PetroSkills has partnered with Rosnik to launch two new courses including Decision Analysis (DA) Training for Downstream and Chemical Installations and Refining and Petrochemical Process Plant Problem Solving. Read more to learn about these new courses. [Keep reading]
For March, our focus shifts to Hazard Communication—a critical aspect of maintaining safety in our dynamic environment. Amidst constant change, safety remains our top priority. However, deciphering intricate regulations, managing diverse substances, and adapting to evolving environments pose significant challenges. Our extensive Hazard Communication training equips you with the knowledge and confidence to navigate these complexities, ensuring compliance and fostering a safety culture for a more productive future. [Keep reading]
The energy industry is facing major challenges, such as the need for clean energy, new business models, emerging technologies, and the reallocation of oil and gas professionals to low carbon or renewable energy. These challenges are driving the requirement for new skills and competencies. To better serve the industry and its customers, PetroSkills is expanding into The Competency Alliance, building on the methodology we used to become the Oil & Gas industry’s leading alliance and expanding it to the Net Zero and Renewable sectors. [Keep reading]
In continuation of Feb and Mar 2023 “Tips of the Month” (TOTM) and given the amount of investment and interest in hydrogen, we have decided to publish a series of TOTM to explore the opportunities, challenges, and potential solutions to hydrogen applications and uses; this is the third paper in the series. In this TOTM we will review the physical properties of hydrogen and natural gas, which are quite different from one another. These differences govern the hydraulics of pipeline transmission. Specifically, we will discuss the impact of blending hydrogen on natural gas properties like higher heating value and the Wobbe Index, and the need for accurate gas mixture property estimation for reliable model representations of the pipeline system. Our future tips will explore the possible end uses and benefits of hydrogen, thermodynamics of natural gas use versus hydrogen in industrial applications, safety considerations, transportation challenges and opportunities, storage, and end use capabilities. In addition, we will look at some cost comparisons, where possible of the different hydrogen production options. We hope you enjoy taking this journey with us. Our aim is to take a thermodynamically balanced non-biased view of possible applications, costs, and implications. [Keep reading]
After an extended period of low U.S. benchmark Henry Hub natural gas prices, many gas producers would welcome build-out of U.S. LNG export facilities. The global demand for U.S. sourced LNG remains strong, and Henry Hub indexed LNG is very competitive globally. LNG exports are expected to be the largest driver for lower 48 demand growth over the next 5 years. We have demonstrated the capability to execute these projects successfully and quickly. With the first LNG exports in 2016, the US has become one of worlds’ three largest LNG exporters along with Qatar and Australia [1]. Currently there are seven US export facilities in operation, six under construction, and eleven proposed. There is intense competition between developers to bring these proposed liquefaction projects online. Securing long-term 20-year off-take contracts is required prior to the final investment decision (FID) due to the significant amount of capital required. Many European buyers hesitate to lock in multi-decade contracts that developers need to secure project financing. This is because their countries’ goals to meet net-zero by 2050 directly conflict with a secure, affordable supply of LNG feed-gas. Financiers have been encouraged to question the viability of long-term natural gas infrastructure as the industrialized world attempts to rapidly decarbonize. What are the primary challenges that these projects face, and what will it mean to the U.S. natural gas consumers if they all do come online? This TOTM provides a discussion and analysis to the following questions: 1. What is the current and future U.S. LNG Export Capacity? 2. Can U.S. Natural Gas Production support all these LNG projects? 3. How will this additional demand impact Henry Hub pricing in the U.S.? 4. Is there adequate pipeline capacity and expansion projects to ensure the required volumes of feed gas can be delivered when these plants are scheduled to come on-line? 5. What are the challenges of rising project costs because of inflation, higher interest rates, and supply chain constraints? 6. Which projects could potentially be negatively impacted because of the new Department of Energy (DOE) rule change announced April 21 that requires these projects export their first LNG cargo within a 7-year period with limited extension considerations? [Keep reading]
