Exploration, Production and Treatment of Natural Gas
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Report of Working Committee 1 TRIENNIUM 2003 - 2006 Chairperson Colin Lyle United Kingdom EXPLORATION, PRODUCTION AND TREATMENT OF NATURAL GAS June 2006 1 PREFACE This report presents part of the work carried out by the Upstream Committee (WOC1) of the International Gas Union. WOC 1 has the very wide subject area of Exploration, Production and Processing of Gas. During 2003-2006 WOC1 continued to develop some of the themes investigated in past triennia, but also took a new approach to the organization of the work of the committee. The halves of this report have been put together by our two study groups. SG 1.1 The World’s Most Significant Gas Fields Study Group Leader Djaouid Bencherif, Sonatrach, Algeria Technical Advisor Marie Françoise Chabrelie, Cedigaz SG 1.2 New Horizons for Exploration, Production and Treatment of Gas Study Group Leader Dominique Copin, Total, France Technical Advisor Mark Howard ,BP During the period 2003 -2006 the committee has been chaired by Dr Colin Lyle, Managing Director Gas Market Insights Ltd., UK, and former Director of European Policy Centrica plc. Dr. Vadim Kobilev, Gazprom, Russia started the triennium as Vice Chairman, and Dr. Vladimir Yakushev, VNIIGAZ (Gazprom), Russia took over the role in spring 2005. Rebecca Hyde, Centrica, UK acted as the Committee Technical Secretary until autumn 2005 when she was replaced by Adam Hinds, Centrica plc, UK. PRÉFACE Ce rapport présente une partie de l’analyse réalisée par le Comité de Travail “Amont” (WOC1) de l’Union Internationale du Gaz. Ce Comité couvre le domaine très vaste de l’Exploration, de la Production et du Traitement du Gaz. Au cours du triennat 2003-2006, le Comité a continué à développer certains des thèmes examinés lors du précédent triennat, mettant aussi en œuvre une nouvelle approche dans l’organisation du travail. Les sections de ce rapport ont été réalisées par nos deux groupes : SG 1.1 Les gisements gaziers les plus significatifs au monde Groupe de travail conduit par Djaouid Bencherif, Sonatrach, Algérie Conseiller technique : Marie-Françoise Chabrelie, Cedigaz SG 1.2 Nouveaux horizons pour l’Exploration, la Production et le Traitement du gaz Groupe de travail conduit par Dominique Copin, Total, France Conseiller technique : Mark Howard, BP Au cours de la période 2003-2006, le comité a été présidé par Dr Colin Lyle, Directeur Général de Gas Market Insights Ltd., Royaume-Uni, ex-Directeur des affaires européennes, Centrica plc. Dr. Vadim Kobilev, Gazprom, Russie a commencé ce triennat en tant que Vice-Président du comité. Au printemps 2005, il a été remplacé par Dr. Vladimir Yakushev, VNIIGAZ (Gazprom), Russie. Rebecca Hyde, Centrica, Royaume-Uni a été en charge du secrétariat technique du comité jusqu’en automne 2005, avant d’être remplacée par Adam Hinds, Centrica plc, Royaume-Uni. 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS WOC 1 would like to thank all the contributors to this report; especially the members of the study groups and the various companies that have supported our work through personnel resources, sponsoring our meetings and/or through making data available for our work. All their contributions have been greatly appreciated and this report would not have been possible without them. REMERCIEMENTS Le Comité de Travail 1 remercie toutes les personnes ayant contribué à la réalisation de ce rapport, en particulier les membres des groupes de travail et les compagnies pour leur soutien logistique et financier de nos réunions et/ou pour la fourniture de données disponibles pour alimenter nos travaux. Toutes leurs contributions ont été vivement appréciées. Sans elles, la rédaction de ce rapport n’aurait pas été possible. 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface Acknowledgements Table of Contents Overall Summary and Conclusions - Introduction - Trends and Key Messages - Outlook and Future IGU Work 1 Part 1 – World’s most significant gas fields Introduction 1.1 – Gas Field Summaries 1.1.1 Aconcagua (United States) 1.1.2 Groningen (The Netherlands) 1.1.3 Hassi R’Mel (Algeria) 1.1.4 Karachaganak Field (Kazakhstan) 1.1.5 Nuggets Field (United Kingdom) 1.1.6 Shtokmanovskoye (Russina Federation) 1.1.7 South Morecambe (United Kingdom) 1.1.8 Urengoy (Russian Federation) 1.2 - Analysis by selected criteria 1.2.1 Market Impact 1.2.2 Technological advances References to 1.2.2 1.2.3 Sustainable development 1.2.4 Future potential Conclusions to Part 1 2 Part 2 – New horizons for gas exploration and production Introduction to Part 2 Summary of Part 2 2.1 - New Horizons in Gas Exploration and Associated Technical Challenges 2.1.1 Exploration for Gas in Artic 2.1.2 Exploration for Gas in Fold Belts 2.1.3 Deep Exploration 2.1.4 Technical Challenges 2.2 - Offshore Gas Development Challenges 2.2.1 Gas Export from Floating Production Systems in Deep Water 2.2.2 Flow Assurance for Long Distance Flow-Lines in Cold and Deepwater Environments 2.2.3 Subsea Gas Processing Challenges 2.2.4 High Pressure High Temperature Reservoir Developments 2.2.5 Development Challenges in Offshore Artic and Ice Prone Regions References to 2.2 4 2.3 - Processing of Natural Gas Containing Acid Components 2.3.1 Pre-Extraction Process 2.3.2 Amine and Chemical Solvent Processes 2.3.3 Physical Solvent Processes 2.3.4 Physical/Chemical Solvent Processes 2.3.5 Chemical Absorption Processes 2.3.6 Physical Absorption Processes 2.3.7 Biological Processes 2.3.8 Electrochemical Processes 2.3.9 Introduction of New Technologies to the Industry 2.4 - CO2 Geological Storage: Principles and Application to Field Projects 2.4.1 CO 2 Storage Projects - Currently Operating at the Commercial Scale 2.4.2 CO 2 Storage Projects - Planned Operation at the Commercial Scale 2.4.3 Selected CO 2 Storage Pilot and Demonstration Projects 2.4.4 Summary and Conclusions: Current Status and Needs to Progress Geologic Storage References to 2.4 2.5 - Commercial Development of Gas-to-Liquids Industry 2.5.1 Growth of the GTL Industry 2.5.2 Brief History of GTL 2.5.3 The GTL Process 2.5.4 The markets for GTL Products 2.5.5 Economics of GTL 2.6 - Methane Hydrates and their Prospects for the Gas Industry 2.6.1 Gas Hydrates in Nature 2.6.2 Exploration and Production 2.6.3 Ecologic Problems Attributed to Natural Methane Hydrates. 2.6.4 Gas Hydrate Technologies for Storage and Transportation of Natural Gas and CO 2 Sequestration. 2.6.5 Review of Gas Hydrate Activities in Different Countries Conclusions to Part 2 Appendix 1: Members of the Committee 5 OVERALL SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS INTRODUCTION This opening section gives some brief background to the study group work, summarises some themes that emerged as the committee considered the combined results of the study groups and looks forward to further investigations in the next triennium. The first main part of this report reviews the experiences that have been gained from the discovery and exploitation of the world’s most significant gas fields: what is their current status and what lessons have been learnt and applied? The second part presents information on some new commercial horizons for exploration, production and treatment of gas, in particular some new developments that could have a significant commercial impact in the coming decades of the 21 st century. The starting point for our Study Group dealing with the World’s Most Significant Gas Fields was to define the criteria on which to evaluate their significance. The four categories chosen were • Market impact • Technological advances • Sustainable development • Future potential These are further explained in the report. Examples of the fields selected in these four categories are shown below. WOC 1: Exploration & Production of Natural Gas Examples of Significant Gas Fields & Categories Shtockman Bovanenkovo Snoehvit Troll Urengoy Groningen Aconcagua Hassi R ’Mel In-Salah North Field, South Pars, Malampaya Market Impact Sustainable Development Technical Advances Future Potential Datasheets on these, and some other fields that are considered significant on a global basis are presented in the report as an overview of some of the world’s most significant upstream gas developments. There is then a short analysis of the four criteria. Case studies of some of these developments are being presented at the 23 rd World Gas Conference in Amsterdam, at which the results of a delegate vote on the world’s most significant Gas Fields will also be revealed. 6 The second main part of this report reviews some of the most interesting and current developments in the exploration, production and treatment of gas that we expect will have their first major commercial applications in the 21st century. The following diagram gives an indication of the wide work scope of study group 1.2: SOME NEW HORIZONS FOR UPSTREAM GAS - HP/HT Reservoirs - Low Permeability New Gas Exploration Exploitation in East Offshore Production Permafrost Siberia N.European Gas Areas Zones E&P for LNG Export Russian LNG export to Japan Deep Water Potential E&P Potential Methane Methane Hydrate Hydrate Production Production GTL Onshore New S.American Gas Exploration New production for LNG Export Plays from Caspian & Middle East New horizons cover new geographical and geological areas of gas exploration and production, new technology that is being, or soon to be, commercially applied to discover, exploit or treat upstream gas, and new management approaches across the whole E&P gas business. There is also a special chapter to review the technical and commercial potential for exploitation of methane hydrates. TRENDS AND KEY MESSAGES Through combining the experience gained from studying the world’s most significant gas fields with the information and analysis on new commercial upstream opportunities, we have identified some global trends and key issues that materially affect the upstream international gas businesses in the coming decades.