Natural Gas
Posted on | December 5, 2008 | No Comments
Natural gas often also referred to as natural gas or marsh gas, is a fossil fuel is a gas that consists primarily of methane (CH4). He can be found in oil fields, gas fields and coal mines. When the gas rich in methane produced by anaerobic bacterial decomposition of organic materials other than fossil, then it is called biogas. Sources of biogas can be found in the swamp, garbage landfills, and storage of human and animal feces.
Chemical Composition
The main component of natural gas is methane (CH4), which is the shortest chain hydrocarbon molecules and the lightest. Natural gas also contains molecules heavier hydrocarbons such as ethane (C2H6), propane (C3H8) and butane (C4H10), as well as gases that contain sulfur (sulfur). Natural gas is also a major source for the helium source.
Methane is a greenhouse gas that can create global warming when released into the atmosphere, and is generally regarded as a pollutant rather than a useful energy source. However, methane in the atmosphere reacts with ozone, producing carbon dioxide and water, so the greenhouse effect of methane released into the air is relatively only a moment. Source of methane that comes from living things mostly from termites, cattle (mammal) and agriculture (estimated levels of emissions are approximately 15, 75 and 100 million tons per year respectively).
|
Components |
% |
|
Methane (CH4) |
80-95 |
|
Ethane (C2H6) |
5-15 |
|
Propane (C3H8) and Butane (C4H10) |
< 5 |
Nitrogen, helium, carbon dioxide (CO2), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and water can also be contained in natural gas. Mercury can also be contained in small amounts. Natural gas composition varies according to the source of the gas fields.
Mixture of hydrogen sulfide and organosulfur are contaminants (impurities) from the gas main to be separated. Gas with the amount of sulfur is a significant pollutant is called sour gas and often referred to as “acid gas (sour gas)”. Natural gas has been processed and will be sold is not tasteless and odorless. However, before the gas is distributed to end users, usually the smell of gas was given by adding the thiol, in order to be detected when the gas leak. Natural gas has been processed itself is not dangerous, but without the process of natural gas can cause respiratory strangled because it reduces the oxygen content in air at a level that can be dangerous.
Natural gas can be dangerous because it is highly flammable and cause an explosion. Natural gas is lighter than air, so tends to easily spread in the atmosphere. But when he was in an enclosed space, such as in homes, gas concentrations can reach explosive mixtures, which if ignited a fire, could cause an explosion that can destroy buildings. Ingredients dangerous methane in air is between 5% to 15%.
Explosion for compressed natural gas in vehicles, generally do not worry because it is lighter, and the concentration outside the range of 5 to 15% which can cause an explosion.
Natural Gas Transportation
Basically, natural gas transportation system include:
- Transport through the pipe lines.
- Transportation in the form of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) with LNG tankers to transport over long distances.
- Transportation in the form of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), both didaratan by road tanker or a CNG tanker at sea, for the near and medium distances (between islands).
In Indonesia, Oil and Gas Downstream Regulatory Body (BPH Migas Downstream) has prepared a Master Plan “Parent Network System Integrated National Gas Transmission”. In a time not long before the system of natural gas pipeline will run from Nang continued roe connect Aceh Darussalam, North Sumatra, Central Sumatra, South Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi and Kalimantan. We have a gas pipeline in Indonesia owned by Pertamina and PGN, and still is localized separately in certain areas, such as in North Sumatra, Central Sumatra, South Sumatra, West Java, East Java and East Kalimantan.
LNG carriers can be used to transports the liquefied natural gas (LNG) across oceans, while tank trucks can carry LNG or compressed natural gas (CNG) at close range. They can transports natural gas directly to end-users or to distribution points, such as pipelines for further transportation. This is still a large cost for additional facilities for gas liquefaction or compression at the point of production, and gasification or decompression at the point of end-users or to the pipeline.
Natural Gas Utilization
Outlines the use of natural gas are divided into 3 groups:
- Natural gas as a fuel, such as fuel Gas Power Plant / steam, industrial fuel light, medium and heavy motor vehicle fuel (CNG / NGV), a town gas for household needs of hotels, restaurants and so on.
- Natural gas as raw materials, including raw materials fertilizer plants, petrochemicals, methanol, plastics raw materials (LDPE = low-density polyethylene, LLDPE = linear low density polyethylene, HDPE = high density Polyethylen, PE = poly ethylene, PVC = poly vinyl chloride , its C3 and C4 for LPG, its CO2 for soft drinks, dry ice food preservatives, artificial rain, industrial cast iron, welding and light a fire extinguisher material.
- Natural gas as an energy commodity for export, the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).
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