Optimization of Strategies for Natural Gas Utilization: Niger Delta Case Study

Abstract

Nigeria is endowed with huge proven gas reserves estimated to be 184 trillion cubic feet (Tcf). It ranks as the seventh holder of natural gas reserves in the world, and the largest in Africa. Nigeria also flares more natural gas than any other country; it accounts for 12.5% of the world's annual gas flared equivalent to $2.0 billion of annual revenue wasted. There is crucial need, therefore, to reduce gas flaring and its environmental impacts, and to derive maximum economic benefits from gas production.The purpose of this paper is to identify options for natural gas utilization and to develop a model for optimizing the natural gas utilization strategies using the Niger Delta as a case study. A Linear Programming model is proposed consisting of an objective function that is based on maximizing profit derived from the various utilization projects in the Niger Delta subject to several constraints. The optimal utilization/decision is determined from the solution of the optimization model. Results obtained indicate that the optimal utilization for maximum profit include both current and planned projects such as the Liquefied Natural gas project at Bonny, supply of gas for domestic use and power generation, transport to West African countries, transport of natural gas to Algeria through the TransSaharan Gas Pipeline (TSGP), and sales of EOR products to market. Upcoming project such as the Olokola LNG was only profitable as the gas price increases. Sensitivity analysis is carried out to evaluate impact of changes in the input parameters on the objective function. Paper also discusses the impact of gas pricing on the implementation of the Nigerian gas master plan (NGMP).The model can be used to select which set of projects would provide maximum profits (net income) from several competing natural gas projects.

Sustainable Environment: A Comprehensive Evaluation of the Effects of Gas flaring in the Niger Delta, Nigeria

“…The worsts are the release of GHGs and radioactive forcing (Cushing, et al, 2021), leading to severe irreversible climatic alterations that has attracted global attention in recent times. Clarion calls from several researchers (Ogbe, et al, 2011;Adekomaya, et al, 2016;Ogolo and Onyekonwu, 2015) on the urgent need to end the anthropogenic emissions from gas flaring need to be sustained towards a global attention to this ecological and climatic injustice. It is then the aim of this paper to join in the campaign of raising passionate appeals to stakeholders, opinion analysts and policy makers to join hands for remediating the already accrued carbon debt and other effects linked to gas flaring.…”

“…Despite these waste gas recovery projects with operative gas master plans for a sustainable energy mix for Nigerians, bureaucratic bottlenecks on policymaking, regulations, enforcements and flare-out deadlines have created a gap between the expectations and realities. Even as more gas is flared in Nigeria than any other place in the world (Ogbe, et al, 2011;Akpomuvie, 2011;Oni and Oyewo, 2011;Tawari and Abowei, 2012;Anosike, 2010;Nwanya, 2011) showing her enriched natural gas reserves and potential benefits yet the country is among the 30 poorest nations with more than average of her citizens living below poverty line (Ukala, 2010;Nwanya, 2011).…”

“…Much credit has been awarded to the several efforts to diversify Nigerian gas to products of value. For instance, the Bonny Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), Brass LNG, Olokola LNG, OSO NGL project, Excravos Gas Project, Excravos Gas to Liquid (GTL), Belema Gas injection project, Trans-Sahara Gas project, Gbaran-Ubie Integrated oil and power, Afam Integrated Gas and power project as well as the Ajaokuta-Abuja-Kaduna and Aba-Enugu-Gboko Pipeline networks to distribute domestic consumption of natural gas for power generation (Ogbe, et al, 2011). Despite the failures of the established interventionist agencies like the NDDC, (Emoyan, 2008), the statutory obligations of such agencies have raised the Niger Delta's level of social inclusion and human capacity development.…”

“…Historical Background of Gas Flaring in The Niger Delta: It is well known that Nigeria is endowed with petroleum crude oil in commercial quantities at an estimated reserve around 23 billion barrels (bb) of oil and about 184 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of natural gas, Giwa, et al, (2014). Based on these, Nigeria became the highest African producer of crude oil and 11 th on the global table which enlisted her as an OPEC member since 1971 in addition to being the largest proprietor of natural gas reserves in Africa and 7 th globally, Mafimisebi Nkwunonwo, (2014) and Ogbe, et al, (2011). Historically, attempts to explore crude oil started in 1908 by the German company known as the Nigerian Bitumen Corporation, Shell D'Arcy was awarded the rights for exclusive exploration in 1937, the oil prospection was suspended in 1946 due to the second world war and resumed in 1951 when the first oilwell was drilled at Ihuo at Owerri in Imo state.…”

The Effect of Oral Administration of Aqueous and Organic Solvent Extracts From the Medicinal Wild Mushroom (Ganoderma Sp) on Performance and Health of Eimeria tenella–Infected Broiler Chickens

“…In Nigeria, a veterinary research finding by Ogbe et al [4], who reported that aqueous extract of the wild mushroom (Ganoderma sp) has anticoccidial effect against E. tenella infection in broiler chickens. Its health-promoting benefit was attributed to the presence of medicinally active bioactive compounds, minerals and amino acids [5,6]. In China and Japan, the cultivated specie (Ganoderma lucidum) is used as food supplement and as medicine to improve various parameters of health and immune functions in humans [7,8].…”