NATURAL GAS
Future Possibilities
- Abundant amounts so it is a viable resource to offset oil dependency
- Reasonable prices allow it to be used in large amounts
- Demand for natural gas is rising because of its clean burning, adding around 29,000 jobs in the U.S. in 2003; will increase as demand increases
- Demand for natural gas projected to increase by 30% or more by 2015
- Although it is more difficult to locate natural gas, because of technological advances, able to keep pace with the growing demand
Advances in Exploration and Production (from www.naturalgas.org):
- 22,000 fewer wells are needed on an annual basis to develop the same amount of oil and gas reserves as were developed in 1985
- If technology were the same as in 1985, two wells would produce the same amount of oil and natural gas as one 1985 well; but, because of technology one well can produce two times as much as a single 1985 well today
- Drilling wastes have decreased by about 148 million barrels because oil productivity has increased and less wells are used
- Drilling footprints of well pads have decreased by about 70% because of drilling technology, especially in sensitive areas
- Modular drilling rigs and slimhole drilling reduce the size and weight of drilling rigs by up to 75%, lowering their surface impact
- If technology drilling footprints were at 1985 levels, drilling footprints occupy 17,000 extra acres of land today
- New exploration techniques and vibrational sources lead to less reliance on explosives, leading to less environmental impacts because of exploration
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source http://www.oogc.com/world_oper/unit_stat/hist_ca_longbe.htm Oil Production in Long Beach Harbor on Thums' Island |
In Long Beach, California, there is a great deal of oil and natural gas resources that are seemingly inaccessible for extraction because, |
| in the past, there would be no way to extract oil from beneath the city. Engineers thought of a solution--horizontal drilling from an island in Long Beach Harbor that would maintain both the environmental and aesthetic value of the harbor. So, they constructed an island to drill from, which represents a compromise between big oil companies and the environment. A pipeline system transports the extracted oil and gas to the mainland while the island is provided electricity and communication through other pipelines. The oil rig is designed to look like a high-rise building, with palm trees planted around the island for aesthetic value. | |
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• natural gas home • history • formation/ production • human use • maps • future possibilities |
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