Abstract

The gas industry has historically prevented the formation of natural gas hydrates (NGH) to avoid operating difficulties such as pipeline blockage and pressure drop. Hydrate formation, however, can be an advantage rather than a problem. Potential applications of gas hydrates include removing gas impurities and innovative methods for gas storage and transportation. A feasibility study was conducted to evaluate gas hydrates technology for the Natuna Gas Field to (1) remove CO₂, and (2) avoid the necessity of building an undersea pipeline.

The feasibility study found the hydrate technology viable for CO₂ removal and for gas storage and transportation, reducing capital costs for the project by at least 30%. A combined process with hydrate technology used only for storing and transporting gas decreases capital costs by approximately 11%.

Exporting the gas in hydrate form to Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore drops capital costs by around 65% in comparison to an offshore pipeline. An additional 65% reduction in capital cost would be gained by providing Natuna gas in hydrate form to meet West Java demand starting in 2004.