News

Natural Gas Goes to College

Stanford University is home to the Stanford Natural Gas Initiative, which includes partners PG&E and SoCalGas.

Scientists create artificial catalysts inspired by living enzymes

Stanford researchers have made a significant advance in the development of artificial catalysts for making cleaner chemicals and fuels at an industrial scale.

Stanford scientists creating ways to quickly, accurately and inexpensively find natural gas leaks

From production to consumption, natural gas leaks claim lives, damage the climate and waste money. Research teams at Stanford are working on better ways to find and fix gas leaks quickly and inexpensively from one end of the system to the other.

30-minute talk on natural gas and CO2 sequestration by Prof. Mark Zoback, NGI Director

Mark Zoback Professor of Geophysics and Director of the Stanford Natural Gas Initiative, speaks at the OU Price College of Business annual Energy Symposium

Methane removal and atmospheric restoration

Zeolites and other technologies should be evaluated and pursued for reducing methane concentrations in the atmosphere from 1,860 ppb to preindustrial levels of ~750 ppb. Such a goal of atmospheric restoration provides a positive framework for change at a time when climate action is desperately needed.

Stanford researchers outline vision for profitable climate change solution

A seemingly counterintuitive approach – converting one greenhouse gas into another – holds promise for returning the atmosphere to pre-industrial concentrations of methane, a powerful driver of global warming.

The Methane Detectives: On the Trail of a Global Warming Mystery

The amount of heat-trapping methane in the atmosphere seemed to be leveling off when, in 2007, it began rising again quickly. Nobody yet knows why.

California can meet 2030 climate goals, but 2050 targets look awfully difficult

California will need to change all sectors of its economy extensively to reach its ambitious climate goals, but the right portfolio of technologies can help the state meet them, at least in the near term.

Special Seminar: The Honorable Ernest Moniz, Former U.S. Secretary of Energy

The Honorable Ernest Moniz and distinguished colleagues discuss a new report authored by the Energy Futures Initiative “Optionality, Flexibility, & Innovation: Pathways for a Deep Decarbonization in California" and answer questions about the technologies, policies, investments, and innovation needed for California to meet the state’s aggressive carbon reduction goals.

NGI Winter Newsletter

The Stanford Natural Gas Initiative wrapped up 2018 and welcomed in the new year with a flurry of activity. Please be sure to keep checking our website and future newsletters to stay updated on what is coming up.

Energy Dialogue launches Podcast with discussion recorded at Stanford.

Energy Dialogues is launching its first podcast with a discussion recorded at the San Francisco Energy Dialogues, presented in partnership with the Stanford Natural Gas Initiative. Speakers from Boston Consulting Group, Precourt Institute, Woods Institute and Baker Boots address: General plans for transitioning to a low-carbon economy, Supply and demand for the various energy resources, and the Role of natural gas in achieving energy goals in California. To listen to the podcast, please click here.

Gamechanger: What’s New in an Old Industry: Oil & Gas in the Era of Decarbonization

Watch NGI Director, Professor Mark Zoback's talk What’s New in an Old Industry: Oil & Gas in the Era of Decarbonization, presented at the Stanford Global Energy Forum, November 2018.

To End Poverty, Increase Access to Energy

Concern about climate change has unintended consequences for the most impoverished countries.

Stanford study finds stark differences in the carbon-intensity of global oil fields

Stanford researchers’ comprehensive new assessment of climate emissions from crude oil production suggests avoiding the most carbon-intensive reservoirs and better management of natural gas could dramatically slash emissions.

Natural gas as a transition: Mark Zoback

Mark Zoback, NGI Co-Director, discusses the impact of the natural gas revolution as electricity providers transition from coal to a renewable-energy future.

What does the future of energy look like? Stanford scientists weigh in

Stanford experts agree that the world needs to be less reliant on fossil fuels for energy. Getting there will remake the world’s largest economic sector – energy – into one that is more sustainable, secure and affordable for everyone.

Twelve technologies selected to compete in methane leak detection simulation

Stanford University’s Natural Gas Initiative and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) have invited 11 organizations, covering 12 different technologies, to the controlled-testing phase of the Mobile Monitoring Challenge (MMC), a competition to advance mobile methane monitoring technologies at oil and natural gas facilities. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas – about 30 times more potent than carbon dioxide, though shorter lived.

Modeling for Decision Making Under Uncertainty in Energy and U.S. Foreign Policy

Recent doctoral research by Lauren Culver examines decision making at the intersection of energy and foreign policy and evaluates natural gas as a way to balance global development and climate goals. Dr. Culver is currently an energy specialist at the World Bank working to help countries meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals by alleviating energy poverty while limiting climate changing emissions.

Stanford researcher explores potential for an effective, low-cost, and fair U.S. climate policy

Stanford economics Professor and NGI researcher, Larry Goulder, discusses the tradeoffs of federal climate policy options and finds ways to enhance both societal health and economic benefits.

NGI 2018 Winter Newsletter

The Stanford Natural Gas Initiative is planning a busy and informative 2018. In February we had our annual Governing Board meeting to better define our focus and direction for the year. We will maintain our current research while launching several new research directions around the role of natural gas in future energy systems, renewable natural gas, and unconventional reservoirs. We will issue a new call for research proposals in 2018 and are announcing a week of events in October 2018. Please be sure to keep checking our website and future newsletters to stay updated on what is coming up.

Free Online Course in Reservoir Geomechanics

Professor Mark Zoback is once again offering a free online class in Reservoir Geomechanics. This interdisciplinary course encompasses the fields of rock mechanics, structural geology, earthquake seismology, and petroleum engineering to address a wide range of geomechanical problems that arise during the exploitation of oil and gas reservoirs. To date, over 9000 people – principally college students and current industry professionals – have successfully completed the course.

Natural gas is energy's new king — but how long will it reign? California may offer some clues

Natural gas is now the nation’s leading source of electricity. It is abundant and cheap, which has not only crippled the coal industry but has also impacted virtually every other source of power that makes up the energy grid. Some have estimated there is enough natural gas in the U.S. to meet the country’s energy needs for about 200 years. But “King Gas” has its critics — especially among environmentalists — and California’s fast-changing energy landscape offers hints that a long, smooth reign for natural gas is far from assured.

New techniques for removing carbon from the atmosphere

As the world continues to burn 100 million barrels of oil a day – a rate that is expected to continue for the next 50 years – Stanford Earth researchers are developing greener ways of extracting the oil and mitigating the resulting greenhouse gases.

Earthquakes associated with oil and gas production: Mechanisms and management

The number of small-to-moderate sized earthquakes in large areas of the central and eastern U.S. began to increase dramatically in 2005. The occurrence of many of these earthquakes correlates with the increased use of horizontal drilling and multi-stage hydraulic fracturing by the oil and gas industry. In this talk, Dr. Zoback explains how and why these earthquakes occurred and the steps that can be taken to reduce their occurrence, and what this may mean for oil and gas production in New Zealand.

Cutting coal

Mark C. Thurber of Stanford University on developed nations’ struggle to dump coal.

Professor Jef Caers shares his YouTube Channel

Stanford Geological Sciences Professor Jef Caers shares his YouTube Channel.

Registration Open for Mobile Monitoring Challenge

The competition will provide a level and controlled playing field for testing remote technologies to monitor methane leaks from the oil and gas industry.

Reducing Energy Poverty With Natural Gas

The Stanford Natural Gas Initiative convened a symposium entitled Reducing Energy Poverty with Natural Gas: Changing Political, Business and Technology Paradigms. The symposium convened the university’s experts and external leaders to explore ways that natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) can most effectively be used to address energy poverty around the world. The final product from the symposium is this action plan that summarizes the main takeaways and recommendations for further efforts.

Of Course Fracking Is Safe, Stanford Prof Says

The benefits of fracking far outweigh its costs not only economically, but environmentally, a Stanford University geophysicist said Friday. After teaching geophysics at Stanford for 30 years Mark Zoback took the helm of Stanford's new Natural Gas Initiative three years ago, he said, because of gas's environmental benefits.

Stanford Natural Gas Initiative targets energy poverty

Symposium convenes 130 thought leaders from 12 countries to discuss solutions to energy poverty in developing economies.

Navigating the guts of an ancient submarine canyon

Tourists flock to Point Lobos State Natural Reserve near Monterey, Calif., for its breathtaking coastal views and glimpses of the playful sea otters and other marine mammals that can be found among its waters. But the site has long attracted geologists for a very different reason.

Using Natural Gas to Reduce Energy Poverty

It’s not carbon-free, but Natural Gas it has a transformative role to play in energizing developing nations.

Detecting methane leaks with infrared cameras: They’re fast, but are they effective?

Methane is the major component of natural gas, which recently surpassed coal as the top fuel for generating electricity in the United States, but is also a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming, and because methane is highly flammable, gas leaks pose a significant safety hazard. Stanford research focuses on evaluating leak detection technologies and using those insights to inform emissions mitigation policy.

Increased Opportunities for Utilization of North American Natural Gas

Professor Mark Zoback, Director of Natural Gas Initiative at Stanford University moderates a panel on Increased Opportunities for Utilization of North American Natural Gas, during the Global Energy Forum in Beaver Creek.

NGI Winter 2016 Newsletter

2016 was a great year for the Natural Gas Initiative, from new research to several successful events, we have achieved a great deal. Below we highlight some of NGI's accomplishments during the last few months.

Stanford BPSM - Modeling of Gas Hydrates

Check out this 2-minute video on Modeling of Gas Hydrates, created by PhD students Laura Dafov and Zachary Burton, from the Stanford Basin and Petroleum System Modeling Program. The video was submitted to the 2017 Global Energy Forum contest. The competition is open to all current Stanford undergraduate and graduate students and postdocs. To participate, individuals or teams of two students submit a short video highlighting their energy-related research.

Stanford study finds that ‘super emitters’ are responsible for more than half of U.S. methane emissions

A new study finds that just a few natural gas wells account for more than half of the total volume of leaked methane gas in the United States. Fixing leaks at those top emitters could significantly reduce leaks of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

Convening Expertise to Reduce Energy Poverty Globally

There are 1 billion people in the world without access to electricity, another 2 billion that have inadequate, unreliable electricity, and 3 billion without access to modern cooking energy. Achieving access to modern energy in developing economies is required to allow countries to realize their full economic potential and meet the aspirations of their citizens. To discuss this issue, the Stanford Natural Gas Initiative will host a symposium on May 9 and 10, 2017 at Stanford on Reducing Energy Poverty with Natural Gas: New Technologies and Changing Paradigms. See how you can get involved.

What is the Role of Natural Gas in a Decarbonized Energy Future

Gas and hydrocarbons represent 90% of the world’s energy. This has to change, but how will it play out? How will gas affect different sectors; how will it interact with other energy sources? Do renewables require gas? What are the drawbacks and the real measures of what’s good and what’s bad about gas? This candid conversation with leading gas experts from Stanford University spanning the value chain, and industry expert and distinguished leader Maarten Wetselaar, explores these questions and more.

New tool calculates economic costs of methane leak detection

A new “virtual gas field simulator” developed by Stanford scientists and supported by the Natural Gas Initiative, aims to help companies and government agencies weigh the economic costs and benefits of different methane leak detection technologies and pick the best one for a given situation

Good News And Bad About America's Leaking Methane

First the good news: most of the nation’s natural gas leakage can be halted by plugging up a relatively small number of “super emitters,” according to Adam Brandt, Stanford researcher who first documented the government’s underestimate of the methane problem. Now the bad news: the relatively small number of super emitters is still a vast number considering the size of the natural gas infrastructure and how little we know about it.

NGI Winter/Spring Newsletter

The quarterly NGI newsletter highlights some of the program's accomplishments during the first three months of 2016.

NGI Director, Mark Zoback: Innovative Technology and Efficiencies in the Upstream Energy Sector during Vail Global Energy Forum

Video

NGI Co-Director, Sally Benson: The Age of Natural Gas Downstream, Vail Global Energy Forum

Video

Announcing NGI Request for Proposals

This call for proposals from the Stanford Natural Gas Initiative is open to Stanford faculty performing new research in any aspect of natural gas development, use, policy, markets or impacts. A letter of intent to submit is due on February 15, 2016, and full proposals are due on March 15, 2016. Expected funding for each proposed project is up to $100,000 per year.

Tired of the Climate Wars? Me Too

Here's how to get activists at both ends of the spectrum past their suspicion and anger about each other

NGI Newsletter - Fall 2015

Welcome to the first issue of the NGI newsletter. We are proud to announce the latest developments for the Stanford Natural Gas Initiative since our inauguration in February 2015.

Stanford study proves pipeline replacement programs are effective

Replacing older natural gas pipelines reduces leaks and improves consumer safety.

Stanford Natural Gas Initiative research grants total $1.3 million

New awards fund range of projects from improved detection of gas leaks to conversion of natural gas into liquid fuels, and climate-related policy studies.

New research initiative at Stanford to comprehensively study development and use of natural gas

Stanford University's Natural Gas Initiative will research many questions related to the responsible development of natural gas as a fuel supply in the United States and around the world.

New federal rules on hydraulic fracturing a good start

Hydraulic fracturing has unleashed massive new supplies of natural gas, as well as anxiety about contaminated drinking water and earthquakes.

Announcing NGI Request for Proposals

This call for proposals is open to Stanford faculty performing new research in Energy and the Natural Gas Resource, from the Natural Gas Initiative. A letter of intent to submit is due on May 15, 2015, and full proposals are due on June 29, 2015.

Natural gas and the energy transition explored at Stanford Natural Gas Initiative’s inaugural symposium

Can the surge of U.S. natural gas be managed in a way that benefits the environment, the economy, human health and even peace? Will the United States export the technologies behind that surge or just sell the world its natural gas?

Brochure Available

Please download our brochure.

Search form

News