Natural gas availability: present and future

Conference · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1972

OSTI ID:6872193

Zareski, G K

Natural gas fuel availability will be a critical factor in the ability to use gas as a motor fuel. The 1969 U.S. consumption of motor gasoline was 85.4 billion gas, equivalent to 10.6 trillion ft/sup 3/ of natural gas at 1032 Btu/ft/sup 3/, which is about 50% of the total gas consumed in 1969. Between 1950 and 1970 the demand for gas increased by more than 6% annually. Historical trends in natural gas production and reserves show that since 1968, production has exceeded reserve additions. The current level of reserves equals 247.4 trillion ft/sup 3/. The reserve to production ratio has declined steadily from 26.8 in 1950 to 11.3 in 1971. During the same period, the findings to production ratio declined from 1.7 to 0.4. Since 1956, the number of wells drilled annually has decreased. It is estimated that domestic production will peak at less than 25 trillion ft/sup 3/ annually in the 1973 to 1974 period and then decline and stabilize at a somewhat lower level in the 1980s. Even if reserve development is estimated at high rates of 20, 25 or 30 trillion ft/sup 3/, demand will surpass supply and continue to do so from the mid 1970s onward. Supplementary sources of natural gas will be important in the future, such as the Alaska pipeline which could transport 2.3 trillion ft/sup 3//y by 1990. Advancement in liquefied natural gas handling techniques will aid importation of natural gas. Synthetic pipeline quality gas from coal represents another source, however gasification of coal represents formidable problems. The first commercial gasification is expected by 1976. By 1990, 3.3 trillion ft/sup 3/ of natural gas could be produced by this source. Supplemental sources of natural gas will not completely satisfy annual demands, however. Since demand predictions do not project the use of gas as a motor fuel, it is likely that use of gas as a vehicular fuel must be based on a consideration of critical supply deficits which are developing.

• OSTI ID: 6872193
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030600* -- Natural Gas-- Economic
Industrial
& Business Aspects
AVAILABILITY
COAL GASIFICATION
CONSUMPTION RATES
DRILLING
ENERGY DEMAND
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
FORECASTING
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GASIFICATION
NATURAL GAS
NORTH AMERICA
PRODUCTION
RESERVES
RESOURCES
USA
WELL DRILLING