BPCL developed a way to improves the storage capacity of natural gas at a lower pressure

by Psu Connect
Date: 10-11-20

The oil and gas industry is divided into three areas: Upstream (exploration of oil), midstream (transportation of oil) and downstream (refining of oil).

BPCL developed a way to improves the storage capacity of natural gas at a lower pressure

New Delhi: Using a state-of-the-art technology based on hybrid nanomaterial comprising of activated carbon and metal-organic framework, the R&D team of Bharat Petroleum has developed a new material which improves the storage capacity of natural gas at a lower pressure. It helps to store natural gas in an adsorbed form (ANG) with a capacity of ~200 v/v at a low pressure of 35-60 bar.

The developed nanomaterial allows to match the energy density of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) at 35-60 bar thereby offering a platform to reduce the cost for natural gas storage and distribution.

Nanotechnology is understanding matter at the atomic and molecular level, i.e. nanoparticles (particles in the range of 1-100 nanometre (nm), where 1nm = 10-9). This field of science is boosting as nanoparticles have proved to be a better and economical replacement to the bulky particles. For example, silver nanoparticles display excellent anti-bacterial properties, carbon nanotubes have superior strength than steel and so on. It has already found its application in medicine, electronics, environment enhancement, consumer products and sporting goods. With an aim to implement cost-effective and simple oil exploration processes, nanomaterials have also been adopted by the oil industry.

The oil and gas industry is divided into three areas: Upstream (exploration of oil), midstream (transportation of oil) and downstream (refining of oil). Nanoparticles have managed to be a part of almost all these aspects like exploration, drilling, reservoir characterization, cementing, production and simulation, enhanced oil recovery (EOR), refining and processing. Here’s how nanotechnology has proved to be a boon for the different processes that are a part of this industry.