Chris Jent | Oil and Gas Information and News | Triple Diamond Energy

One of the latest developments in the transport of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is the use of offshore deepwater ports. Rather than bring double-hulled container ships to coastal ports, a number of new projects are underway that will allow the ships to anchor at a platform several miles off the coast and unload its LNG cargo.

LNG is natural gas that is chilled until it reaches a liquid form. This takes up less room and is much simpler to transport than natural gas in its usual form. Converting the gas into liquid requires keeping the substance very cold. As a result, special pipelines, transport trucks and ships must be fabricated to complete the task.

With ships, LNG must be put into vessels with two hulls. The space in between the hulls is used to make sure the inner hull filled with liquid gas stays very cold for transport. After offloading at the deepwater port, the liquid gas would then be transported to shore through a specially built pipeline. From there, the LNG could be shipped to other destinations in its same form or reconverted into its gas form for conventional energy uses.

One of the new projects recently meeting approval to receive a license from the U.S. Maritime Administration is a deepwater port about 28 miles off the coast of Florida. This platform, like any other, would reduce the amount of travel for the ships and the time presently spent at ports maneuvering in and out of more shallow and congested waterways in order to deliver cargo. For some shore ports, there is even a waiting time until high tide comes in. Otherwise, these waterways are too shallow for large and heavy LNG transport ships to traverse. Deepwater ports eliminate that problem.

Platform projects like the one in Florida must first go through a rigorous set of plan proposals and reviews with both federal and local area government agencies before the oil and gas company can receive a permit. Environmental impact studies for both onshore and offshore areas that may be affected by these projects must first be completed and approved. This involves not only the placement of the dock, but the exact route of the pipeline through the ocean and across land to its transport destination.

In the case of the Florida project, an additional onshore pipeline of 3.93 miles will connect to an existing regional pipeline to further distribute the product.

Once this happens, the Maritime Administration allows the company to start laying groundwork to start building. A number of requirements and inspections must be further met during the construction process in order to allow project completion.

As the popularity and usefulness of LNG rises, the number of offshore projects will grow. One reason is the economic efficiency of using established deep sea ports. It is very expensive and involved to build one. However, once it is functional, the long-term efficiency will save both time and money for the suppliers and consumers. The projects will, over time, pay for themselves. Many costs currently associated with LNG and natural gas in its non-liquid state will be eliminated.

Fireplaces are meant to be enjoyed. The idea of gathering in front of the hearth on a chilly winter’s day is a cozy one, until the reality of building a wood fire in the fireplace sets in.

First, there is the hassle and expense of buying the wood. Once piled up outside, it must be sheltered from the rain and snow or brought in before it gets wet. Multiple trips back and forth are needed to bring enough for a long-lasting fire. Next are the issues of unwanted insects coming into the house with the wood, getting it started and having to frequently get up and add a log to the fire. Once it is finished and the embers have stopped glowing, the ashes need to be disposed of cleanly and safely.

The reality of a wood-burning fireplace is not quite so cozy after all.

For those who still cling to the idea of a nice fire in the fireplace, natural gas hearth products are the answer. There are many different types of fireplaces, inserts, logs and stoves using natural gas available on the market today.

They are divided into two categories, decoration or heat. The decorative variety has a focus on appearance, is pretty to look at and may provide radiant heat. The heaters generally refer to stoves and fireplaces that double as space heaters and raise room temperatures through convection.

Gas fireplaces and hearth equipment warm a room either through convection heat or radiant heat. Convection warms the air, which moves through the room and, in turn, heats up the room. Radiant heat raises the temperature of objects, which warm the area around them. When deciding on which type of natural gas fireplace or stove to get, it comes down to a matter of personal preference.

The advantages of both types are essentially the same. They burn cleaner than wood, create no ashes or creosote build-up and eliminate trudging back and forth to the outdoors to keep things going. With the newest technology, it is very difficult to distinguish gas logs from wood by simply looking at them. The cost of natural gas fireplaces is lower than the wood-burning variety; the fuel is cheaper and more convenient to purchase.

Gas fireplaces can be installed nearly anywhere in the home a gas line is available. They can go in the center of a room as a focal point, or be mounted against or into a wall. Most models are fitted with an on and off switch for convenience. There is little buffer room needed between the components and nearby surfaces, such as walls and carpeting. Different venting options are available to suit nearly any setup.

With the increase in features and versatility of fireplaces and stoves, hearth equipment joins the growing number of  oil and gas products enhancing home décor.

TDE announced today a Wilcox Sand discovery in its prospect acreage located just north of the Central Oklahoma Oil Platform in Seminole County, Oklahoma.

ADDISON, TX – Triple Diamond Energy Corporation announced today a Wilcox Sand discovery in its prospect acreage located just north of the Central Oklahoma Oil Platform in Seminole County, Oklahoma. The Overlook #14-1 was drilled to approximately 4563 feet.

Electric wireline logging and mud logging sample shows indicate the Overlook #14-1 well encountered significant hydrocarbon pay in the Wilcox Sand formation. In addition to the Wilcox formation discovery, the sample and e-log evaluation confirm the extension of the Hunton porosity and permeability trend of the Hunton Play in Seminole County and as encountered in the Overlook #13-1 to the immediate east.

“The results of the analysis of the e-log of the Overlook #14-1 well are highly indicative of the presence of a significant Wilcox reservoir,” said Chris Jent, President of Triple Diamond Energy. “Triple Diamond Energy holds acreage to the west of the discovery well location and has options to acquire additional acreage to the north and south. This will result in a contiguous acreage block offering Triple Diamond Energy and its partners a substantial number of developmental well locations.”

According to American Natural Resources, geological consultant to Triple Diamond Energy, geological sub-surface mapping and electric logs support preliminary estimates of 2.6 million barrels of recoverable reserves within the 560 acre closure. Triple Diamond Energy’s operating company, O & G Well Service, LLC has plans to initiate development of the newly discovered field and plans to drill the Overlook #14-2 and Overlook #14-3 before year’s end.

The third largest supply of natural gas in the world is found in the United States.  Each day, dedicated research and exploration teams that are supported and funded by major companies like Triple Diamond Energy Corp. are discovering new reserves in the United States.  These companies are determined to find new natural gas reserves in order to provide American homes with clean gas for heating.

While most families in the United States are familiar with the idea of using natural gas as a clean source of fuel for heating their homes, many do not realize that natural gas is also used to heat the water used each day for bathing, washing dishes, and washing clothing. The use of natural gas for heating water is more environmentally friendly than many alternative methods, which is why natural gas water heating has become so popular.

The Alternative to Natural Gas Heated Water

Though electric water heaters are available, in many places in the United States – especially on the East Coast, these hot water heaters are fueled by electricity that has been acquired from power plants that utilize burned coal as their primary energy source.

Coal releases a large level of pollution into the environment, especially the air, when it is being burned.  Meanwhile, the use of natural gas does not require the emission of pollutants into the air making it a much more economically friendly source of fuel for heating homes in the United States.

The Growing Shift Toward Natural Gas Water Heaters

Today, over half of the households in the United States are using water heated with natural gas for their everyday needs.  Since heated water is such a common part of life many, residents do not often pay attention to the way their water is heated until the day comes when their current hot water heating unit breaks down and needs to be replaced.

In order to avoid an unpleasant situation where you and your family suddenly find yourselves without hot water, it is important that all people make plans for replacement in advance.  Knowing what to do in the event that a hot water heating unit needs to be replaced or converted will avoid unnecessary stress and decisions being made without being properly thought out.

Tankless Water Heaters

Water heaters that are fueled by gas are much more efficient than the alternatives because their higher flowing rate allows them to constantly heat water.  This feature has allowed a new type of hot water heater, a demand water heater, to be utilized in a more efficient manner.  These water heaters are often referred to as “tankless” water heaters.

Tankless water heaters do not rely on a storage tank. Instead they heat water instantly and provide homes with a constant source of hot water. Tankless water heaters are more efficient than the more common storage tank water heaters which can only hold a predetermined amount of hot water at any given time.  Many large families have faced those days when the hot water in their storage tank has been depleted leaving someone with no water for a hot shower or bath.

In the event that natural gas is not available in a certain area, families can utilize propane as an alternative heating source.  Propane is the close cousin of natural gas and is another clean burning gas that can be installed in the backyard of any rural home and refilled several times a year.  This clean burning fuel can help provide the average family with hot water all year round while companies like Triple Diamond Energy Corp. continue to search for additional natural gas reserves in the United States.