Question

In October of 2015 a natural gas leak started from an underground storage facility in Aliso Canyon, CA, near Los Angles. The leak continued for 118 days and averaged a leak rate of 45 million standard cubic feet (45x10⁶ scf) per day. The leaked natural gas has a heating value of 1,000 Btu/scf.

A. If the gas had been used to generate electricity instead of being released into the atmosphere, what would the electrical power output resulting from the leaked gas have been? Assume that the efficiency of converting the chemical energy (heating value) of the fuel to electricity is 60%

B. What is the total electrical energy that could have been generated by the leaked gas?

C.If electrical energy sells for $0.06/KWh what is the lost revenue that could have been generated from the leaked gas? (Of course, this does not take into account the environmental damage caused by the leak, and disruption to the lives of those living near it.)

Note: In August 2018 Southern California Gas agreed to a $119.5-million settlement with the city, county and state officials to deal with health effects and climate damage related to the leak. This is on top of more the $1-billion paid by Southern California Gas to relocate residents and clean homes, and to cover legal bills, well recovery and mitigation efforts.

Answer 1

Total volume of gas leak=no of days*release per day

=118 days*45x10⁶ scf

Total heat produce by gas=Volume of gas leaked*heat produce per unit of gas(Heating value)

1,000 Btu*118 days*45x10⁶ scf=531x10¹⁰ Btu

B) Electrical Energy produced =Efficiency*Chemical Energy

=60%*531x10¹⁰ Btu

1Btu=1055 Joule

1kWh=3.6*10⁶ Joule

=318.6x10¹⁰ Btu*1055=3.36123x10¹⁵ J=3.36123x10¹⁵ J/3.6*10⁶ =9.33675*10⁸ kWh is Energy produced

A) Total time =118*24(no of hrs /day)=2832 hrs

Power=Energy /Time

= 9.33675*10⁸ kWh /2832 hrs=3.296875*10⁵ kW

C)Total revenue generated=Total Energy produced in kWh *cost generated for 1kWh

$0.06*9.33675*10⁸kWh =5.60205*10⁷$=56.0205 million$