Assessing the GHG emissions footprints of newly ultra-sour gas developments in the Middle East region for electricity production

The Middle East is a hydrocarbon-rich region. Nonetheless, the majority of its natural gas reserves are ultra-sour in nature. Previously these resources were left untapped; but latest technology advances and growing energy security concerns have motivated the exploitation of such resources. Ultra-sour gas processing is particularly very energy intensive and generates noteworthy greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during its whole lifecycle (e.g., from well-extraction to grid transmission). This study aims to quantify in detail the ultra-sour gas well-to-electricity transmission GHG emissions in terms of per kilowatt hour (kWh) delivered. This is, the GHG emissions involved in delivering one kWh of electricity produced from ultra-sour gas. A mathematical model of a power generation infrastructure was developed in GAMS®; whereas a simulation model for gas transportation and treatment was developed in ProMax®. The two aforementioned models together with engineering principles were employed in the present study. The United Arab Emirates is considered as case study. The results indicate that GHG emissions associated with ultra-sour gas-based power averages 564 g CO₂ eq./kWh delivered. This is over 11% larger than average US conventional gas-based power. Likewise, gas processing and electricity production account for more than 92 % of the lifecycle emissions.