Natural gas is the soul mate of oil. Natural gas

The gas industry of the Russian Federation is one of the components of the fuel and energy complex. It includes enterprises for the production of electricity and its transportation (electric power industry), extraction and processing of all types of fuel (this is the fuel industry).

The development of the fuel industry is primarily due to the available reserves of various types of fuel. After all, if they do not exist, then there can be no prey for them. However, in reality it is more difficult.

Natural gas occupies one of the special places in the fuel, energy and raw material base due to its high consumer properties, low production and transportation costs, and a wide range of applications in many areas of human activity. Today, natural gas reserves and consumption are rapidly increasing.

Natural gas is a valuable mineral resource as the cheapest environmentally friendly fuel in preparation for the transition to a wider use of alternative non-traditional types of electricity (wind, sun, tidal, internal heat of the earth). That is why a thorough analysis of the gas industry is necessary, as one of the most important sectors for the Russian economy. It is distinguished by:

Simplification of production, does not need artificial pumping;

Ready to use without intermediate processing;

Transportation in both gaseous and liquid state;

Minimum emissions of harmful substances during combustion;

Convenience of supplying fuel in an already gaseous state during its compression (lower cost of equipment using this type of fuel);

The reserves are more extensive than other fuels (less market value);

Use in large sectors of the national economy;

A sufficient amount in the depths of Russia;

The emissions of the fuel itself during accidents are less toxic to the environment;

High combustion temperature for use in technological schemes of the national economy.

The use of natural gas leads to an increase in the efficiency of social production. Because the production of natural gas is much cheaper than the production of oil and coal. If we consider the cost of coal (in terms of 1 ton of standard fuel) for 100%, then the cost of gas will be equal to only 10%.

Also, natural gas is one of the most highly efficient sources of fuel and energy resources. Natural gas has a high natural productivity of labor, which contributes to its widespread use in many sectors of the national economy. Favorable natural preconditions for natural gas and a high level of scientific and technological progress in its transportation largely ensure the accelerated development of the gas production industry.

The gas industry of the Russian Federation is still a very young branch of the fuel complex. It includes the following elements:

Extraction of natural gas;

Production of associated gas;

Combustible gas production from coal and shale;

Gas storage.

The main proven sources are concentrated in two regions - in the CIS countries and the Middle East, despite the large distribution of proven gas reserves on the globe.

compressed natural gas motor fuel

Of the total volume of explored reserves, Western Siberia accounts for 36.2 trillion cubic meters. m (77.7%), on the shelf of the northern seas - 3.2 trillion cubic meters. m (6.8%), to Eastern Siberia and the Far East - 2.8 trillion cubic meters. m (6%) (see Fig.1.1). In general, the explored gas reserves in Russia (free gas and gas caps) amount to approximately 48 trillion cubic meters. m.

Rice. 1.1

As can be seen from Figure 1.1, almost 73% of gas reserves are located in 22 unique (over 500 billion cubic meters of gas) fields, such as Orenburgskoye, Urengoyskoye, Yamburgskoye, Zapolyarnoye, etc. 104 large fields contain about 24% of gas reserves, and only 3% of explored reserves account for numerous (663) small and medium-sized deposits Federal State Statistics Service [Electronic resource] - Access mode: http: // irkutskstat. gks.ru/ (date of access: 02.05.2016). ...

It should be noted that the gas industry is a source of significant income for the state, therefore, a fairly large amount of money and attention from the government is spent on its development. This leads to the fact that the industry is constantly developing and improving. This is due to the fact that new pipelines are being introduced, which are of high quality and reliable. Unique technologies for gas production, machinery and modern equipment are used. All this leads to the fact that the gas industry is constantly developing and becomes a source of such a large income that for these funds it is possible to develop another industry. New gas fields are being discovered, which increases profits. We can say with confidence that the gas industry expects effective and constant development, which will affect the country's economy as a whole. It should also be noted that Gazprom acts as a monopoly, so there is no need to worry that the gas sector will be unstable, since a single monopoly structure will prevent the collapse of economic ties, as it might in a competitive environment. At the same time, the company constantly introduces new innovative technologies, participates in various projects, as well as all its activities are aimed at increasing the efficiency of the gas industry.

Today the demand for gas in Russia is growing. Gas is consumed by over 2 thousand cities, 3.5 thousand urban-type settlements, more than 190 thousand rural settlements. The share of gas in the fuel balance of Russia is 48.8%. Over the past decade, the volume of gas supplies in the domestic market has increased significantly. It is safe to say about a significant growth potential, since at the moment gasification in rural areas reaches only 31%.

Gas is used in metallurgical, cement, light, food industries of the national economy as a fuel. Gas is also used as a feedstock for the chemical industry. Gas often replaces conventional fuels such as coal, fuel oil or peat. Due to the high quality of the gas, the production efficiency increases during its application. For example, in the metallurgical industry, the use of gas allows you to save expensive coke, increase the productivity of furnaces and improve the quality of the metal produced. The use of gas at thermal power plants can significantly save on fuel transportation, increase the operating time of boilers, automate power plant control and reduce the number of required personnel. Recently, an important area of ​​application of gas has been its use as a fuel for cars. This approach allows you to reduce the emission of harmful substances generated during the operation of a car engine by 40-60%.

In Russia, 93% of pig iron, 59% of open-hearth steel, 49% of rolled ferrous metals, 100% of refractories, 89% of sheet glass and 45% of precast concrete are produced using natural gas. The share of natural gas in the consumption of fuel and energy resources by power plants reaches 61% Federal State Statistics Service [Electronic resource] - Access mode: http: // irkutskstat. gks.ru/ (date of access: 02.05.2016). ...

The engineering industry is also one of the largest consumers of natural gas. Combustible gas accounts for about 40% of the fuel balance of the machine-building industry. Heating and heat treatment furnaces are the main consumers. The use of natural gas in these furnaces instead of other types of fuel makes it possible to reduce the cost of heating, improve its quality, increase the efficiency of the furnaces and create more favorable sanitary and hygienic conditions in production facilities. Enterprises in this industry have a diverse structure of energy consumption.

The availability of technological equipment at enterprises with different temperature conditions opens up the possibility of widespread use of the method of integrated use of natural gas. Autonomous combined schemes for the use of natural gas for the simultaneous generation of heat and electricity are of great interest in industrial power engineering. In such installations, natural gas is burned in a gas turbine or internal combustion engine that drives electric generators.

The method of direct reduction of iron from ores is also based on the use of gas fuel. The use of gas in cupolas reduces coke consumption by half.

In the food industry, gas is used for drying vegetables, fruits, food products, bakery and confectionery products. The following gases are widespread as heat carriers: air and, less often, gaseous products of exothermic processes (ammonia oxidation, sulfuric anhydride production, etc.), combustion products.

The use of natural gas opens up wide opportunities for the creation of simple, less metal-intensive and more economical boilers (steam and hot water) operating on natural gas. The efficiency of boiler installations at power plants when switching from solid to gas fuel increases by 1-4%; the number of service personnel is reduced by 21-26%. The total reduction in fuel consumption due to an increase in the efficiency and a decrease in electricity consumption for auxiliary needs is 6-7%. Combustion of natural gas in the furnaces of low-capacity boilers increases the efficiency by 7-20% in comparison with boilers using solid fuels (depending on the type of fuel) and allows an increase in productivity by 30% or more.

Natural gas is also widely used in public utilities. And it is impossible to imagine the existence of our world without this useful substance. Life would just stop. The use of natural gas in the everyday life of a modern person is so familiar and commonplace that it seemed that it has always been so. It is very convenient to use gas equipment, and, most importantly, it is economically profitable. In fact, gas stoves, gas water heaters, gas water heaters do the same job as their electrical counterparts, but they ask for much less wages for their work. Especially if you act wisely, and in addition to gas equipment, you have gas meters at home.

The use of liquefied gas for heating greenhouses in the cold season makes it possible to automate the heating process, as well as to increase the level of carbon dioxide production for the successful photosynthesis of greenhouse plants. Additional heat is required even for small barns or stables, and liquefied gas is effectively used for drying or disposing of feathers.

Liquefied gas is indispensable in many areas of farming and is used not only for heating industrial and residential premises. Due to the high calorific value of propane, it is possible to grow, handle and store crops with maximum efficiency, while observing the required level of environmental safety.

Using liquefied gas as energy for a grain dryer, it is required to install an autonomous gas supply system. Depending on the production capacity, containers of various sizes are installed. An underground gas pipeline runs from the gas storage facility to equipment using gas. The amount of gas in the tank can be monitored using telemetry devices, this will allow timely deliveries of fuel.

During the cold season, a variety of heating systems are used to generate heat in greenhouses and greenhouses, with the primary economic benefit being the energy source.

The use of energy efficient equipment such as infrared heaters will reduce the cost of LPG. Radiant heating is characterized by limited heat loss, efficient use of resources and minimal emissions. For facilities remote from the mains, the use of liquefied gas is the optimal solution.

Farms are usually located at a considerable distance from the main energy lines. At the same time, energy is one of the most important factors in the operation of the farm: energy supply is required for space heating and water heating, organic waste incineration, steam production and other technological processes. These tasks are effectively solved by installing an autonomous gas supply system. Liquefied gas is the optimal source of energy if the farm is located away from natural gas networks. Liquefied gas is delivered throughout Russia, even to the most remote regions. The superior calorific value and efficiency of propane will keep your income in the harshest winter.

In medical practice, the use of various gases is widespread. The most common are oxygen and nitrogen.

The scope of application of medical oxygen is quite large - this is the enrichment of gas mixtures used for breathing disorders, decompression sickness, for the treatment of asthmatic disease of various etiologies, for the prevention of hypoxia - in the manufacture of oxygen cocktails and filling oxygen cushions. The most popular now are oxygen concentrators, due to their safety, reliability, mobility, economic profitability and, of course, the high concentration of "produced" oxygen - up to 95%. The main sources of oxygen are primarily oxygen concentrators, special devices for the chemical production of oxygen, and then oxygen enrichment systems and cylinders with liquid or gaseous oxygen. Medical oxygen differs from any other in its higher concentration and the absence of various impurities.

It is necessary to use medical oxygen in emergency situations, during major surgical operations, during anesthesia, where artificial ventilation is required, during resuscitation measures. Such serious diseases as stroke, heart attack, chronic respiratory failure also require oxygen treatment. But in Russia, medical oxygen is one of the most expensive medicines - oxygen is brought to many hospitals in our country from other cities.

Another gas used in medicine, but in smaller volumes, is helium. Pure helium gas is used for the production of breathing mixtures. Air filled with helium is several times lighter than ordinary air and, accordingly, it is several times easier to breathe. The most common mixtures of helium and oxygen in medicine are due to their optimal viscosity. This "helium" air is used to treat asthma, suffocation and other diseases associated with breathing difficulties.

Like oxygen, nitrogen finds its use in liquid and gaseous form. In medical practice, the spread of its use is about 90%. It is used to preserve blood, blood-containing preparations, blood substitutes, to keep various organs and tissues frozen, as well as to prepare some powder medicines. Do not forget about another area where medical nitrogen is used - inhalation anesthesia. Nitrous oxide is used in surgical gynecology, painful childbirth, during surgical operations and sometimes even with myocardial infarction, since its toxic effect on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems is extremely insignificant. Nitrous oxide is also used to relieve pain in acute pancreatitis attacks, to relieve pain in acute coronary insufficiency. The supply of medical nitrogen is carried out in special steel cylinders with a volume of 10 liters, filled at the enterprises.

Today natural gas is the most economical, environmentally friendly and safe fuel. The cost of 1 cubic meter m of gas as of May 1, 2016 for transport on average in Russia is 14 rubles. Natural gas belongs to the safest class of combustible substances. Moreover, the engine of such a vehicle meets the highest standards - Euro-5 and Euro-6. Two types of natural gas are used as a motor fuel: compressed gas (CNG) and liquefied gas (LNG).

Target market segments: compressed natural gas - passenger, light freight, light vehicles and utility vehicles; liquefied natural gas - main road, rail, water transport, quarry and agricultural machinery.

So, the products of the industry under consideration provide industry (about 45% of the total national economic consumption), thermal power industry (35%), and public utilities (more than 10%). Gas is the most environmentally friendly fuel and a valuable raw material for the production of chemical products. More than 30 different gases are used in technology. Gases in technology are mainly used as fuel; raw materials for the chemical industry: chemical agents in welding, gas chemical thermal treatment of metals, creating an inert or special atmosphere, in some biochemical processes, etc.; heat carriers; a working medium for performing mechanical work (firearms, jet engines and projectiles, gas turbines, steam and gas installations, pneumatic transport, etc.): a physical medium for a gas discharge (in gas discharge tubes and other devices).

Lighting a burner in the kitchen, few housewives think about how long ago people began to use natural gas as fuel. This history goes back not centuries, but millennia: in the IV century BC. e. the Chinese heated and illuminated their homes with a smokeless, bluish fire.

In Russia, the industrial development of natural gas fields began in the last century, and before that it was found only in the extraction of oil or drilling wells for water.

Russian ingenuity has always helped people make good use of everything that comes along the way. When in the Saratov province a merchant began to drill an artesian well and discovered not water, but fire, he took advantage of the situation and organized glass and brick production there.

Other industrialists adopted his experience, and useless underground gas began to gradually turn into valuable fuel.

What is natural gas

One of the most important minerals is natural gas, which is used both as fuel and for the needs of the chemical industry. This colorless and odorless substance can be very dangerous.

Without special devices, it is impossible to determine that a flammable component is present in the air, which may cause a fire.