Axcording to my research, the world has about 6.2 quadrillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves, according to the EIA

eia.doe.gov.

The world uses about 105 trillion cubic feet a year: eia.doe.gov/emeu.

Finally, since 2000, the world discovered 1 quadrillion cubic feet of natural gas. Same link.

Based on EIA information, which quotes from several publications of reserves and consumptions, the world has about 60 years of natural gas left, if things remain static. Realistically, it may be more like 30 years before things run out if no additional reserves are discovered. I did some research on compressed natural gas, (CNG) and LNG terminal construction in North America and Gulf of Mexico.

www.sempralng.com.

This particular terminal is being expanded and scheduled to begin operations in late 2008. This expansion will take it to 1.5 billion cubic feet of capacity. Furthermore, this facility can be further expanded to 2.65 bcf a day.

Compressed natural gas (CNG) is actually cheap to produce.

Compressed natural gas (CNG) is natural gas pressurized and stored in welding bottle-like tanks at pressures up to 3,600 psig (25 MPa). Typically, it is same composition of the local "pipeline" gas, with some of the water removed. CNG and LNG are both delivered to gas engines as low pressure vapor (ozf/in² to 300 psig, up to 2.1 MPa). CNG is often misrepresented as the only form natural gas can be used as vehicle fuel. LNG can be used to make CNG. This process requires much less capital intensive equipment and about 15% of the operating and maintenance costs.

The following LNG off-loading and regasification terminals are located in the United States and Gulf of Mexico:

List of LNG Terminals:

Everett, Massachusetts, DOMAC's LNG, Tractebel LNG
Dominion Cove Point LNG, LP, Lusby, Maryland
Trunkline LNG, Lake Charles, Louisiana
Cameron LNG, Cameron, Lousiana
Southern LNG, Elba Island, Georgia
Gulf Gateway Deepwater Port, Gulf of Mexico Excelerate
Guayanilla Bay LNG, Peñuelas, Puerto Rico
Terminal de LNG de Altamira, Altamira, Mexico

Proposed LNG import terminals US and Gulf of Mexico: Proposed Terminals:

Crown Landing LNG Terminal, Gloucester County, New Jersey - A proposed LNG terminal to be located along the Delaware River. BP is working for regulatory approval and the LNG terminal is expected to be online by the end of 2008.

Neptune LNG, Off shore Boston
Hackberry, LA. 1.8 Bcfd Cameron LNG, Sempra Energy
Golden Pass LNG, Sabine Pass, Texas
Sabine Pass LNG, Sabine Pass, Texas
Creole Trail LNG, Calcasieu River, Cameron Parish, Louisiana
Corpus Christi, TX. Vista Del Sol, ExxonMobil
Freeport LNG, Quintana Island, Freeport, Texas
Oceanway, 20 miles off-shore from Los Angeles
Bahamas, AES Ocean Express
Bahamas, Calypso Tractebel

Natural gas powers nearly 130,000 buses, taxis, delivery trucks and other natural gas-powered vehicles in the United States.

Natural GaS Facts:

It appears to me that with Peak Oil now hitting, LNG imports and CNG vehicles will play a very important role in making up the decline in crude oil production for least the next 20 -30 years.

Matt Gaspar
Los Angeles, California
mg32471@yahoo.com


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