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Gas Transmission - Behind the Scenes activity

Though it takes just a flick of a switch for the consumer to get natural gas, there is a huge amount of behind-the-scenes activity that is involved from the time natural gas is acquired from underground reserves, then processed and transported to the end user. The whole process involved in exploring oil and gas deposits is complex and full of risks and uncertainty. The trial-and-error element is huge considering oil and natural gas is only found thousands of feet underground. However recent technological advances have increased the success rate of locating and exploring natural gas reservoirs and enhanced the efficiency of gas transmission with reduced costs.

Extraction, production and processing of natural gas

Teams of geophysicists and exploration geologists are committed to locating potential underground oil and gas deposits. Then comes the daunting task of digging deep into the crust of the earth to find natural gas deposits that may or may not really exist. A team of drilling experts carries out onshore as well as offshore drilling using state-of-the art technology and innovative equipment.

After drilling the well, the commercial viability of the well has to be established taking into consideration the quantity of natural gas present and the costs of extraction. Natural gas, as it is found underground exists in association with a variety of different gases and compounds as well as with water and oil. This gas needs to be processed so that what reaches end users is almost entirely methane. Gas natural processing is carried out near the well itself to meet the high purity specifications that are required for natural gas transmission through the natural gas pipelines.

Natural gas transmission

Natural gas transmission is done through an elaborate and highly complex network of pipelines, also known as ‘highways’ of gas and oil transmission. Natural gas travels great distances through the pipelines at high pressure.

Gas transmission distribution is essentially carried out by three major kinds of pipelines:

• The gathering system, which comprise of low diameter, low pressure pipelines that are used in transporting raw natural gas from the source well to the processing plant.
• The interstate pipelines, which are used for natural gas transmission across states clear across the country and intrastate pipelines, which are used for natural gas transmission within the state. The operational and technical details are the same for inter-state and intra-state pipelines.
• The distribution system, which transports natural gas from gas storage facilities to end-users in homes and officers.

Gas Storage

Natural gas transmission as well as exploration and production are all closely linked to its storage. Gas processing as well its transportation, exploration and production are all lengthy processes and sometimes when the gas is ready to be used; it is not required right away. This ready-to-use gas is kept in gas storage facilities, which are large underground reservoirs, till it is needed. Natural gas storage is vital in order to maintain a reliable supply necessary to meet customer demands.

The three main kinds of underground storage include:

• Depleted gas reservoirs are most widely used because they already have existing wells, pipeline connections and gathering systems in place, which makes them easier to convert into storage facilities.
• Natural aquifers are more suitable when there is a cap rock overlaying a water-bearing rock that has a sedimentary rock formation. The active water drive present in natural aquifers produces an increase in delivery rates. This kind of underground gas storage facility requires extra monitoring of injection and withdrawal performances as compared to depleted gas reservoirs.
• Salt caverns are more expensive than the other two kinds of underground gas storage facilities. Their injection rating and withdrawal rate is very high because of the active gas capacity. The Gulf Coast states have the highest number of salt cavern underground storage facilities.

Article Source: http://articlekarma.com

Thomas H. Lindblom is a freelance journalism that is always lookig for iteresting topics to write about. "Gas Transmission - Behind the Scenes activity" helps us learn about the process of gas transmission, from the moment it is extracted, it's way through gas pipelines, until the moment it is distributed all over the world.

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