct injection of gaseous fuels already has been shown to extend the load range of engines. The Orbital study builds on both by examining the effect of HCNG in a direct injection engine.
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Renault to Supply Natural Gas Trucks for Rail Merchandise Delivery Test in Paris
November 02, 2007
At the end of 2007, Monoprix and Fret SNCF will run a joint experiment for the delivery of merchandise by rail to Parisian shops which are part of the Monoprix group. The products will be leaving warehouses located in the suburbs with the last kilometers covered by a fleet of 20 trucks fuelled by natural gas.
Renault Trucks and its partner PVI will provide most of the vehicles to the logistics operators working for Monoprix: 4 Midlum NGVs (GVW 16T) and 10 Premium Distribution NGVs (GVW 28T) for Bourgey Montreuil-Geodis; and 4 other Premium Distribution NGVs for GT location.
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Westport and OMVL Form JV for Sub-5-Liter Class Alternative Fuel Engines
October 26, 2007
Westport Innovations Inc. and OMVL SpA have formed an equity joint venture to design, produce and sell alternative fuel engines in the sub-5-liter class for global applications. The new, jointly controlled company will be headquartered in Vancouver, Canada and will exploit the global engineering, production and distribution strengths of OMVL and its parent company, SIT Group, to deliver engines worldwide.
Westport, with expertise in engines and fuel systems which use gaseous fuels such as compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), hydrogen, and hydrogen-enriched compressed natural gas (HCNG), will support the new venture through supply of technology, design, testing and market development services.
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Angstore Completes Adsorbed Natural Gas (ANG) Motorcycle Road Test
October 17, 2007
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| ANG storage material. Click to enlarge. Source: Angstore |
Energtek Inc.’s Israeli subsidiary, Angstore Technologies Ltd, has successfully completed a set of road tests of an Indian scooter that was converted to run on ANG (adsorbed natural gas). This is the first reported motorcycle to operate utilizing ANG technology. Based on these successful tests, the company expects to begin serial conversions of motorcycles during 2008.
The ANG technology allows natural gas to be stored under lower pressures than does compressed natural gas (CNG), which is the prevalent technology for natural gas vehicles (NGV). The lower pressure used by ANG technology allows significant infrastructure cost savings for filling stations, lower fuel costs for the end-user, and may enable more efficient use of the vehicle’s space.
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UPS Adds 306 CNG and LPG Vehicles to Delivery Fleet
October 08, 2007
UPS is adding 306 alternative fuel vehicles to its fleet by placing an order for 167 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) delivery trucks while taking delivery of 139 new Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG, or propane) delivery trucks in North America. Additionally, the company has launched an initiative to use biodiesel fuel in its ground support vehicles at the UPS air hub in Louisville.
UPS’ global alternative-fuel fleet now stands at 1,629 vehicles—the largest such private fleet in the transportation industry—and includes CNG, liquefied natural gas, propane and electric and hybrid electric vehicles. The company also is working with the Environmental Protection Agency on a hydraulic hybrid delivery vehicle.
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First Gas Project In Barents Sea Comes Online
September 22, 2007
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| Snøhvit is the first gas project in the Barents Sea. Click to enlarge. |
The Snøhvit gas field in the Barents Sea has started production. The Snøhvit project is the first gas development in the Barents Sea and also involves the construction of the first LNG plant in Arctic conditions. Snøhvit also represents the first large-scale LNG project in Europe.
There are no above-surface platforms or floating production units for Snøhvit—all the field work and CO2 injection is done by subsea installations, remote-controlled from shore.
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Fiat Panda Aria Concept Car Features Downsized Engine, Hydrogen-CNG Blend Fuel and Stop-Start System
September 07, 2007
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| Panda Aria concept. |
Fiat will introduce its Panda Aria concept car at the Frankfurt Motor show later this month.
The concept car combines a new 0.9-liter twin-cylinder 80 bhp turbo engine from the new Small Gasoline Engine (SGE) family with a dual-fuel gasoline-CNG system designed to operate with a 70:30 mixture of methane and hydrogen. The twin-cylinder engine features Multiair electronic inlet valve control and is equipped with a stop-start device and coupled with the MTA (Manual Transmission Automated) gearbox. CO2 emissions are an estimated 69 g/km.
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Satellite Imagery Study Provides Check on Global Gas Flaring
September 01, 2007
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| Estimates of flaring from the analysis of satellite imagery. Click to enlarge. Source: NOAA |
A satellite imagery study by the World Bank in collaboration with the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) indicates that despite efforts to reduce the practice, global gas flaring has remained fairly stable over the last 15 years. The satellite data suggests a slight increase over the past few years, with an estimated 168 billion cubic meters (BCM) flared in 2006.
In 2006, the estimated global gas flaring volume of 168 BCM was roughly equivalent to 27% of the natural gas consumption of the USA (619.7 BCM, according to BP Statistical Review of Energy) with the associated loading of carbon emissions into the atmosphere.
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Peabody and ConocoPhillips Exploring Development of Coal to Synthetic Natural Gas Project
July 23, 2007
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| The methanation pathway for the production of SNG. Click to enlarge. |
Peabody Energy and ConocoPhillips are exploring the development of a commercial scale coal-to-substitute natural gas (SNG) facility using proprietary ConocoPhillips E-GAS gasifier technology.
The project would be developed as a mine-mouth facility at a location where Peabody has access to large reserves and existing infrastructure. It would be designed to produce 50 billion to 70 billion cubic feet of pipeline quality SNG annually from more than 3.5 million tons of Midwest sourced coal. In addition, presuming there is a supportive regulatory framework in place, the project scope will provide for carbon capture and storage.
