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Transcript for The Future of Energy Gases, segment 07 of 13
Deep gas comes from wells that pierce the crust to depths of over fifteen thousand feet. Some penetrate over five miles into the Earth. The extreme pressures at these depths require massive wellheads to contain their potentially destructive force. The searing heat of deep gases, sometimes more than three hundred degrees Centigrade, must be cooled before the gas can enter a pipeline.
Hundreds of deep wells have been completed, and they've tapped large accumulations of natural gas, but they are difficult to drill and expensive to complete. Low prices for natural gas have slowed development, and the extent of the resource is unclear. At present we can't predict how much deep gas might be available, but its potential remains enticing.