Natural gas (methane) converted to a liquid, primarily for fuel use, is being touted as a new option for accelerating exploitation of the world's natural gas resources, especially accumulations that are commonly termed "stranded," in the foreseeable future because of high development and transportation costs.
While most economic analyses of the gas-to-liquid (GTL) ventures focus on feed costs and investment capital, Mossgas' experience suggests that the ability to make value-added products is the key to commercial GTL profitability.
Recent years have seen advancement of several transportation schemes aimed at making natural gas production from smaller and remote or scattered offshore fields more economic.
An innovative hammer-union pressure transmitter, which can be easily repaired or replaced on location, has improved the accuracy and response time for mud-pulse communications used in most directional-drilling operations.
The US Department of Energy's (DOE) extreme overbalance (EOB) and high-energy gas fracturing (HEGF) tests were disappointing overall, but the improved understanding of each process may be still be useful in improving deliverability from gas storage wells.
Changing trade patterns and evolving technologies will alter traditional shipping patterns and fleet changes in liquid petroleum product, LPG, and LNG carriers into the 21st Century.
Canada's National Energy Board has approved the $1 billion (Canadian) natural gas pipeline system from Sable Island off Nova Scotia to New England markets.
While the Norwegian government is anticipating increased production and earnings from petroleum revenues, it is concerned over the "drought" that is threatening the country's oil companies and their suppliers.
The US Federal Trade Commission has voted 4-0 to allow Exxon Corp. to acquire Mobil Corp. for $81 billion but will require the firms to shed many assets.
Iran's National Petrochemical Co. and Elenac GMBH, Kehl, Germany, signed a letter of intent to jointly build and operate a 300,000 tonne/year low-density polyethylene plant at an olefins complex to be built at Bandar Imam, Iran (OGJ, Aug. 16, 1999, p. 61).
Iraq's brief suspension of oil exports in defiance of the United Nations pushed the price of dated Brent crude above $26/bbl for the first time since the Persian Gulf crisis of 1990.
A 70-30 joint venture of Brazil's Petroleo Brasileiro SA and Argentina's Perez Companc have won the bidding to acquire Bolivia's two refineries, owned by the Bolivian state oil company Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales Bolivianos (YPFB).
IN ITS LARGEST SINGLE U.S. INDUSTRIAL INVESTment, Air Liquide America Corp. started up the first of two air-separation units (ASUs), part of a $150 million air-separation and cogeneration complex in Geismar, La., at the end of October.
Writing about the petroleum industry is fascinating, but as a journalist, one sometimes yearns for a dash of color or, better still, a whiff of controversy.
21st Century Energy Advisors has been established in Houston to develop business intelligence for energy companies and other companies entering the energy market.
NKK Corp. of Japan and Siderca S.A. of Argentina have signed a letter of intent pursuant to which they have agreed to build a strategic alliance that would combine their marketing and technological strengths in relation to the manufacture and sale of seamless steel pipe.
