Abstract:
Bangladesh has 11.497 TCF of net recoverable gas. Twelve
gas fields are producing about 1064 MMSCFIDay from 53 wells.
(Gas is being utilized for generation of power, in fertilizer factories
as feed stock and by other iFldustrial, commercial and domestic
userj Does the utilization of the gas in the above purposes give
the nation maximum benefit? Thc objective of this study is to
harness maximum benefits from this huge gas resources. The
alternative uses of the natural gas are examined to achieve its
objective of the study. A method is developed to bring the
benefits of the alternative uses of the natural gas to a common
scale and to compare benefits. Aterm the "increased net value of
the gas" through conversion into different products (INV,)is
introduced to compare financial benefit. The products are
arranged in the decreasing order of the increased net value and
compare with the export valUe of the gas. Before any decision is
taken to use gas for the best products, the domestic and/or
external market of those products are searched. If there is a
significant market demand for any of the product, then the
searching is continued to find commercial proven processes of
those products considering the economy of scale. During the
selection process consideration of the environment and
employment generation are also discussed.
From this study it is found that methanol is the best
product. INViformethanolis 3.97 US$/MCFand whichalso fulfillthe
above criteriaofmarketdemand and economyof scale. eNG to replace
petrol is the 2nd highest product because INVifor CNG to replace
petrol is 3.2142 US$/MCF which also fulfills the above criteria
power is the 3"\ highest product because INV;for power is 2.745
US$/MCF. CNG to replace diesel is the 4'h highest product
because INVifor CNGto replace diesel is 2.586 US$/MCF which
also fulfills the above criteria. For all the above four product,
the increased net value of the gas is higher than the gas export
value, GEV (2.50US$/MCF). Urea, anhydrous ammonia, LNG,-
methanol to replace diesel and methanol to replace kerosene are
not considered in the study because INVjfor all the product are
less than 2.5 US$/MCF.
