Analysis of Benefits for Research and Development Projects for Unconventional Gas Resources Proposed by the Gas Research Institute: Executive Summary

摘要

The executive summary presents the results of a benefits analysis of GRI's proposed research and development (R&D) projects involving the following unconventional gas resources: western gas sands, eastern gas shales, methane for coal deposits, geopressured zones and saltwater aquifers, and methane hydrates. The total R&D cost of ongoing DOE/industry projects plus the proposed GRI R&D projects from 1979 through 1983 is $632 million, of which GRI's portion is $148.4 million. The study addresses the following issues: resource characterization and estimation, current technology and R&D activities, cost of ongoing and planned activities, estimated cost of gas production, expected gas production due to improved technology resulting from R&D activities, user benefits in terms of lower cost of gas relative to alternative energy sources, and other benefits such as improved coal mine working conditions and production of geothermal energy in conjunction with gas production from geopressured aquifers.