Monetización de Bajos Volúmenes de Gas Asociado en el Oriente Ecuatoriano

Abstract

The main goal of this work was study the viability of the monetization of stranded associated gas by a virtual pipeline system in the Ecuadorian Amazon Region. For that purpose, were considered the alternatives: i) gas transportation by conventional pipeline toward a power plant to be fed as fuel, ii) electrical generation in-situ, iii) bifuel (gas-diesel) system, and iv) transportation of gas by virtual pipeline, where, by using a hierarchical analytical methodology (selection matrix), virtual pipeline gas transportation was identifi ed as the most suitable technology for implementation.

In the next stage of the study, a technical– economical analysis was developed. The available information from Pucuna site was taken as reference for equipment sizing: gas composition, gas production forecast, and electrical load of the fi eld. The economic performance was evaluated by calculating IRR and VPN. Finally, a sensitivity analysis was developed in order to fi nd the optimal values for the variables: i) pressure for transport, ii) containers capacity, and iii) produced gas flow.).