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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2014

Central Africa Energy: Utilizing NASA Earth Observations to Explore Flared Gas as an Energy Source Alternative to Biomass in Central Africa

Much of Central Africa's economy is centered on oil production. Oil deposits lie below vast amounts of compressed natural gas. The latter is often flared off during oil extraction due to a lack of the infrastructure needed to utilize it for productive energy generation. Though gas flaring is discouraged by many due to its contributions to greenhouse emissions, it represents a waste process and is rarely tracked or recorded in this region. In contrast to this energy waste, roughly 80% of Africa's population lacks access to electricity and in turn uses biomass such as wood for heat and light. In addition to the dangers incurred from collecting and using biomass, the practice commonly leads to ecological change through the acquisition of wood from forests surrounding urban areas. The objective of this project was to gain insight on domestic energy usage in Central Africa, specifically Angola, Gabon, and the Republic of Congo. This was done through an analysis of deforestation, an estimation of gas flared, and a suitability study for the infrastructure needed to realize the natural gas resources. The energy from potential natural gas production was compared to the energy equivalent of the biomass being harvested. A site suitability study for natural gas pipeline routes from flare sites to populous locations was conducted to assess the feasibility of utilizing natural gas for domestic energy needs. Analyses and results were shared with project partners, as well as this project's open source approach to assessing the energy sector. Ultimately, Africa's growth demands energy for its people, and natural gas is already being produced by the flourishing petroleum industry in numerous African countries. By utilizing this gas, Africa could reduce flaring, recuperate the financial and environmental loss that flaring accounts for, and unlock a plentiful domestic energy source for its people. II. Introduction Background Africa is home to numerous burgeoning economies; a significant number rely on oil production as their primary source of revenue. Relative to its size and population density, the continent has a wealth of natural resources, including oil and natural gas deposits. The exploration of these resources is not a new endeavor, but rather one that spans decades, up to a century in some places. Their resources, if realized, could provide a great means of economic and social mobility for the people of Africa. Currently, Africa represents about 12 % of the energy market, yet at the same time, consumes only 3 % of the world's energy (Kasekende 2009). The higher

Jones, Amber↗
NASA NTRS2023

Potentially Underestimated Gas Flaring Activities—A New Approach to Detect Combustion Using Machine Learning and NASA’s Black Marble Product Suite

Monitoring changes in greenhouse gas (GHG) emission is critical for assessing climate mitigation efforts towards the Paris Agreement goal. A crucial aspect of science-based GHG monitoring is to provide objective information for quality assurance and uncertainty assessment of the reported emissions. Emission estimates from combustion events (gas flaring and biomass burning) are often calculated based on activity data (AD) from satellite observations, such as those detected from the visible infrared imaging radiometer suite (VIIRS) onboard the Suomi-NPP and NOAA-20 satellites. These estimates are often incorporated into carbon models for calculating emissions and removals. Consequently, errors and uncertainties associated with AD propagate into these models and impact emission estimates. Deriving uncertainty of AD is therefore crucial for transparency of emission estimates but remains a challenge due to the lack of evaluation data or alternate estimates. This work proposes a new approach using machine learning (ML) for combustion detection from NASA's Black Marble product suite and explores the assessment of potential uncertainties through comparison with existing detections. We jointly characterize combustion using thermal and light emission signals, with the latter improving detection of probable weaker combustion with less distinct thermal signatures. Being methodologically independent, the differences in ML-derived estimates with existing approaches can indicate the potential uncertainties in detection. The approach was applied to detect gas flares over the Eagle Ford Shale, Texas. We analyzed the spatio-temporal variations in detections and found that approximately 79.04% and 72.14% of the light emission-based detections are missed by ML-derived detections from VIIRS thermal bands and existing datasets, respectively. This improvement in combustion detection and scope for uncertainty assessment is essential for comprehensive monitoring of resulting emissions and we discuss the steps for extending this globally.

gas flaring↗
DOE OSTI2025

Modular Processing of Flare Gas for Carbon Nanoproducts

This project demonstrated the technical viability and economic promise of a modular system for converting flared natural gas into valuable carbon nanoproducts (CNPs) through catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CVD). All major project milestones were successfully completed, including reactor design and commissioning, catalyst development, process optimization, technoeconomic analysis, and application testing in concrete systems. The overarching goal was to create a scalable, field-deployable process that valorizes stranded methane by producing high-value carbon materials for use in cementitious composites. At the lab scale, the team designed and built a fluidized bed reactor optimized for use with silica fume-supported nickel catalysts synthesized via atomic layer deposition (ALD). A statistically designed sintering study enabled precise tuning of nickel nanoparticle size, identifying the influence of oxygen partial pressure, time, and temperature on catalyst morphology and performance. These insights allowed the team to target catalyst conditions that maximize carbon nanofilament growth. Subsequent CVD experiments achieved up to 31.8 wt% carbon deposition under optimized conditions, with TEM confirming the presence of nanofilament structures and sustained hydrogen evolution during reaction. Reactor upgrades and empirical fluidization studies supported the development of reliable, repeatable experimental protocols. The modular pilot-scale skid reactor was fully constructed, instrumented, and commissioned. Capable of operating at 675–800°C and pressures up to 290 psig, the system was designed for continuous operation at a carbon production rate of 1 kg/hr. Initial demonstration runs confirmed solids handling, thermal control, and system leak-tightness, although a critical reactor component (the downfeed tube) was inadvertently omitted during final assembly. This omission limited gas–solid contact and prevented meaningful carbon deposition during pilot-scale CVD runs. Nonetheless, the system operated safely under design conditions, and the root cause of performance limitations was clearly identified. Complementary work on UHPC formulations demonstrated that small additions of carbon nanoproducts, including those derived from flare gas, can significantly enhance mechanical performance while preserving workability. A comprehensive study of CNF dispersion techniques and mix design optimization led to a clear protocol for integrating these nanomaterials into concrete. Incorporation of CNPs improved flexural toughness and reduced porosity, supporting their use in high-performance infrastructure applications. A technoeconomic analysis (TEA) confirmed that this process can produce CNP-loaded catalyst material at a levelized cost below $\$$7/kg across a range of catalyst loadings and reaction yields. With estimated market values for the carbon composite product ranging from $\$$14 to over $\$$60/kg, and the ability to blend CNPs into concrete at sub-percent levels with less than 10% added cost, the system presents a compelling economic case. While additional engineering work is needed to optimize fluidization and heat transfer at scale, this project establishes a strong foundation for commercial development. The process is not only technically sound but also economically promising, representing a viable pathway for flare gas mitigation through modular carbon nanomaterial production.

03 NATURAL GAS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Gas Flare Technology Assessment and R&D Recommendations

The purpose of developing this report is to provide an assessment of gas flare technologies, with the intent of informing future high-impact R&D investments that can be used to realize significant reductions in methane and other greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from U.S. oil and natural gas (ONG) operations

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Microwave-Assisted Dehydroaromatization of Flare Gas: Reactor Modeling, Plant-Wide Simulation and Economic Feasibility Analysis

Flaring is widely practiced in the oil, gas, and petrochemical sectors to ensure safety during upsets and maintenance but emits large amounts of GHGs, causing energy and economic losses. In the U.S., about one-third of Bakken gas (~250 MMSCFD) and ~100 MMSCFD from Eagle Ford are flared. Recovering this gas is essential for sustainability. Existing recovery methods—compression and reinjection (EOR), conversion to NGL, LNG/CNG, GTL, and GTW—are often limited by flowrate, composition, and variability, especially in unconventional wells. This study develops a microwave-assisted dehydroaromatization (DHA) process to convert flare gas into benzene, toluene, ethylene, and naphthalene. A laboratory reactor model is scaled up into a modular plant-wide system. Techno-economic (TEA) and life-cycle (LCA) analyses evaluate performance and sustainability, with sensitivity studies on plant capacity, electricity cost, and catalyst price confirming strong economic potential.

dehydroaromatization↗
DOE OSTI2024

Mid-IR UAV-based sensing platform with deep learning to Identify and Quantify Gaseous Emission in Gas Flares

This report details the development and evaluation of a Mid-Infrared (Mid-IR) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-based sensing platform integrated with deep learning algorithms for the identification and quantification of gaseous emissions in gas flares. The project, spearheaded by Omega Optics, Inc., aimed to address environmental monitoring challenges by leveraging advanced photonic technologies and autonomous UAV operations. The research focused on designing, optimizing, and fabricating photonic crystal waveguides and grating couplers to enhance the sensitivity and accuracy of gas detection. A comprehensive drone-based system was developed, featuring a miniaturized sensor, GPS module, and microcontroller communication network for real-time gas concentration monitoring. The system's adaptive sampling algorithm, implemented using the Robot Operating System (ROS), enables autonomous detection and localization of gas emission sources. Preliminary results demonstrate the platform's capability to detect and monitor gas emissions with high precision, cost-effectiveness, and scalability. Future work will expand upon this foundation by introducing 3D wind model-based learning for dynamic environmental conditions and further enhancing the user interface and data processing algorithms to support broader environmental monitoring applications. Overall, this project represents a significant step forward in UAV-based environmental sensing technologies, offering robust solutions for detecting and mitigating the impacts of gaseous emissions on public health and safety.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2020

Biological Valorization of Natural Gas for the Production of Lactic Acid: Techno-Economic Analysis and Life Cycle Assessment

Due to the availability of natural gas, shale gas, and flared gas, there is increased interest in converting methane in these gases into commodity chemicals via cost-effective and sustainable processes. Recently, we have demonstrated an efficient process concept converting methane to lactic acid (LA) by methanotrophic bacteria with high carbon flux, pivoting potentials for commercialization. Herein, we present a first-of-kind conceptual design and a techno-economic analysis (TEA) of a biorefinery process with calculated minimum selling prices. This study includes both sensitivity analysis and scenario analysis for key cost drivers and for projecting path forwards in research and development. The analyses reveal that the conversion efficiency, LA product titer, LA productivity, and gas flow rate have the most significant impacts on cost. The MSP varies from $5.83-$2.17/kg LA depending on these key process attributes. Further, a life cycle assessment of this process concept is evaluated and compared to understand the sustainable aspects. In this TEA study, the bio-upgrading process from natural gas to LA presents a potentially promising approach in terms of the feedstock versatility, economic viability, and environmental impact.

BIOMASS FUELS,NATURAL GAS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Microwave-Assisted Activation of Mo/HZSM5 in Methane Dehydroaromatization

Natural gas flaring is a significant challenge for oil and gas producers. One viable option to mitigate flaring is the conversion of natural gas into valuable chemicals. Applying microwave energy to heterogenous catalyst materials offers advantages in terms of higher rates and product selectivities in comparison to traditional thermal systems which can be designed for on-demand chemical production in modular reactor systems. Methane dehydroaromatization (MDHA) produces transportable, liquid aromatic products directly from natural gas, which is ideal for remote production but is hindered by low thermodynamic yields and rapid deactivation. The stability and performance of the Mo/ZSM5 catalyst is often determined by the state and nature of Mo in the catalyst, which in turn is dictated by the temperature and gaseous environment during catalyst activation. In this study, the Mo/HZSM5 catalyst was activated under three different heating modes (thermal, microwave E-field, and microwave H-field) and four different gas environments (CO, He, CH4+H2, and H2). All the activated catalysts were characterized using different tools and performance evaluated in MDHA.

methane dehydroaromatization↗
DOE OSTI2026

Effect of Mo precursors in Microwave-assisted Methane Dehydroaromatization over Mo/HZSM5 catalysts

Natural gas flaring occurs in remote shale regions due to limited pipeline takeaway capacity. The conversion of the associated natural gas into aromatics in modular microwave reactors is a viable alternative to monetize the wasted gas. Microwaves offer rapid, selective heating in compact reactor systems that can enable on-demand chemical production at the well-site. Mo-HZSM-5 catalysts are widely used for aromatic production, but the location and nature of the active sites are still under debate. This study focuses on the use of 6 different Mo precursors to elucidate insights into the Mo properties that are desirable for BTX production. The catalysts were characterized by different methods (XPS, TPR, Raman, etc) to determine differences in Mo catalytic properties that may affect performance and understand these differences through performance testing under microwave at 700C for methane dehydroaromatization. Metal precursors that enable a better distribution of Mo into the pores and over the surface lead to improved benzene yield, whereas those that limited Mo to primarily the surface suffer rapid deactivation and low benzene yields. Additionally, strong Lewis acidity that arises from the sodium containing precursor drastically shifts the product selectivity towards dehydrogenation, which produces more ethylene and carbon. This catalyst had the highest deactivation constant of all catalysts tested.

gas flaring reduction↗
DOE OSTI2022

Findings on Subtask 3.1 - Bakken Rich Gas Enhanced Oil Recovery Project

Total in-place oil for the Bakken petroleum system (BPS) (which includes the Bakken and Three Forks Formations) has been estimated to be 600 billion barrels (bbl). However, BPS wells have decline rates as high as 85% over the first 3 years of their lives, and primary recovery factors typically range from 3% to 10% of original oil in place. Given the low initial recovery rates, even small incremental productivity improvements could dramatically increase technically recoverable oil in the BPS. One potential solution is enhanced oil recovery (EOR) using gas injection, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) or hydrocarbon (HC) gases. While commonly used in conventional reservoirs, CO2 EOR in unconventional tight oil reservoirs has been limited to pilot tests. EOR using rich gas (mixture of methane, ethane, and propane) has also been employed in numerous pilots in several unconventional plays and has recently been successfully applied in the Eagle Ford play. If successful, large-scale gas-based EOR in the BPS could dramatically increase oil productivity and recovery factors and extend the life of the play for decades. While CO2 may be a technically suitable working fluid for EOR in the BPS, supplies are limited and costs for using CO2 in EOR pilots are prohibitively high. Meanwhile, produced gas flaring has presented challenges for BPS operators in North Dakota. Analysis conducted by the North Dakota Pipeline Authority indicates that the current gas-gathering infrastructure in North Dakota is insufficient to accommodate all of the associated gas that is produced from the BPS. The geographically isolated location of North Dakota relative to large natural gas markets, combined with suppressed natural gas prices, has made it economically challenging for industry to invest capital in expanding gas-gathering infrastructure in the state. These circumstances led to a research program conducted by the Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) in partnership with Liberty Resources Management Company LLC (LR) to examine the potential to use rich gas injection for EOR and mitigate flaring. A rich gas EOR pilot test was designed and executed by LR at its Stomping Horse development area in Williams County, North Dakota. From July 2018 through May 2019, a total of 160 million standard cubic feet (MMscf) of rich produced gas was injected into the BPS using five different wells in a sequential injection strategy. LR’s Leon–Gohrick drill spacing unit (DSU) was used as the test site. Regulatory oversight was provided by the North Dakota Industrial Commission (NDIC). Technical support was provided by the EERC through a series of laboratory, modeling, and field-based activities, and additional post-pilot research activities incorporated learnings from the test, developed new laboratory data, improved fracture modeling methods, and developed machine learning and big data analytics. The results from the Stomping Horse rich gas EOR pilot activities indicate that developing an effective, economical EOR approach for the BPS will require more field tests. Another key lesson learned from the Stomping Horse tests is that detailed pre- and posttest data on reservoir conditions and fluids production are essential. Robust reservoir characterization provides information that is crucial to creating realistic geomodels and conducting valid dynamic simulations of potential EOR scenarios. A detailed understanding of the completions and production history of offset wells is also necessary for valid test result interpretations. This knowledge is essential to designing the operational parameters of injectivity tests and interpreting the results. A conformance control strategy is also essential to success. Laboratory-based examinations of rich gas interactions with reservoir fluids and rocks were conducted, with an emphasis on determining the ability to mobilize oil in the tight reservoir rocks and shales of the BPS. Injection fluid composition was shown to have a positive impact on reducing reservoir oil minimum miscibility pressure (MMP), reducing interfacial tension (IFT), and altering wettability. IFT and contact angle measurements demonstrated that wettability can be altered in the presence of rich gas, suggesting the potential to improve oil recovery. Iterative modeling of surface infrastructure and reservoir performance using data generated by the various project activities was conducted. A geologic model of the Stomping Horse area was built; history-matched oil, gas, and water production was used in simulations of various EOR scenarios. Early programmatic modeling results were used to support LR’s design and operation of the EOR pilot and to provide insight regarding optimization of future commercial-scale BPS EOR design and operations. Post-pilot modeling focused on alternative methods of understanding complex fracture networks and accelerating simulation time. These led to improved simulation run times and provide excellent history-matching results. Several of these iterative models were used as the bases for developing algorithms into machine learning and big data analytics. History matching in reservoir simulation is time-consuming and computer processing-intensive. Machine learning algorithms were created, and an automated history-matching tool was developed. A large set of synthetic reservoir simulations were created to generate well responses (oil, gas, and water production, well bottomhole pressure [BHP], and tracer or propane breakthrough) for a set of EOR operating parameters that included offset well status (open or closed), injectate (rich gas or propane), injection rate, and injection well BHP. A user interface was developed to provide real-time visualization. Machine learning-based models were developed to provide rapid forecasting of well performance given a set of user-defined EOR operating parameters. These predictive models allow the user to modify the offset well status, injection rate, and injection well BHP and rapidly forecast future production performance. The combination of real-time visualization tools with real-time forecasting tools provides a framework for real-time control—operational changes that the EOR site operator can enact (e.g., changing gas injection rates) to affect the observed performance and potentially improve the EOR outcome. There is great reason to be optimistic about the future of EOR in the Bakken. The results of the laboratory studies suggest significant potential for high rates of oil mobilization using produced field gas injection under the right conditions. The results of the lab studies, combined with rigorous statistical analysis of well production data and associated modeling efforts, confirm the notion that fluid mobility within the reservoir is controlled by fractures. As more knowledge is gained about the nature and distribution of fracture networks in the Bakken, the industry will be in a better position to predict and, ultimately, influence fluid mobility. New field tests are necessary to develop a more complete understanding of those conditions. Thoughtful and creatively engineered field tests within a well-characterized geologic setting will yield the fundamental knowledge needed to take Bakken oil production to the next level. This subtask was cofunded through the EERC–U.S. Department of Energy Joint Program on Research and Development for Fossil Energy-Related Resources Cooperative Agreement No. DE-FE0024233. Nonfederal funding was provided by the North Dakota Industrial Commission’s Oil and Gas Research Program and Computer Modelling Group.

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Systems Analysis Perspectives of Methane Pyrolysis, Fossil-Based Ammonia Production, and H2 and NG/H2 Transport (FWP-1022467 (5, 7, 8))

This poster presentation provides an overview of NETL’s work focused towards supporting the development of technical solutions to: 1) produce economical and low-carbon hydrogen from natural gas; 2) advance hydrogen sensing technologies for the existing natural gas pipelines; 3) evaluating new infrastructure to be used to transport hydrogen safely at a large scale; and 4) produce sustainable chemicals and fuels, such as ammonia, from natural gas resources, including methane emissions from flare gas.

Sheriff, Alana↗
DOE OSTI2025

Enhancing the Value of Wasted and Stranded Natural Gas Resources Through Conversion Into Aromatics Using Microwaves

Natural gas flaring results in the waste of significant amounts of valuable domestic energy resources while also producing undesirable environmental impacts. Transforming natural gas into value-added chemicals via direct nonoxidative reactions presents a compelling alternative to flaring. However, traditional thermal reactor systems face challenges due to thermodynamic limitations and poor catalyst stability. Microwave-assisted reactions offer a sustainable, on-demand approach for chemical production from natural gas, suitable for compact, flexible reactor systems at the well-site that can be powered by renewable energy. This method offers a novel, non-traditional approach in catalyst activation and product selectivity compared to a conventional thermal method, potentially leading to faster rates, higher selectivities, and higher conversion efficiencies. Despite these advantages, challenges exist, such as the low microwave-sensitivity of the state-of-the-art zeolite catalyst that is highly active for the methane dehydroaromatization reaction. This presentation will discuss recent research from the National Energy Technology Laboratory concerning microwave-assisted natural gas conversion directly into aromatics. It will address the difficulties with microwave heating of traditional thermochemical catalysts, and the application of Multiphysics modeling to understand temperature and field strength in the reactor, to enhance chemical conversion. The presentation will also cover how heating aids can mitigate heating challenges and transform microwave catalysis into a quasi-thermal kinetic problem. Additionally, catalyst activation and deactivation under microwave conditions will be examined, along with the future outlook and needs for microwave enhanced catalysis applications.

catalysis↗
DOE OSTI2025

Microwave Catalysis for Process Intensified Modular Production of Carbon Nanomaterials from Natural Gas

The objective of this project was to develop a novel, low-cost process intensified modular process to directly convert flare gas or stranded gas to carbon nanomaterials and co-product hydrogen (H 2 ) with high conversion, selectivity, and stability. The proposed project was based on our exciting exploratory research on a patent pending technology for one-step conversion of natural gas to carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and carbon fibers (CNFs) without emitting CO 2 : CH 4 → H 2 + C (CNT, Carbon Fibers).

03 NATURAL GAS↗