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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?

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