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Understanding the Basics of Gas Exploration and Production Eric K. Albert, PhD And some of the...
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Transcript of Understanding the Basics of Gas Exploration and Production Eric K. Albert, PhD And some of the...
Understanding the Basics of Gas
Exploration and Production
Eric K. Albert, PhD
And some of the career opportunities created by the industry
Our economy runs on energy!
In 2009:
Energy Information Administration
Natural Gas
A non-renewable energy resource Used in a variety of ways:
Energy Information Administration, 2005
As an energy source:
Natural gas burns more cleanly than other fossil fuels
BUT
Still results in CO2 emissions!And unburned natural gas
(methane) is considered a greenhouse gas…
2008 US Natural Gas
Total Production 21,200 Billion Cubic Feet (BCF)
Consumption 23,200 BCF
Imports 3,984 BCF
Exports 1,006 BCF
Wellhead price $7.96 / thousand cubic feet
Avg. City Gate price $9.18 / thousand cubic feet
Top US Gas Producing State 7,760 BCF: Texas
Energy Information Administration
How much energy?
A BTU is the heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water 1 degree Fahrenheit
One cubic foot of natural gas (volume) contains about 1031 BTU
One candy bar has about 1000 BTU!
One cubic foot of gasoline contains about 961,000 BTU! [about 7.6 gallons]
Equivalent Energy Cost
January 2011* Natural Gas price is $4.48 / Million BTU (MMBTU)
compared to today’s price of $3.19/gallon of gasoline
the equivalent energy price of 1 gallon of gasoline is
$25.23 MMBTU Put another way, at current prices, the
same energy from Natural Gas is about 1/6 the cost!
*NYMEX
How is Natural Gas formed?
Trapped organic matter decomposing under pressure and heat…
In time, depending on conditions, we get:Coal bedsOil fieldsNatural gas
Think: even landfills are recovering methane from decomposing trash
How is it found?
Geologists use a variety of means to locate possible sources…Knowing where it has been found
alreadyHistorical geological settingSpecific site location typically uses
Seismic methods
Historical Oil and Gas Production
USGS
Oil: greenGas: redOil & Gas: yellow
Main Phases of Gas Development
ExplorationLand identification for sitesLocation of depositsEnvironmental concernsProving potential reserves
DrillingLand leasing, right of waysPermitsPad developmentRoads and water infrastructure
ProductionPipeline constructionMonitoring and compliancePumping and storageWell maintenance
Post-productionCapping / sealing wellsWater quality monitoringOther compliance issuesSite reclamation
EXPLORATION
Seismic Survey
An array of geophonesData collection equipmentA “noise” source –
Vibrating trucksExplosives
The reflected sound waves are collected and analyzed with computers to form structural images
Seismic Surveys
Resolution Resources
Marcellus Shale
Gas deposit known since the 1930’sTechnology for recovery not
availablePrice of gas too low for cost of
drilling6,000’ -7,000’ underground,
maybe morePA gas wells: 35,000+ already in
placeEstimates 4,000 per year may be
added
Traps
Both of these types of rocks are impermeable, meaning that they do not allow liquids or gassesto move through them!
Pore spaces filled Pore spaces don’t communicate
Geology.com
Drilling
DTE Energy
Horizontal drilling is employed to connect to the largest reservoir space
The drill string does not turn…but is steered to a horizontal line…
This is accomplished through a steerable drill (Mud Motor)
and a follow-behind probe (Measure While Drilling)
What does a borehole look like?
Top View
Side View
Note: the casing system seals off higher elevations of rocks in the well so that only the production area is eventually connected.
Well Logging
After the well is drilled, a log is made…Gamma ray = natural
radiation in the rocksNeutron = higher reading
means more hydrogen*This along with other
data collected in the log helps to indentify if this will be a productive hole…
Gamma Ray Neutron
*Natural gas is a hydrocarbon!
Final Steps
After the production area is reached:The casing is sealed to this areaThe production area casing is
perforated by blastingThe rocks surrounding the
production area are fractured (hydraulic fracturing)
PRODUCTION
Deal or No Deal?
Even so, after all this, the well might not be productive!
Non-productive wells are plugged with cement and operations cease.
Hydraulic Fracturing might be repeated in one well several times to attempt to increase pressure and recovery
Higher pressure = higher flow rate = more valuable well
Transport
A producing well is then connected to a pipeline for transport
Also, to buffer the effects of seasonal demand, underground gas storage reservoirs are used.
In PA there are at least 88 active reservoirs
Well Maintenance
Well production is monitored both remotely and by on-site inspections
Routine maintenance of the site is necessary to confirm safety and integrity of the well
Water quality monitoring of nearby drinking water sources, as well as natural sites may be needed (looking for leakage of gas into sources…)
POSTPRODUCTION
Well Life
A well might produce for 5, 10, even 20 yearsProduction rates decline with time…Eventually the rate may be deemed
too low to be useful, or non-economic
Wells are disconnected, sealed (capped) with cement, and a surface vent pipe is installed.
Where are the jobs?
ExplorationLand identification for sites
Surveyors, Civil engineers, etc.Location of deposits
GeologistsEnvironmental concerns
Environmental techs, biologists, forest technology, chemists
Proving potential reservesGeologists, Petroleum & NG Engineers
DrillingLand leasing, right of waysPermitsPad developmentRoads and water infrastructure
DrillingLand leasing, right of ways
Paralegals, title search, lawyers, land agents
PermitsHydrologists, civil engineers, land
plannersPad development
Commercial drivers, riggers, drill operators, diesel power generation, construction, welding, electrical, heavy equipment
Roads and water infrastructureSimilar to “Pad development”
ProductionPipeline construction
Heavy equipment operators, diesel techs, welders, riggers, surveyors
Monitoring and complianceElectronics, computer networking,
communications / satellite techs, biologists, hydrologists, chemists
Pumping and storageWell maintenance
Post-productionCapping / sealing wells
Construction, welders, general maintenance
Water quality monitoringOther compliance issuesSite reclamation
Heavy equipment operators, forest / reclamation technology
Sam Kier, 1840’s…
Drake Well Museum
How it all got started…
Questions?