The origin of natural gas, its reserves and production. The deposits of natural gas in Russia and the world

The most profitable, environmentally friendly and important fuel for today is natural gas. What is this substance? Where does the origin of natural gas originate and in what its features? It is important to know this and it is necessary, after all, how long this raw material will last is a global issue for all countries of the world. About these issues and talk in this article.

Natural Gas: General Characteristics of the Composition

This compound is used in chemistry to designate methane having the formula CH ₄ . However, this is not entirely true. After all, natural gas is the minerals of our Earth. And it can not be absolutely pure. It is a chemical mixture of many gaseous products. Among them, one can clearly identify the organic component and the inorganic component.

The first include such low-molecular gases as:

• methane;
• butane;
• propane.

To the second more diverse products:

• Impurities of hydrogen sulphide;
• Hydrogen;
• Helium;
• Nitrogen;
• carbon dioxide.

Therefore, the properties of a given substance can not be determined by only one predominant in the composition of the alkane. They have a strong influence and impurities. However, the origin of natural gas to people working with it is well known. Therefore, the purification methods for use have long been developed and introduced into wide use.

Physical properties

To describe the properties of this connection, many points will not be required.

1. Density varies depending on the aggregate state, since this product can be liquefied with increasing pressure.
2. At 6500 ⁰ C is capable of spontaneous combustion, therefore it is an explosive substance.
3. In a mixture with air in certain proportions also has an explosive character.
4. Practically twice as lighter than air, therefore, is able to escape into the upper atmosphere.

There is also a special property due to which the deposits of natural gas are much wider than they could be. He is able to be in a state of solid in the composition of the earth's crust. More details about this below.

Methods of formation or origin of natural gas

Several basic variants can be identified, under which the formation and accumulation of the substance under consideration takes place.

1. The process of decomposition of living beings as a result of the end of their life activity. This is indicated by the biogenic theory. This path is estimated in thousands and millions of years, but as a result, it led to the accumulation of a huge amount of natural gas on our planet.
2. Formation of gas hydrate complexes, concentrated mainly underground. This process became possible only due to the selection of certain thermodynamic parameters. However, in the XX century it was proved that such deposits of gas exist and their amounts are simply amazing in their scales. Even permafrost retains in its depths natural gas in a solid state.
3. The origin of natural gas from the Cosmos as a result of a number of specific reactions. At present, it is proved that practically all the planets of our system have this gas in their composition.

No matter how it was formed, one thing remains unchanged: its reserves are huge, but exhaustible.

Main world deposits

World reserves of natural gas are estimated at 200.363 trillion m ³ . This data for the period until 2013. Of course, the figure amazes with its greatness. But do not forget about its costs, which are also quite numerous. Annually around the world it is extracted about 3646 billion cubic meters ^of this unique natural raw material.

The main natural gas deposits in the world are located in the following countries:

• Russia;
• Iran;
• Qatar;
• Turkmenistan;
• USA;
• Saudi Arabia;
• United Arab Emirates;
• Venezuela and others.

Here, only the largest countries are designated, on the territory of which it is possible to extract this mineral. In general, the places of concentration of this product are available in 101 countries of the world.

If you call the fields themselves, the largest of them are the following:

• Hassi-Rmel (Algeria);
• Shah-Deniz (Azerbaijan);
• Groningen (the Netherlands);
• Dhirubhai (India);
• North / South Pars (Qatar and Iran respectively);
• Urengoy (Russia);
• Galkynysh (Turkmenistan).

These are not just large, but giant and supergiant places, in which most of the earth's natural gas is concentrated.

Deposits of natural gas in Russia

If we talk about our country, we can name about 14 sources of this unique raw material. The largest are:

• Urengoy;
• Leningrad;
• Yamburg;
• Shtokman;
• Bovanenkovo;
• The polar.

Another eight have less massive reserves, but they are also very important for the welfare of our country. In general, natural gas deposits in Russia are the most numerous on the background of other countries in the world. There are as many sources as in our region, nowhere.

Forecasts of gas reserves in the world

From the above figures in the article on the extraction and consumption of gas, as well as on the quantities of its reserves, it is obvious that the approximate use time of all sources will be about 55 years! This is very small, so now work is in progress in this area.

The same experts predict for oil. It is interesting that the bulk of this raw material remains hidden from human production in the permafrost and at the bottom of the world ocean in the form of gas hydrate strata. If scientists manage to solve the problem of their processing and develop methods of extraction, then both the gas and oil problems will be solved for many years to come.

But while this remains only a hope and a dream, a belief in the bright minds and foresight of the scientists of our world.

Production methods

The extraction of natural gas is carried out according to a certain technique and technique. The thing is that the depth of its occurrence can reach several kilometers. In such conditions, a specially developed program and new, modern and powerful equipment are required.

The extraction method is based on creating a pressure difference in the gas stratum and outside atmospheric air. As a result, with the help of a well, the product is pumped out of the places of occurrence, and the layer is saturated with water.

Wells are drilled on a certain trajectory, reminiscent of a ladder. This is done because:

• This saves space and preserves the integrity of materials during mining, since gas admixtures (hydrogen sulphide, for example) are very damaging to the equipment;
• This makes it possible to distribute the pressure to the formation more evenly;
• This way it is possible to penetrate to a depth of up to 12 km, which allows us to study the lithosphere composition of the earth's interior.

As a result, natural gas production is quite successful, uncomplicated and well organized. After the product is removed, it is sent to the destination. If it is a chemical plant, then it goes through purification and is prepared for further use in different industries.

In particular, for household purposes it is necessary not only to clean the product, but also add odorants to it - special substances that give a sharp unpleasant smell. This is done for safety reasons in case of leakage in the premises.

Gas transportation

After the formation of natural gas, it was assembled and prepared for transportation. It is carried out in different ways.

1. By pipeline. The most common option, however, is the most dangerous. In this case, the gaseous product moves, which can cause leakage and explosion. Therefore, along the way, there are compressor points, whose purpose is to maintain pressure for the normal promotion of the product.
2. Use of gas carriers - special tankers, capable of transporting liquefied material. This method is the safest, since in the liquid state the gas is not so explosive and incapable of self-ignition.
3. Railway with the help of tank cars.

The way the gas is transported depends on the distance of the place of arrival and the amount of the product.

Ecological aspect

In terms of the natural aspect, there is no cleaner fuel than natural gas. After all, its products of combustion - water and carbon dioxide. No harmful emissions, no acid rains are formed .

However, in this case, there is still a problem - the "greenhouse effect". It represents the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which provokes a global change in the global climate. Scientists of all countries are also working on this problem, as recently it has become more and more topical and relevant.

Nevertheless, while gas and oil are the main combustible minerals that serve a person as fuel.