Optimizing the Sourcing of Natural Gas From Intercalated Fields for Accelerated and Sustainable Low-Cost Natural Gas Supply: A Case Study of the Central Niger Delta Gas Cluster

摘要

This work investigates the strategies by which natural gas can be harnessed from intercalated and/or marginal fields in a given resource base and made available to end-users at the barest cost, and at the shortest possible time, ensuring equitable resource utilization. The study examines the operation of the area-franchise strategy as it concerns meeting up the accelerating energy sufficiency demand of the economy while ensuring timely extermination of gas flares; and determines the economics of the supply of dry gas to the power sector from Associated Gas (AG) and/or Non-associated Gas (NAG) wells at the regulated gas price. The work establishes the threshold feed gas volume and cost ratios for the Central Processing Facilities (CPF) and the Mini Processing Facilities (MPFs) that will enable the production of sufficient dry gas at good return on investment (ROI) under a given regulated gas price. Sample field data is used to assess the proposed strategy. It is intended that this work would guide the Government in the formulation of policies that would engender sustainable and implementable regulations on gas distribution and pricing.