Optimization of Strategies for Natural Gas Utilization.
ABSTRACT
Nigeria is endowed with huge proven gas reserves estimated to be 184 trillion cubic feet (Tcf). It ranks as the 7th holder of natural gas reserves in the world, and the largest in Africa.
Nigeria also flares more natural gas than any other country; it accounts for 12.5% of the world‟s annual gas flared and it wastes $2.0 billion annually by flaring gas associated with crude oil extraction.
There is crucial need to monetize the gas reserves, reduce gas flaring and its environmental impacts, and to derive he maximum economic benefits from gas production.
The purpose of this research is to identify options for natural gas utilization, evaluate the various strategies and thereupon develop a model for optimizing the natural gas utilization strategies using the Niger Delta as a case study.
A Linear Programming model is formulated based on the Transshipment model formulation concept. An objective function is established based on profit derived from the various utilization strategies (represented as nodes on the model) subject to certain constraints.
The optimal decision for the model is determined from the solution of the optimization model. Results obtained from this study indicate that the optimal utilization decision involved the continuation of projects (including both current and planned) such as the Liquefied Natural gas project at Bonny (including the sales of both LNG and NGL).
Supply of gas for domestic use and power generation, transport to West African countries, transport of natural gas to Algeria through the TransSaharan Gas Pipeline (TSGP), and sales of EOR products to market.
Upcoming project such as the Olokola LNG was only viable as the gas price increased. Optimal decision is affected by fixed or variable costs and more significantly by changes in market price.
Sensitivity analysis is carried out to evaluate impact of changes in the input parameters on the objective function.
This research also discusses the impact of gas pricing on the implementation of the Nigerian gas master plan (NGMP).
The model can be used to make optimum decisions in terms of selecting which set of projects would provide maximum benefits from several competing natural gas projects.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT ……….. iii
DEDICATION …….. iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ………. v
TABLE OF CONTENTS .. vi
LIST OF FIGURES …. ix
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION……. 1
1.1 PROBLEM DESCRIPTION ……… 1
1.3 SCOPE OF THE STUDY…….. 4
1.4 MOTIVATION FOR THE STUDY … 4
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 REVIEW OF LITERATURE……… 5
2.1 NIGERIA’S NATURAL GAS …….. 5
2.1.1 Proven Reserves and Exports …. 5
2.1.2 Nigerian Energy Consumption ………… 6
2.1.3 Flaring of Natural Gas ……… 9
2.1.4 Security in the Niger Delta ……………. 9
2.2 NIGERIA LEGISLATION IN FAVOR OF GAS UTILIZATION.10
2.2 1 Nigerian Petroleum Industry Bill ……..10
2.2.2 Nigeria Gas Master Plan ………10
2.3 GAS UTILIZATION OPTIONS …………..11
2.4 SOURCES OF NATURAL GAS IN NIGERIA …..13
2.4.1 Bonga Field ……..14
2.4.2 Akpo Field ……14
2.4.3 Oso Field. ….14
2.5 INFRASTRUCTURE AND ACCESSIBILITY ….14
2.5.1 Onshore Location ……………15
2.5.2 Shallow offshore and Deep offshore ………..15
2.6 STRATEGIES FOR NIGERIAN GAS UTILIZATION ……….15
2.6.1 Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Project (NLNG) Project ….16
2.6.2 Brass LNG …….16
2.6.3 Escravos Gas Project …..17
2.6.4 Oso NGL Project …18
2.6.5 Belema Gas Injection project ………18
2.6.6 The West African Gas Pipeline Project (WAGP) ..19
2.6.7 Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline ……..19
2.6.8 The Gbaran-Ubie Integrated Oil and Power ….20
2.6.9 The Afam Integrated Gas and Power Project ……..20
2.6.10 Expansion of domestic gas distribution network …..20
2.7 LINEAR OPTIMIZATION IN NATURAL GAS UTILIZATION …….21
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 METHOLOGY …….. 23
3.1 MODEL FORMULATION SCHEME…23
3.1.1 MODEL ASSUMPTIONS…….26
3.1.2 PROPOSED NATURAL GAS OPTIMIZATION SCHEME……26
3.2 OPTIMIZATION MODEL APPLIED TO NATURAL GAS UTILIZATION ..26
3.3 MODIFIED NATURAL GAS OPTIMIZATION SCHEME .28
3.2.1 Objective Function ………29
3.2.2 Constraints …..30
3.3.1 Discussion of the Various Utilization Nodes and Deliverability Requirement ..32
3.4 SUMMARY OF THE NATURAL GAS OPTIMIZATION MODEL …37
3.5 DATA REQUIRED FOR THE STUDY …………. 42
3.5.1 Gas Composition Data …..42
3.5.2 Fixed Cost Data for Different Utilization Option ………43
3.5.3 Variable cost (Operating cost) …45
3.6.3 Total Volume of Gas at the Source …..47
3.6.4 SUMMARY OF COST DATA ..47
3.7 MARKET PRICE OF NATURAL GAS …..48
3.8 IMPLEMENTING THE OPTIMIZATION CODE 48
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION . 52
4.1 BASE CASE ..52
4.2 SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS (POST OPTIMALITY ANALYSIS) ..53
4.2.1 Fixed Cost Analysis .53
4.2.2 Variable Cost Analysis .57
4.2.3 Market Price Analysis ……62
4.2.4 Effect of Nigerian Gas Master Plan on Model …..65
4.3 DISCUSSION OF RESULTS …..65
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ………….. 70
5.1 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS ……………..70
5.2 RECOMMENDATION ………………………..72
REFERENCES ………………………….. 73
NOMENCLATURE ………………………… 78
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Problem Description
Natural gas is a subcategory of petroleum that is a naturally occurring, complex mixture of hydrocarbons, with a minor amount of inorganic compounds. I
t was once an almost embarrassing and unwanted by-product-or more correctly a co-product- of crude oil production but that notion has since been abandoned because of the huge potential for gas commercialization and utilization (Wang and Economides, 2009). .
Nigeria has proven gas reserves estimated to be 184 Tscf, making it the seventh largest reserves in the world (Oil and Gas Journal (OGJ), 2009).
A decree was issued by the Nigerian government to stop the flaring of natural gas in hydrocarbon exploration and production (E&P) activities by 2008 all in an effort to realise commercial benefits from the nation‟s huge gas reserves.
However due to several factors mitigating against this investment ideas by the government, this deadline date has far expired but huge volumes of gas are still been flared (World Energy, 2004).
The Natural gas available in Nigeria could either be associated or non-associated.Non- associated natural gas is found in reservoirs containing no oil (dry wells).
Associated gas, on the other hand, is present in contact with and/or dissolved in crude oil and is coproduced with it and consists primarily of methane.
Higher molecular weight paraffinic hydrocarbons (C2-C7) are usually present in smaller amounts with the natural gas mixture, and their ratios vary considerably from one gas field to another.
Non-associated gas normally contains a higher methane ratio than associated gas, while the latter contains a higher ratio of heavier hydrocarbons(Matar and Hatch, 1994).
REFERENCES
Adegoke . A, Barrufet. M and C. Ehlig-Economides “GTL Plus Power Generation: The Optimal Alternative for Natural Gas exploitation in Nigeria‟‟, International Petroleum Technology Conference IPTC 10523, 2005.
Adewale. D and Ogunrinde. O, ”An Economic Approach to Gas Flare-down in a Selected Field in Nigeria”, Society for Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Paper 140719, 2010.
Agbon, I “A Cost Effective Analysis of Nigerian LNG”, SPE Paper 6478, 2000.
Atoyebi, T “The preferred Natural Gas Conservation Option”, Underground Storage of Natural Gas”, SPE Paper 136984, 2010.
Balogun, O and M. Onyekonwu “Economic Viability of Gas to Liquids‟‟, SPE Paper 128342, 2009.