Twitter headlinesNatural 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.]
Russia Moves To Rein In Gas Flaring, Mandating 95% Gas Capture by 2012; Signals About-Face On Climate Change
November 19, 2009
by Jack Rosebro
| A view of Russian gas flaring based on satellite observations. Source: US NOAA and the World Bank-led Global Gas Flaring Reduction Partnership. (Video) Click to enlarge. |
The Russian government has ordered oil companies to take steps to capture up to 95% of the natural gases associated with petroleum extraction, in a bid to recover the “billions of rubles” worth of natural gas that is emitted into the atmosphere every year via gas flaring, according to the Kremlin.
During his 12 November address to the Russian parliament, President Dmitry Medvedev presented gas flaring as one of the country’s more egregious examples of wasted energy resources. “The government has discussed the issue on many occasions, and has promised to put an end to this disgrace. We really do need to take quick and decisive action, and no objections from the [oil] production companies should be accepted”, Medvedev stated.
More... | Comments (14) | TrackBack (0)
Toyota Shows Surfrider Camry Hybrid CNG, Two Modified Prius Hybrids at SEMA
November 03, 2009
| Surfrider Camry CNG Hybrid. Click to enlarge. |
Toyota Motor Sales (TMS) USA has partnered with the Surfrider Foundation to create a specially modified Camry Hybrid fueled by compressed natural gas (CNG). The Toyota Surfrider Camry Hybrid CNG and two modified Prius gas-electric hybrid vehicles are on display in the Environmental Lifestyle Zone of the Toyota vehicle display at the 2009 SEMA Show.
The CNG system in the Surfrider Camry hybrid was built by Metal Crafters of Fountain Valley, Calif.; Metal Crafters also built the CNG Camry Hybrid concept in 2008. To convert the stock Camry Hybrid to a CNG vehicle, the gasoline fuel system was replaced with a CNG system in the spare tire well area.
More... | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)
GE Introduces Upgraded 7FA Gas Turbine for Power Generation; Improved Output and Efficiency
October 28, 2009
| The upgraded Frame 7A gas turbine. Click to enlarge. |
Using next generation gas turbine technology to increase output and efficiency, GE Energy introduced an upgraded Frame 7FA heavy-duty gas turbine for 60 Hz power plants.
The power output of the new 7FA will increase to 211 MW—a 36 MW increase over today’s 7FA—in simple cycle operation. In combined cycle configuration (two gas turbines and one steam turbine), the power output will increase to 627 MW—a 98 MW increase in power generation. GE has also increased the efficiency in each configuration: thermal efficiency will increase to 38.5% in simple cycle operation, and to 57.5% in combined cycle operation. Each point of efficiency increase translates to major savings in fuel costs for each megawatt of power produced.
More... | Comments (17) | TrackBack (0)
Sturman Industries Targeting Diesel-like Efficiency for Natural Gas Using Digital Hydraulic Controls
October 27, 2009
Sturman Industries has begun work on a recently awarded $1-million grant by the California Energy Commission under its Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program. The grant was awarded in response to a Sturman proposal to convert a diesel truck engine to enabling Sturman Digital Hydraulic air controls to demonstrate its efficient and practical use for natural gas stationary power generation.
The project will show that natural gas can achieve diesel-like efficiency by utilizing state-of-the-art control techniques, said Sturman co-founder Eddie Sturman. Sturman will use its Hydraulic Valve Actuation (HVA) technology to achieve this increased efficiency and decreased emissions.
More... | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
Forecast: 17M Natural Gas Vehicles Worldwide by 2015
October 19, 2009
Cleantech research firm Pike Research forecasts growth in natural gas vehicles (NGV) on the road worldwide to 17 million units by 2015, up from 9.7 million in 2008. Pike Research forecasts that the NGV market will grow globally at a CAGR of 5.5% to reach just over 3 million vehicles (including conversions) by 2015.
The top five markets for NGVs are currently Pakistan, Argentina, Brazil, Iran, and India. Pike Research anticipates India will be the fastest-growing NGV market with a CAGR of 18.4% between 2008 and 2015. This rapid expansion will largely be due to the availability of refueling stations and the growth of government emissions rules in large cities in India.
More... | Comments (9) | TrackBack (0)
Chevron and Partners to Proceed with Gorgon Natural Gas Project; Resources Estimated at 6.7B Barrels Oil Equivalent
September 14, 2009
| Map showing an overview of the Gorgon Project. Source: Chevron. Click to enlarge. |
Chevron Australia Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Chevron Corporation, will proceed with the development of the large Gorgon natural gas project offshore Western Australia. Development proposals for the project were approved on 13 Sep by the Western Australian State Premier, and production licenses were granted by the Australian Minister for Resources and Energy.
The Greater Gorgon Area—comprising the Jansz and Gorgon fields—has projected natural gas resources equivalent to 6.7 billion barrels of oil (boe). The Gorgon Project, operated by the Chevron (currently 50%) in joint venture with Australian subsidiaries of ExxonMobil (25%) and Shell (25%), is currently estimated to cost A$43 billion (US$37 billion) for the first phase of development. First gas is planned for 2014.
More... | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)
Volkswagen and LichtBlick Partner on Home Combined Heat and Power Systems; LichtBlick Plans a “SchwarmStrom” for 2,000 MW of Decentralized Power
September 09, 2009
| An EcoBlue CHP unit. Click to enlarge. |
Volkswagen and German energy supplier LichtBlick have formed an exclusive world-wide energy partnership. Volkswagen will produce the high-efficiency EcoBlue CHP (combined heat and power) plant, which is to be driven by natural gas engines from Volkswagen. LichtBlick will market the plants as “ZuhauseKraftwerke” (home power plants) and will use them in a new, decentralized intelligent power supply scheme: “SchwarmStrom” (current swarm).
LichtBlick plans eventually to network some 100,000 of the distributed home power plants to form a 2,000 MW virtual decentralized power plant to handle fluctuations in future electricity generation as renewables grow to represent a larger component of the power mix, according to Dr. Christian Friege, CEO of LicbtBlick.
More... | Comments (18) | TrackBack (0)
MIT Researchers Elucidate Model for Escape of Underground Methane in Frozen Regions; Current Rate of Escape May be Much Faster Than Earlier Believed
September 03, 2009
| Left: underground methane gas as it begins to invade fine-grain sediment (shown in yellow) by creating a fracture. Right: the blue circles represent pore spaces where the gas has invaded. Graphic / Ruben Juanes, MIT. Click to enlarge. |
Researchers at MIT have elucidated how underground methane in frozen regions—e.g., gas hydrate accumulations in ocean sediments and permafrost—escapes. Their findings, published online 29 August in the AGU Journal of Geophysical Research, also suggest that methane trapped under the ocean may already be escaping through vents in the sea floor at a much faster rate than previously believed.
Some scientists have associated the release, both gradual and fast, of subsurface ocean methane with climate change of the past and future. Methane is about 21 times more powerful at warming the atmosphere than carbon dioxide (CO2) by weight (see box below), according to the US EPA.
More... | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)
US DOE Awards $300 Million in Clean Cities Grants to Support Alternative Fuels, Vehicles, and Infrastructure Development
August 26, 2009
| Geographical distribution of Clean Cities Recovery Act awards. Click to enlarge. |
The US Department of Energy (DOE) has selected 25 cost-share projects under the Clean Cities program that will be funded with nearly $300 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. These projects put more than 9,000 alternative fuel and energy-efficient light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles on the road, and establish 542 refueling locations across the country.
The vehicles and infrastructure being funded include the use of natural and renewable gas, propane, ethanol, biodiesel, electricity, and hybrid technologies. And with the cost share contributions from the recipients, every federal dollar spent will be matched by nearly two dollars from the project partners.
More... | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
New Solid Catalyst for the Direct Low-Temperature Oxidation of Methane to Methanol
August 21, 2009
A team led by Ferdi Schüth at the Max Planck Institute of Coal Research in Mülheim (Germany) and Markus Antonietti at the Max Planck Institute for Colloids and Interfaces in Potsdam-Golm (Germany) has developed a novel catalyst for the direct low-temperature oxidation of methane to methanol. A report on their work was published online 4 August in the journal Angewandte Chemie.
While methanol is again attracting attention as a possible energy source for fuel cells or as a substitute for gasoline, it requires a complex synthesis process from natural gas via a detour through synthesis gas. One interesting alternative that was earlier pursued and then abandoned is the direct low-temperature oxidation of methane to methanol. The new catalyst could spur a return to commercial development of this type of process, which could result, among other applications, in the efficient conversion of stranded natural gas on site.
More... | Comments (7) | TrackBack (0)
BAF Technologies to Distribute Hardstaff Dual-Fuel Conversion Technology in US
July 31, 2009
| Basic OIGI system for CNG or LNG. Click to enlarge. |
US-based BAF Technologies, a provider of natural gas conversions for select light- and medium-duty vehicles, has entered into an exclusive distributorship agreement with UK-based T. Baden Hardstaff to retrofit existing heavy-duty on-road vehicles to dual-fuel operation. The agreement will provide BAF with exclusive territory rights for the United States.
BAF is currently converting 600 AT&T Ford E-Series vans to dedicated CNG technology in 2009. (Earlier post.) T. Baden Hardstaff is a service and technology provider for the road transport industry specializing in the development of low carbon vehicle technologies. Among its offerings is the OIGI dual-fuel system that can work with either compressed or liquefied natural gas.
More... | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
Researchers Produce Ethane and Other Heavier Hydrocarbons From Methane Under Deep Earth Conditions; Further Deep Carbon Research
July 27, 2009
There has been some scientific debate for years over whether oil and natural gas hydrocarbons could have been created deeper in the Earth and formed without organic matter (abiogenic petroleum), in addition to their formation from living organisms that died, were compressed, and heated under heavy layers of sediment in the Earth’s crust. Now, a team of researchers has found that ethane and heavier hydrocarbons can be synthesized from methane under the pressure-temperature conditions of the upper mantle—the layer of Earth under the crust and on top of the core.
The research was conducted by scientists at the Carnegie Institution’s Geophysical Laboratory, with colleagues from Russia and Sweden, and was published in the 26 July advanced on-line issue of Nature Geoscience.
More... | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Australian Researchers Propose New MOF-based Concept for H2 and Methane Storage
July 20, 2009
| Schematic representation for proposed material Mg-C60@MOF showing a MOF cavity impregnated with magnesium-decorated C60. Credit: ACS. Click to enlarge. |
Researchers in Australia have proposed a new concept for hydrogen and methane storage materials involving the incorporation of magnesium-decorated fullerenes within metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). According to their modeling, the magnesium-decorated Mg10C60 fullerenes show a volumetric methane uptake of 265 v/v, the highest reported value for any material, which significantly exceeds the US Department of Energy target of 180 v/v.
They also predict a very high hydrogen adsorption enthalpy of 11 kJ mol-1 with relatively little decrease as a function of H2 filling. This value is close to the calculated optimum value of 15.1 kJ mol-1 and is achieved concurrently with saturation hydrogen uptake in large amounts at pressures under 10 atm.
More... | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)
US Senators Introduce Bill to Expand Incentives for Natural Gas Vehicles
July 12, 2009
US Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) last week introduced new legislation, co-sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) that extends and increases tax credits for natural gas vehicle purchasing, refueling and manufacturing.
Under the NAT GAS (New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions) bill (S. 1408), the purchase tax credit cap for a light-duty natural gas vehicle would be increased to $12,500, up from the current $5,000. For the three other covered vehicle weight classes, the purchase tax credit cap would double; the maximum credit would be $80,000 (up from $40,000).
More... | Comments (28) | TrackBack (0)
House Subcommittee Advances Bill to Restart Natural Gas Vehicle R&D Program at DOE; $150M in Appropriations
July 03, 2009
The US House Committee on Science and Technology’s Subcommittee on Energy and Environment recently approved H.R. 1622, which will restart a natural gas vehicle (NGV) R&D program at the Department of Energy (DOE). DOE and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory had earlier led the Next Generation Natural Gas Vehicles (NGNGV) program to develop advanced, commercially viable, medium- and heavy-duty NGVs.
H.R. 1622 directs the Secretary of Energy to: (1) conduct a five-year program of natural gas vehicle research, development, and demonstration; and (2) coordinate with the natural gas vehicle industry and with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding streamlined certification of natural gas conversion systems to federal certification requirements and in-use emission standards.
More... | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)
BAF Technologies Begins Converting 600 AT&T Vehicles To CNG in 2009
June 30, 2009
Dallas-based BAF Technologies has begun converting 600 AT&T Ford E-Series vans to dedicated CNG technology in 2009. This is part of AT&T’s plan to invest up to $565 million to deploy more than 15,000 alternative-fuel vehicles over the next 10 years. AT&T expects to spend an estimated $350 million to purchase about 8,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles and approximately $215 million to begin replacing its passenger cars with alternative-fuel models, beginning with hybrids. (Earlier post.)
The converted vehicles will utilize the BAF CalComp System, a proprietary CNG fuel system certified by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (ARB). CNG vehicles are expected to emit approximately 25% less greenhouse gas emissions than those traditionally powered by gasoline.
More... | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)
Government-Industry Consortium Drilling Expedition Confirms Gas Hydrates at High Saturations in GOM
June 14, 2009
| Gas hydrate accumulations at one of the drill sites (Walker Ridge). Source: JIP. Click to enlarge. |
The US Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), US Geological Service (USGS), and US Minerals Management Service (MMS), in collaboration with an industry research consortium led by Chevron, on 6 May completed a landmark gas hydrates drilling expedition that demonstrated the occurrence of gas hydrates at high saturations in reservoir-quality sands in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM).
The Gulf of Mexico is thus the first offshore area in the United States with enough information to identify gas hydrate energy resource targets with potential for gas production.
More... | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
COFs Among the Best Adsorbents for Storage of Hydrogen, Natural Gas and CO2
June 07, 2009
| High-pressure CH4 isotherms for COFs measured at 298 K. Credit: ACS. Click to enlarge. |
COFs (covalent organic frameworks)—thermally stable and highly functional crystalline organic networks—are among the most porous and the best adsorbents for hydrogen, methane, and carbon dioxide, according to a new study by Professor Omar Yaghi and postdoc Hiroyasu Furukawa at the Center for Reticular Chemistry at UCLA. A paper on their findings was published online 4 June in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
Yaghi and his colleagues have been at the forefront of inventing new classes of crystalline porous materials: metal organic frameworks (MOFs), and then COFs, reported in the journal Science in 2007. (Earlier post.)
More... | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)
USGS CARA Concludes 13% of World’s Undiscovered Oil, 30% of Undiscovered Gas in the Arctic
May 29, 2009
| Map of the assessment units (AUs) of the CARA is color-coded for mean estimated undiscovered oil. Only areas north of the Arctic Circle are included in the estimates. Black lines indicate AU boundaries. Source: USGS CARA. Click to enlarge. |
The US Geological Survey (USGS) has completed a geologically-based assessment of the oil and gas resource potential of the Arctic, the Circum-Arctic Resource Appraisal (CARA). (Earlier post.) The researchers in the effort concluded that about 13% of the world’s undiscovered oil and 30% of the world’s undiscovered gas may be found there, mostly offshore under less than 500 meters of water. A paper on the work was published in the 29 May issue of the journal Science.
Undiscovered natural gas is three times more abundant than oil in the Arctic and is largely concentrated in Russia, the researchers concluded. Oil resources, although important to the interests of Arctic countries, are probably not sufficient to substantially shift the current geographic pattern of world oil production, they said.
More... | Comments (20) | TrackBack (0)
Honda Begins Production of Civic GX Natural Gas Vehicles at Indiana Plant
May 15, 2009
Honda Manufacturing of Indiana, LLC (HMIN) began production of the natural gas-powered 2009 Civic GX at its plant in Greensburg, Indiana. The Civic GX was formerly produced at Honda’s East Liberty, Ohio plant and has ten years of proven performance as a natural gas powered vehicle. The Civic GX is the only natural gas vehicle built by a major automaker in the US.
First introduced in 1998, the Civic GX is the cleanest internal combustion vehicle certified by the EPA—90% cleaner than the average gasoline-powered car on the road today. As a result, the GX is certified by the EPA as an Inherently Low Emissions Vehicle (ILEV). It is the only natural gas powered passenger car available for sale in all 50 states, and is eligible for a $4,000 federal tax credit as a qualified alternative fuel vehicle.
More... | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)
MBtech Shows CNG Sports Car Demonstrator
May 10, 2009
| The CNG SLK. Click to enlarge. |
MBtech, a development and consulting service provider, unveiled a natural-gas powered sports car study based on the Mercedes-Benz SLK at the “Natural gas innovation show” (Innovationsschau Erdgas) organized by TÜV Rheinland on 29 April at the Nürburgring.
The engineers from MBtech’s powertrain solutions segment delivered an increase in performance with the four cylinder compressor engine in the series SLK model. The CNG demonstrator from MBtech produces more than 146 kW (196 hp) of power and a maximum torque of 270 N·m (199 lb-ft), which accelerates the SLK from a 0 to 100 km/h in 7.8 seconds. It has a top speed of 244 km/h (152 mph).
More... | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
Genifuel Licenses High-yield Algae-to-Natural Gas Process from PNNL
May 06, 2009
Battelle is granting an exclusive license to Genifuel Corporation for a process developed at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) to convert algae into renewable synthetic natural gas (SNG) for use in pipelines and power generation. Battelle operates PNNL for the US Department of Energy.
The method, called catalytic hydrothermal gasification, creates natural gas out of algae more quickly, more efficiently and at higher yields than other biofuel processes, according to PNNL. Genifuel expects the process also requires less capital investment. The license agreement moves this technology for renewable energy production a step closer to commercial reality.
More... | Comments (9) | TrackBack (0)
AT&T to Deploy More Than 15,000 Alternative-Fuel Vehicles in Fleet Over Next 10 Years
March 11, 2009
AT&T plans to invest up to $565 million as part of a long-term strategy to deploy more than 15,000 alternative-fuel vehicles over the next 10 years. AT&T expects to spend an estimated $350 million to purchase about 8,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles and approximately $215 million to begin replacing its passenger cars with alternative-fuel models, beginning with hybrids.
AT&’s investment represents the largest US corporate commitment to CNG vehicles to date. The new deployments will bring AT&T’s alternative-fuel fleet to more than 15,000 vehicles by 2019.
More... | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)
Eden Energy Sells Off HyRadix and Other Assets; Hythane Remains a Core Focus
January 22, 2009
Australia-based Eden Energy has sold all the shares in its two US subsidiary companies: Eden Cryogenics LLC, which has two operating businesses (Eden Cryogenics and Cryogenic Technical Services which manufacture cryogenic equipment and supply cryogenic design services) and Eden Hydrogen Inc which operates the business known as HyRadix which manufactures hydrogen reformers.
Eden acquired US-based HyRadix, a company specializing in on-site autothermal reforming systems for the production of hydrogen from methane or LPG, in 2007. (Earlier post.)
More... | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Waste Management of Seattle Unveils New Compressed Natural Gas Collection Fleet
January 16, 2009
Waste Management of Seattle introduced the first of 106 new CNG waste collection trucks for its fleet as it broke ground on its new compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station at its South Seattle operations headquarters.
The trucks use Autocar chassis and McNeilus (an Oshkosh Corporation) bodies. McNeilus expects to deliver the remaining CNG vehicles to Seattle in late March 2009. McNeilus is also providing 40 CNG refuse trucks to Cleanscapes, the other contractor for refuse collection in Seattle under recently awarded contracts (see below).
More... | Comments (11) | TrackBack (0)
Volvo Powertrain to Incorporate Clean Air Power Natural Gas Dual-Fuel Technology into Volvo Truck Engines
January 05, 2009
 |
| The Dual-Fuel diesel-gas cycle. Click to enlarge. |
Volvo Powertrain has signed a Letter of Intent with Clean Air Power Ltd. to incorporate UK-based Clean Air Power’s Dual-Fuel natural gas technology (earlier post) into Volvo Truck engines. Clean Air Power’s Dual-Fuel application enables diesel engines to operate primarily on up to 85-90% natural gas with diesel pilot ignition.
The letter of intent covers the development and commercialization of products which will include Clean Air Power’s technology and the intention is that they will be marketed and supported by Volvo Trucks.
More... | Comments (6) | TrackBack (0)
VW Premieres New Golf Plus, Golf BiFuel (LPG) and Passat TSI EcoFuel (CNG) at Bologna Motor Show
December 04, 2008
 |
| The 7-speed DSG. Click to enlarge. |
Volkswagen is staging the world premieres of the New Golf Plus and low-emissions Golf BiFuel with autogas (LPG) and gasoline drive at the Bologna (Italy) Motor Show (3-14 December). In an Italian premier, VW is showing the Passat TSI EcoFuel (earlier post). VW also introduced the Scirocco Studie R and Passat CC Individual.
Golf Plus. The new Golf Plus will be offered with five gasoline engines (59 kW / 79 hp to 118 kW / 158 hp) and four new turbo-diesel engines (66 kW / 89 hp to 103 kW / 138 hp). All engines are four-cylinder, all engines are charged starting at 89 hp, all engines fulfill the Euro-5 emissions standard. And with the exception of the base variants, any of the gasoline and diesel engines may be paired with a 6-speed or 7-speed dual clutch transmission (DSG). (Earlier post.) This signifies the retirement of the classic automatic with torque-converter lockup clutch in the Golf Plus and its replacement by DSG technology.
More... | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)
NaturalDrive CNG Retrofit for 2008 Chevrolet Impala Receives EPA Certification
November 25, 2008
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has certified NaturalDrive Partners, LLC’s dedicated compressed natural gas (CNG) retrofit of 2008 Chevrolet Impala sedans powered by 3.5-liter and 3.9-liter V6 engines in models LS, LT, LTZ, as well as law enforcement packages 9C1 and 9C3.
The retrofitted CNG Impala reduces NOx and CO emissions more than 50% compared to gasoline the gasoline versions, and offers about a 15% reduction in CO2 compared to gasoline. With the 3.5L engine, fuel economy is 19 mpgge city and 30 mpgge highway. The retrofit on the LTZ model also leverages GM’s Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation) for superior fuel economy.
