Natural Gas Resources: Evaluation in Global Low Carbon Transition

This essay provides an in-depth evaluation of the utilization of both conventional and unconventional natural gas resources within the context of the global transition towards a low-carbon energy future. It addresses the scale, distribution, and accessibility of gas resources, along with the technologies employed for their exploitation. Furthermore, it elucidates why natural gas is considered a 'transition' fossil fuel, especially with the increasing adoption of renewable energy sources. The essay also examines the positive and negative environmental consequences associated with increased natural gas usage compared to existing and future energy alternatives, highlighting its role as a cleaner-burning fossil fuel while acknowledging concerns related to methane emissions and environmental impacts from drilling and production.

An evaluation of the use of
conventional and unconventional
natural gas
resources in the global transition to a
low carbon energy future.
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Table of Content
The scale, distribution, and accessibility of gas resources.........................................................3
The technologies used to exploit them.......................................................................................4
Why natural gas represents a ‘transition’ fossil fuel particularly in the context of increasing
use of renewables.......................................................................................................................5
The positive and negative environmental consequences of increasing our use of natural gas
compared to existing and future energy sources........................................................................7
References:.................................................................................................................................9
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The scale, distribution, and accessibility of gas resources
The natural gas reservoir of the world is so vast and deep that it can fulfill the need of the
world for hundreds of years. The increasing development of efficient power generation
technologies has made it possible by extending the reservoir life. Other fossil fuels do not
match the broad combination of accessibility and abundance. Day-by-day the search for oil is
getting complicated and expensive and there are no more fields found to fulfill the oil stock to
a greater extent. Even with the set up of millions of trade mills to run on the wind energy, the
ability to transform that energy to generate electricity is limited by many restrictions and
unavailability of desired technology (Saussay, 2018, p.296).
The concept of sustainable development meant to develop the present needs without
compromising the needs of our future generation. Due to this, it is essential to consider the
ideas of economic growth, environmental factor and social benefit for growth by securing the
resources for our future generation. To make this concept a success, it is essential to take into
consideration the energy and pollution problems because air pollution is causing an adverse
effect on everyone's health and it is a slow killer and continuously developing and working. It
also reduces the level of energy resources and making it difficult for future generations to
survive effectively (Ou et al., 2018, p. 170).
To consider the preserving of natural gas resources for the future is quite worthy and a critical
task. To solve this emerging problem, it is good to construct a new system of energy
(Halewood et al., 2018 p. 1410). The supply of fossil fuels is going to be decidedly less in the
future due to increased economic growth and a steep rise in the demand for energy. The
efforts are continuously in effect for the increased use of renewable energy such as wind
energy and solar energy. In many countries, renewable energy share is around five percent
which is going to increase by ten percent by the year 2020. The remaining energy has been
consumed by other conventional sources which are quite a lot and needs to be reduced
(Fauchille et al., 2018, p. 115).
A hydrogen project is carrying out by the International clean energy. Their primary objective
is to use much of alternative energy by narrow down the use of natural energy. The research
and development department is working continuously to develop ways to make the use of
renewable energy (McGlade et al.,2018 p. 460).
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The natural gas is available in abundance, but it is essential to save it and keep it accessible
for future use.
The technologies used to exploit them
The latest and new technological advancements have completely changed the way the use
and consumption of natural resources. The way we produce commodities and consume
energy is continually increasing. The change in technology is undoubtedly a benefit to the
worldwide economy, but it is equally responsible for the exploitation of natural resources
(Crespi et al.,2018 p. 80).
The natural resources of the earth are crucial for the development and survival of the human
population. However, these resources are continuously getting consumed at a faster speed,
and the earth's ability to generate them is getting slower. Harvesting projects, fresh water, and
forests are renewable, but their exploitation and reduction are happening on a continuous
basis (Brown and Ulgiati, 2018 p. 180). The exploitation of these resources is a definite
responsibility of the human existence. Since ages, humans are continually using these
resources for this benefit and to grow the population. Humans have developed new
technologies for their convenience and forget to save the resources for future generation.
Below is a description that how technology is the reason for the exploitation of natural
resources (Bommarco et al,. 2018, p. 60)
 Overpopulation: Population is the only thing that is continuously increasing and that
too in an undefined manner. There are many countries where the human population
has crossed the area of their living area per square meter, i.e., more people living in a
small area. This condition has put the world in a hazardous condition. The more the
population is, the more resources need to be consumed. Humans have created more
facilities for them thus more energy is required to run them hence fewer savings
(Magnusson and Berggren, 2018, p. 220)
 Automobiles: Humans have produced many technological advancements for their use
such as cars, trains, buses, planes, etc. All these things consume energy resources in
very high quantity. The growth is continuously increasing along with the population.
More the people more automobiles required and more energy required to run them.
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 Industries: Many industries are running for the people, to the people, and by the
people. These industries need an ample amount of oil every day to run and also
produce enough pollution at the same time. They are unavoidable as most of the
things are developing in them for human use. They have consumed much energy and
have played a significant role in their disappearance in future 9 (Greiner and McGee
2018 p. 60).
Recent technology advancements have challenged the future generation. The people use them
without any restriction. The thing we have in abundance the less we fear to lose it due to our
careless attitude. In the competition of being the best humans are continuously doing new
technology developments without fearing with their drawback shortly. Technological
advancements are significant, but at the same time, they are eating our resources at a double
pace. Development of satellites, rockets to reach other planets require a lot of energy
resources (Schaube and Recalde 2018 p.60).
Why natural gas represents a ‘transition’ fossil fuel particularly in the
context of increasing use of renewables
The world has set to a carbon-free and sustainable energy future, and they are the fossil fuels
that we need to preserve for the benefitting our future generations. The demand for energy
has still not shortened on the other hand it is continuously developing. However, we have to
make a defined and limited use of natural gas to carry our tasks preferably in a secure
manner. There is a need to put intense efforts to accomplish the needs, and smart and efficient
use of natural resources is required to be considered (Safari and Assadi, 2018 p. 10).
The Core issue: The stocks of natural gas are required to be used wisely. It is the need of the
situation to make appropriate choices between gas and coal to use them in an appropriate
manner (Rahman et al 2017 p. 120). Natural gas can be utilized as a useful source and can
also be retained as a backup for renewable energy sources.
The newly found gas reserves lead to significant changes: After mid nineteen's natural gas
succeed than coal as there were many reservoirs found in Netherland. This is the reason that
electricity is in abundance in Europe and is quite dominating to the rest of the world. This
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calls for a situation and clear advice that the continent should reduce their dependence on the
natural energy and move towards production of electricity from renewable energy (Cesur and
Ulker, 2017 p.350).
New issues require a new response: It is right that new issues require a new response. There
is a need to respond more to the renewable energy and changes should be made accordingly
to reduce their dependency on the natural resources. As the world is developing the demand
for energy is steadily increasing. We have found enough ways to generate electricity from
wind energyan solar energy. Now the most important thing is to motivate and push the world
into these sources. Along with this, it is highly crucial in reducing the emission of carbon
from the industries using the natural resources to deal with the environmental issues.
Is there enough natural gas: Based on the search results and emerging demand for the
resources it is quite essential to find out that is there enough natural gas for all of us? It is
known that some countries have enough natural gas, but some don't. The issue is vital to the
whole world and is not only limited to country-specific. The countries that have abundant
resource should come forward and offer their reservoir in the international market to fulfill
the growing demands (Hantson et al,.2017 p.40). To fulfill this condition, many critical
political issues need to be resolved.
Should gas reserves be efficiently used up: According to the current status of the availability
of natural reserves, it is a fundamental question that needs to be solved that should we use the
reserves or should we need to save them for future use? In the international market, the price
of gas and coal are quite high. Renewables greater share results in diversification. It is good
to save them for future use rather than consuming them all. Their reservoir gives enough
support and will be helpful to our upcoming generations.
Use of natural gas in various sectors: Because of the difference in price, the usage of natural
gas is different in various sectors. Its price is resulting in squeezing consumption demands.
The natural gas future outlook is also different for different sectors.
 Transportation: Natural gas is playing hardly any role in the transportation sector.
There are very few vehicles that are running on natural gas as most of the
transportation is running on petrol and diesel. In a few decades, the natural gas from
transportation is going to be disappeared entirely from the transportation sector.
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 Built Environment: This sector is going to run entirely on renewable energy without
causing any economic loss to the sector. Thus, the sector is declining its use of natural
gas and improves efficiency than before.
 Industry: Natural gas is working as a suitable carrier for providing a sufficient amount
of energy to the industry to carry out its activities. This results in minimum losses.
 Power generation: In power generation, natural gas is used. Electricity produced from
natural gas is more attractive and more in price.
This shows that natural gas is going to be used as a source and carrier in industry, built
environment, industry and power generation sector.
The positive and negative environmental consequences of increasing our
use of natural gas compared to existing and future energy sources
Various attractive properties of the natural gas make it efficient, an economical energy source
and clean-burning energy. The production of natural gas has some environmental issues that
are required to consider for safety.
Natural gas is a clean-burning fossil fuel: Natural gas is entirely a clean-burning fossil fuel
that means it produces fewer emissions into the environment. It produces carbon dioxide and
almost all types of air pollutants than burning of petroleum and coal. It produces an equal
amount of energy (Van et al,.2017 p. 40). Its clean burning properties force people to use it in
transportation as a fuel and to generate electricity.
Natural gas is mainly methane-a greenhouse gas: Some natural gases expose from the wells
of natural gas and oil, pipelines, processing plants, and storage tanks. The industry is working
on the prevention of natural gas leakage from the extended storage.
Natural gas drilling, production, and exploration affect the environment: For the production
of natural gas, manufacturers ruin the soil and other fertilizers from the ground with their
tools and equipment. Activities related to the drilling of well cause air pollution, disturb
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wildlife, water resources, and people. To spread the pipes under the ground, it is required to
clear the land to bury the pipe underground. Thus, create a disturbance in the environment.
Drilling production technologies create a positive and negative impact on the environment.
New technologies of drilling for the recovery of natural gas significantly reduce the land to
develop gas and oil resources. It is beneficial to drill in a specific direction and horizontal
techniques of drilling to make sure that more gas can be produced in the future (Allcott and
Keniston 2017 p. 700).
 The breakage in the wells requires a large amount of water for fixing them. This
generally disturbs the aquatic animal's life.
 If the leakage is not fixed on time, then it started leaking hydraulic fluid acid which is
dangerous for the environment. That fluid can cause infection in the nearby areas.
 The hydraulic fluid causes enough wastewater on the surface of the land that also
contains harmful chemicals in it which destroys the soil and other significant
properties of land.
 The leakage is so substantial that it may cause small earthquakes. The frequency is
very less and cannot be easily felt.
 The investigation of gas released during drilling and after drilling is still going on to
knows its impacts on the environment.
There are strict rules from the government for the manufacturers of natural gas for the safe
transportation, secure drilling, distribution, storage, and use. If not paid attention it will result
in an explosion.
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