 Upgrade marginal low-BTU gas is within resource reach of small producers.
U.S. natural gas reserves around 204 tcf
(Energy Information Administration, 2006)
- Sub pipeline quality gas – CO2 and/or N2 contaminated
- 17.5 tcf in Mid-continent region (Hugman and others, 1990)
- 9 tcf in Rocky Mountain region (Hugman and others, 1990)
- 60 tcf in the U.S. (Lokhandwala and Zammerille, 2006)
- In Kansas – 33% (of 1253 samples) tested low BTU (Newell 2007)
Sub-quality gas due to N2 contamination
- 15% N2 in natural gas reduces heat value to less than 950/BTU/cu ft (Pipeline quality)
- N2 primary cause in Mid-continent in low BTU (Beebe, 1968; Jenden & others, 1988)
- 17% of gas (> 32 tcf) nationwide (Lokhandwala and Zammerille, 2006)
- Significant volumes in modest/small fields (Lokhandwala and Zammerille, 2006)
– Isolated location, low pressure & flow rates, rapid declines
- Many Kansas Pipelines require less than 4% N2 in sales gas
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