Oil and Gas Analysis

Although we need to find alternative energy sources, we can't imagine life without oil and gas as energy sources. The quality of oil and gas is important for energy efficiency.

Quality analysis of oil or gas products is typically performed extractively with samples in the laboratory. This usually requires additional effort to extract the samples from the systems. In some cases, time-consuming laboratory analyses are necessary to obtain results, which in turn means that a lot of time is lost. Real-time analysis and situational adaptation of the manufacturing processes becomes impossible. The quality of oil and gas is determined by its composition. The components are present in gaseous form or dissolved as gases in oil, which is why they are suitable for on-site gas analysis.

Biogas Composition Makes the Difference

Biogas is produced from fermented biomass. The material used for this purpose is organic waste, e.g. from agriculture, but also plants and dung from animals. Depending on the biomass used, the composition of the biogas varies.

The main components of biogas are methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2). These gases are produced by microorganisms during the fermentation process. The more methane is present in the biogas, the more energy-rich it is. The carbon dioxide cannot be used for most applications and is therefore often separated from the biogas. Other components that may also be present are nitrogen (N2), oxygen (O2), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), hydrogen (H2) and ammonia (NH3). Hydrogen sulfide and ammonia reduce the quality of the biogas, which is why they are removed or reduced during treatment. If these gases were to enter the combustion process, they could cause corrosion in the engines or pose a health hazard to people. A measurement of the components in the biogas, especially methane, hydrogen sulfide and ammonia, is therefore of great importance for monitoring the quality. If these gases can be measured in real time, this also allows control and optimization of ongoing processes.

The Methane Content Determines the Calorific Value and the Efficiency

Natural gas is the main fuel used in Europe for heating homes and producing hot water. In contrast to other energy sources like coal and heating oil, the emissions of harmful carbon dioxide (CO₂) are significantly lower with gas. As with biogas, the methane content of natural gas determines its calorific value. As with biogas, the methane content of natural gas determines its calorific value. Depending on the origin of the natural gas, this can be up to 99%. Due to the high efficiency of natural gas in heating, it is above all inexpensive compared to other fuels, and therefore very popular. In order to achieve the highest possible methane content, natural gas is further processed after its extraction. Disruptive components such as carbon dioxide or hydrogen sulfide are removed or reduced to a minimum. For quality analysis and determination of the calorific value, the industry depends on reliable measurement technology. The transport of natural gas to households is also problematic from an environmental point of view. Networks of natural gas pipelines are sometimes very old and prone to leaks. Regular leakage checks are therefore necessary to prevent unnecessary methane emissions into the atmosphere. The Axetris LGD Compact offers suitable solutions for the integration in almost every imaginable measuring device.

 

Cost-efficient Development of New Natural Gas Fields

The International Energy Agency (IEA) expects energy demand to increase by another quarter by 2040. Despite emissions of harmful greenhouse gases, natural gas will continue to play a major role in this.

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For this reason, new natural gas reservoirs are still being developed on an ongoing basis. Such reservoirs are located and evaluated by means of prospecting and exploration. Prospecting involves analyzing rock sediments to identify possible areas with oil and gas deposits. In order to confirm the theoretical observations, this is followed by complex geophysical investigations of the area. During the subsequent exploration, several test wells are drilled in order to examine the so-called drill cuttings. In addition to the age and type of the rock obtained, the natural gas and hydrocarbon content is always examined. By using gas measurement technology, time-consuming laboratory tests can be avoided and the evaluation can be carried out more quickly. This process is also known as mud logging and is also used during natural gas extraction. This allows the quality of the natural gas and the remaining quantity in the natural gas reservoir to be assessed on an ongoing basis.