In the over 150 years of hydrocarbon history, the year 2017 will be one of the many similar. However, it will be a breakthrough year for liquefied natural gas. In Asia, China grew to become the leader of import growth, becoming the second world importer, overtaking even South Korea and chasing Japan. The Panama Canal for LNG trade and the “Northern Passage” was opened, so that Russian LNG supplies appeared in Europe. The year 2017 was marked by a dramatic shortening of the length of long-term concluded contracts, their shorter tenure and reduction of volumes – that is, it was another period of market commoditization of this energy resource. The article describes the current state of LNG production and trade till 2018. It focuses on natural gas production in the United States, Qatar, Australia, Russia as countries that can produce and supply LNG to the European Union. The issue of prices and the contracts terms in 2017 was analyzed in detail. The authors stress that the market is currently characterized by an oversupply and will last at least until mid–2020. Novatek, Total – Yamal-LNG project leaders have put the condensing facility at 5.5 million tons into operation. The Christophe de Margerie oil tanker was the first commercial unit to cross the route to Norway and then further to the UK without icebreakers and set a new record on the North Sea Road. In 2017, the Russian company increased its share in the European gas market from 33.1 to 34.7%. In 2017, Russia and Norway exported record volumes of „tubular” – classic natural gas to Europe (and Turkey), 194 and 122 billion m3 respectively, which is 15 and 9 billion m3 more natural gas than in 2016. The thesis was put forward that Russia would not easily give up its sphere of influence and would do everything and use various mechanisms, not only on the market, that it would simply be more expensive and economically unprofitable than natural gas. It was also emphasized that the pressure of the technically possible and economically viable redirection to European terminals of methane carriers landed in the American LNG, results in Gazprom not having a choice but to adjust its prices. The Americans, but also any other supplier (Australia?) can simply do the same and this awareness alone is enough for Russian gas to be present in Europe at a good price.
In recent years, changes have been made in the structure of primary energy use in the European
Union In addition, a reduction in the use of primary energy has also been observed. According to
the forecasts of the International Energy Agency, the European energy market will be subject to
further changes in the perspective of 2040. These may include the reduction of the energy consumption
and the change in the structure of the energy balance as a result pro-ecological activities.
Natural gas will be the only fossil energy carrier whose role in covering the energy demand will not
change. Along with the changes taking place in the European energy market, global changes can
also be observed. The EU Member States will continue to strive to diversify natural gas supplies.
One of the main elements of diversification of natural gas supplies is the use of LNG regasification
terminals. The reasons for that include the increasing production of natural gas, particularly in the
case of unconventional deposits, the ongoing development of liquefaction terminals, and, as a consequence,
an increase in the LNG supply in the global market. The article presents the utilization of
regasification terminals in the EU Member States and plans for the development of LNG terminals.
Europe has the opportunity to import natural gas through LNG terminals. However, until now,
these have been used to a limited extent. This may indicate that in addition to diversification tasks,
terminals can act as a safeguard against interruptions in gas supplies.
This paper describes the simulation, exergy analysis and comparison of two commonly applied liquefaction of technologies natural gas, namely: propane precooled mixed refrigerant process (C3MR) and dual mixed refrigerant process (DMR) alongside two modifications of each employing end flash systems. The C3MR and DMR process schemes were simulated using the commercial software to mathematically model chemical processes. These schemes were then analysed using energy and exergy calculations to determine their performances. The exergy efficiency for the C3MR processes without end flash system, with simple end flash system and extended end flash system were evaluated as 29%, 31%, and 33%, respectively, while the exergy efficiency for the DMR processes without end flash system, with simple end flash system, and extended end flash system were evaluated as 26%, 25.5%, and 30%, respectively. The results achieved show that the extended end flash system versions of the schemes are most efficient. Furthermore, the exergy analysis depicted that the major equipment that must be enhanced in order to improve the cycle exergy efficiencies are the compressors, heat exchangers, and coolers.
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