Nature gas plants are natural gas
processing units, producing purified natural gas which can be used for
various industrial purposes. A nonrenewable fossil fuel, natural gas plays a
vital role in our lives and in our economy. Natural gas is a mixture of
different gases, with its main component composed of methane, a compound
that is formed naturally whenever plant and animal matter decays. As a gas,
natural gas is odorless, colorless, and tasteless.
Natural Gas Production
Process
The processing of natural gas in natural gas plants involves the following
steps:
- Exploration
- Extraction
- Production
- Transport
- Storage
- Distribution
- Marketing
Exploration
Natural gas is usually found trapped in porous rocks deep underground. The
exploration for natural gas starts with geologists studying the surface
structure of the earth, and determining areas where it is likely that
petroleum or gas deposits might exist. There are various ways by which
natural gas is explored like outcroppings of rocks on the surface or in
valleys and gorges, geologic information from rock cuttings, samples
obtained from the digging of water wells, irrigation ditches, and other oil
and gas wells
Extraction
After knowing the exploration areas, the process of extraction starts. The
next step is actually done by drilling experts. The drilling or digging is
done to extract the natural gas from the area it is thought to exist.
Production
The third step involves the lifting of the natural gas or oil out of the
ground and processing it for transportation. The natural gas is transported
to a processing plant where it is cleaned of impurities and separated into
its various components. The gas that comes out is actually different from
the gas that is used via pipe line. The production of actual natural gas
consists of separating several hydrocarbons and fluids from the pure natural
gas, to produce what is popularly called as 'pipeline quality' dry natural
gas. The technique of processing natural gas to pipeline dry gas involves
four main processes to remove the various impurities
- Separation of Natural Gas Liquids
- Water Removal
- Oil and Condensate Removal
- Carbon Dioxide and Sulfur Removal
Transporting
The effective and efficient movement of natural gas from producing areas to
consumption areas needs an elaborate, extensive transportation system. The
transportation system comprises a complex network of pipelines. It is
sometimes transported thousands of miles by pipeline from its origin to
areas of high natural gas demand. Along the transportation route, there are
basically three major types of pipelines:
- The gathering system,
- The interstate pipeline,
- The distribution system.
A compressor is installed in the pipelines which increases the pressure
of the gas, forcing the gas to move along the pipelines.
Storing
Natural gas, that is not required immediately can be stored for an
indefinite period of time. It is injected into underground storage
facilities. These storage facilities are usually located near market centers
that do not have a immediate supply of locally produced natural gas. The
storage servers two purposes: Meeting base load requirements ( long term
seasonal demand requirements ) and meeting peak load requirements (immediate
delivery for short periods of time). There are three main types of
underground storage facility for natural gas: depleted gas reservoirs,
aquifers, and salt caverns.
Distribution
The final output that is produced in natural gas plants is distributed to
end users and this is final step in gas plants. While some large commercial,
industrial, electric generation customers receive natural gas directly from
pipelines in gas plants, most other users receive natural gas from a local
distribution company (LDC) or natural gas marketing companies.
Applications
of Natural Gas
- It is a major source of electricity generation
- It can be used to produce hydrogen which is used for various
industrial purposes
- Natural gas supplied to homes is used for cooking
- It is used in boilers, furnaces, and water heaters
- It is used in central heating
- Natural gas is used in the production of ammonia which is further
used in fertilizer production
- It is also used in the manufacture of glass, steel, fabrics, paint,
plastics and other products
- Two important variants of natural gas is CNG (compressed natural
gas) and LNG (liquefied natural gas). CNG is effectively used in running
vehicles while LPG is used as a fuel for cooking as well for running
vehicles.
Natural
Gas Plant
