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What is natural gas? How is it produced? And why
can’t anyone get any of it?
A 3-minute story of fire and ice
can’t anyone get any of it?
A 3-minute story of fire and ice
Over the last 250 million years, microorganisms from the Paleozoic Era decomposed under intense temperature & pressure of the earth and became natural gas
The gas was formed in tiny, microscopic pockets of a sedimentary rock called “shale” about 10,000 feet below ground
The gas was formed in tiny, microscopic pockets of a sedimentary rock called “shale” about 10,000 feet below ground
Because these pockets are not connected, the gas was trapped in the rock with no way of rising to the surface
However, in the early 2000’s a man named George Mitchell commercialized what is now known as “fracking”
The process uses very high pressure water to fracture the rock deep within the earth. These fractures connect the tiny pockets of gas together
The process uses very high pressure water to fracture the rock deep within the earth. These fractures connect the tiny pockets of gas together
Once the pockets of gas are connected, the gas can flow through the fractures, into a well, and up to the surface
But here’s the issue…
When gas comes out of the ground, it comes with water and other impurities.
So, before sending it to homes and power plants, the gas must be purified at a gas treatment plant
When gas comes out of the ground, it comes with water and other impurities.
So, before sending it to homes and power plants, the gas must be purified at a gas treatment plant
The gas from each well is put into small flow lines where it is gathered before being transported to the treatment plant via pipeline
However, in these flow lines (under cold temperatures), the gas / water mix can freeze into ice crystals called “hydrates”, blocking the lines
However, in these flow lines (under cold temperatures), the gas / water mix can freeze into ice crystals called “hydrates”, blocking the lines
Here’s a picture of a hydrate on fire
The solution for hydrates is to inject alcohol (like methanol) into the flow lines
For the same reason that vodka doesn’t freeze in your freezer, alcohol can prevent the formation of hydrates
But many flow lines are not equipped with alcohol injection
For the same reason that vodka doesn’t freeze in your freezer, alcohol can prevent the formation of hydrates
But many flow lines are not equipped with alcohol injection
On top of all of this, gas treatment plants themselves are having their own host of problems (such as instrumentation failures)
See my tweet on instrumentation failures here: https://twitter.com/MarkTomasovic/status/1361309953097691138?s=20
See my tweet on instrumentation failures here: https://twitter.com/MarkTomasovic/status/1361309953097691138?s=20
The gas can’t get to the treatment plants...and when it can, the treatment plants are struggling to stay online
Gas that does make it through the system right now is being prioritized for heating and home usage. It is not being sent to power plants for electricity generation.
Gas that does make it through the system right now is being prioritized for heating and home usage. It is not being sent to power plants for electricity generation.
I hope this thread was useful! Feel free to comment below if you have any questions about the natural gas value chain
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