Assessment of Natural Gas Capturing and Utilisation Techniques: A Nigerian Case-Study

This chapter provides highlights for available natural gas capturing techniques and a novel approach for capturing gas for utilisation and reduction of associated emission. The pros and cons of the existing methods for natural gas utilisation were also identified as part of this study. A novel and sustainable approach to capture natural gas from oil producing assets both offshore and onshore were captured as part of this work. The study was focused on developing a contemporary approach for the capturing of at least over 45% of the gas flare rate within Nigeria by developing a viable system for enhancing the capture of carbon dioxide (CO2). The methodology for the study involved the deployment of local technologies that uses Lithium hydroxide to mop up the CO2 from the flare stack via a carbon steel locally fabricated device. Key data assessed indicated a significant rate of capturing carbon dioxide of about 0.9 g from 1 g of lithium oxide; indicating about 90% capture rate of the natural gas produced in the case-study via the lithium hydroxide cladded clay supported flare stack. This improved natural gas capture rate and good utilisation option for the natural gas, will enable a solving of the natural gas management problem within Nigeria and indeed Sub-Saharan Africa. This study also recommends CNG, GTL and LNG as viable natural gas utilisation methods that should be fully adapted across Sub-Saharan Africa in view of the available infrastructure and adaptable technologies. GTW will also be important as it will support high level industrialisation. Also, the Lithium per oxide cladded carbon capture tool is recommended for effective carbon capture.