The shale gas boom and its

Transcription

1 Dr. Kathrin Rübberdt, Prof. Dr. Kurt Wagemann The shale gas boom and its implications for the bio-economy CLIB-Forum, May 23, 2013

2 DECHEMA Gesellschaft für Chemische Technik und Biotechnologie e.v. - Snapshot promotes topical discussions and exchange in a large network identifies trends in science and technology shapes progress in chemical engineering, biotechnology and related fields of research More than 5,700 members (including 650 companies and institutions) Topical discussion in c. 100 working groups Symposia, colloquia and continuous education Studies, position papers and informational brochures Promotiong young researchers ACHEMA: Global leading event for the process industries and biotechnology 3,800 exhibitors 175,000 visitors 2 CLIB-Forum, May 23, 2013

3 Why is DECHEMA interested in Shale Gas? Climate protection ProcessNet-FG SuPER Process Engineering Numerous DECHEMA and ProcessNet groups Raw material base Numerous DECHEMA and ProcessNet groups Microbial activity in deep drillings TAK Geobiotechnologie Soil and groundwater protection ProcessNet-FG SuPER Picture: Marcellus Shale Gas Drilling Tower by Ruhrfisch via Wikicommons 3 CLIB-Forum, May 23, 2013

4 Fracking a technological topic of general interest 4 CLIB-Forum, May 23, 2013

5 Which gas resources are in focus? Conventional gas: Found in sandstone or limestone formations. If the gas reservoir is accessed by drilling, the gas flows freely to the surface. Unconventional gas: Used as a collective term for shale gas, tight gas, coal bed methane and gas hydrates Shale gas:the gas is trapped in porous minerals and can only escape by artificial cracks and fissures Fracking is carried out in conventional deposits as well when the output rate flattens. Shale gas can only be exploited by horizontal drilling in combination with fracking. 5 CLIB-Forum, May 23, 2013

6 How does fracking work? Fracking = Hydraulic Fracturing Well-bore is drilled to c. 1,000 m and more Fluid is pushed into the rock with high pressures and causes cracks Bauxite balls or quartz sand prevent the fractures from closing Fracking fluid contains also c. 5 % additives; the composition varies according to local circumstances (e.g. foaming agents, acids, biocides, tensides and others) 6 CLIB-Forum, May 23, 2013

7 Shale gas recovery requires many drill holes From one bore hole, numerous horizontal drillings are driven into the ground The density of bore holes required to exploit a deposit is large The output rate per well decreases fast, but then remains stable over a long period of time 7 CLIB-Forum, May 23, 2013

8 Shale gas changes the resource base 8 CLIB-Forum, May 23, 2013

9 The effect of the shale gas boom shows already in the development of ethylene prices Quelle: chemistryviews.org 9 CLIB-Forum, May 23, 2013

10 Overview: Sources for hydrocarbons methane Natural gas ethane and higher Steam Cracker ethylene propylene butadiene naphtha aromatics / BTX other Oil catalytic reforming 10 CLIB-Forum, May 23, 2013

11 Composition of hydrocarbon sources Natural gas gen. * wet Shale Gas (Marcellus Well) dry Shale Gas (Haynesville Well) Methane 70-90% 79,4 % 95 % Ethane 0-20% 16,1 % 0,2 % Propane 0-20 % 4,0 % Butane 0-20 % Carbon Dioxide Oxygen 0-0,2 % 0-8 % 0,1 % 4,8 % Nitrogen 0-5 % 0,4 % 0,1 % H 2 S 0-5 % Noble gas traces * Naturalgas.org; Oil & Gas Journal March 9, CLIB-Forum, May 23, 2013

12 and steam cracker output Feedstock Ethylene Propylene Butadiene Aromatics Other Ethane 84 1,4 1,4 0,4 12,8 Propane 45 14,0 2,0 3,5 35,5 Butane 44 17,3 3,0 3,4 32,3 Naphtha 34,4 14,4 4,9 14,0 32,3 Gas oil 25,5 13,5 4,9 12,8 43,3 Quelle: 12 CLIB-Forum, May 23, 2013

13 The availability of hydrocarbons from fossil resources is affected by the shale gas boom Availability fossil Ethylene Propylene Butadiene Aromatics Methane Funktionalised C3-molecules Is this the chance for bio-based production? 13 CLIB-Forum, May 23, 2013

14 Biobased pathways to propylene Metathesis 2-Butene + Ethylene Propylene Ethylene Dehydration Ethanol Glucose Fermentation Pictures: Plastic lid: public domain; Kochbeutel: Echtner;chair: Alex Rio Brazil all via Wikicommons 14 CLIB-Forum, May 23, 2013

15 Biobased pathways to butadiene Lebedev-Process (single step) or Ostromilensky-Process (two steps) Ethanol Butadiene under way Glucose Fermentation ABE- Fermentation 1-Butene Dehydration n-butanol Pictures: Mattes via Wikicommons Picture: 15 CLIB-Forum, May 23, 2013

16 Biobased pathways to aromatics CO + H 2 VGasification Biomass Methanol BTX MtA Fermentation + Synthesis (lab stage)? Glucose Lignine Pictures: Sandwichplatte: elya; Ibuprofen: Mk2010; radio antenna: Inkwina all via Wikicommons Picture: 16 CLIB-Forum, May 23, 2013

17 But this is not the whole picture: Pathways to propylene Metathesis 2-Butene + Ethylene Naphtha Hydro-Cracking Propylene Ethylene Dimerisation Dehydration Propane De-Hydrogenation Ethanol Fermentation Ethane Glucose 17 CLIB-Forum, May 23, 2013

18 Pathways to butadiene Lebedev-Process Ethanol Naphtha Hydro-Cracking Butadiene Under way Fermentation Butane De-Hydrogenation Glucose ABE- Fermentation 1-Butene Oxidative Dehydrogenation n-butanol 18 CLIB-Forum, May 23, 2013

19 Pathways to aromatics CO + H 2 Gasification Biomass Methane catalysis Methanol Naphtha Steam-Cracker BTX MtA Fermentation + Synthesis (lab stage)? Glucose Lignine 19 CLIB-Forum, May 23, 2013

20 The effects on bio-based platform chemicals depend on several factors Availability fossil Competitiveness biobased Ethylene Propylene? Butadiene? Aromatics? Methane Polyethylene fossil vs. Polyethylene green Polyethylene vs. Polylactic acid Funktionalised C3- molecules (?) 20 CLIB-Forum, May 23, 2013

21 How long will shale gas last? Opinions differ... Europe: political and societal resistance China: technological hurdles due to geological challenges 21 CLIB-Forum, May 23, 2013

22 Nevertheless, shale gas has an impact on several industries worldwide today Capacity for wind power generation in the US has been reduced from 13,000 to 3,000 MW; practically no new projects Significant investment by international and US companies in US-based ethane crackers Significant investment by BASF in US plants, considering further gasbased investment Bio-based projects on hold (e.g. ethanol-based plants in Brazil) 22 CLIB-Forum, May 23, 2013

23 and tomorrow? Institute for Energy Research (INEI) of the Russian Academy of Science: Breakthrough in shale gas exploitation in other regions of the world could lead to a decrease of Russion exports of gas and oil by more than 20 % over the next years EU-Commissioner Oettinger predicts decoupling of oil and gas prices and more competitive gas markets Downstream industries will move from Europe to the US Energy prices will decrease 23 CLIB-Forum, May 23, 2013

24 Conclusions for the effects on the bioeconomy Sh hort term Bio-based drop-in solutions will not profit from the shale gas boom (exception: functionalised molecules) Opportunities for processes that make use of nature s synthesis efforts Mediu um term Depending on price developments, bio-based chemicals will gradually become competitive (e.g. butadiene) Lo ong term Shale gas is a limited resource Bio-based options ar available they should be further developed 24 CLIB-Forum, May 23, 2013