Made available in DSpace on 2010-04-20T21:00:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 3 mateusbarrosturma2004.pdf.jpg: 14441 bytes, checksum: eebae461642cd66bbc1265ad9f99e364 (MD5) mateusbarrosturma2004.pdf: 3070784 bytes, checksum: 3697d1eb26691a01c2f7202288f6fb13 (MD5) mateusbarrosturma2004.pdf.txt: 154809 bytes, checksum: b00759a3e85b3188254819c64333144f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-02-05T00:00:00Z / In the early 1990s, natural gas began playing a major role in the Latin America´s energy profile. Discovery of major new gas fields has taken the volume of reserves to unprecedented levels. Renewed economic growth and liberalization of the region´s market drove this shift. The brazilian market is younger than other ones in Latin America. Brazilian government need to implement reforms to improve private sector participation and the attraction of foreign capital improving the market efficiency. Natural gas industry needs significant investments. In the begining, the return of investiments are uncertain which normaly has led the development to be driven by the government. During this phase the industry has a monopolistic model with high verticalization. Some countries promoted reforms in the gas sector to atract investiments and increase competion. Liberalization of natural gas industry has developed new markets that have changed how the industry operates. As countries have deregulated prices and lowered entry barriers in the natural gas industry, many new participants have emerged, promoting competition. The increased competition has benefited everyone through more efficient pricing and greater choice among natural gas contracts. Distinct structural models have emerged in the industry liberalization and reflect how far a country has advanced in its reforms. Whichever the structure, regulation aims to protect both end users and players from the market power of companies operating in the monopolistic segments. In that context, this article is aimed at analyzing how far the regulatory reforms in Brasil advanced to increase competiton and attract private investiments. In the end it will be proposed reforms in brazilian regulation to reach this goal. This analysis consist of evaluate the competitive level in the industry, the pricing regulation and the Petrobras market power. The theoretical bases is based on transactions costs economics and its impact on regulation. Moreover many industry strucutures are analyzed. Each structure reflects diferent levels of competition and interaction among participants. / A partir da década de 90, a participação do gás natural na matriz energética da América Latina passou a crescer significativamente e a região emergiu como o mercado de mais alto crescimento no mundo. Esse desenvolvimento foi um reflexo da recuperação econômica que impulsionou a demanda por energia. Além disso, a descoberta de novas reservas e a liberalização do mercado nesta região foram responsáveis por este crescimento. O mercado brasileiro de gás natural é incipiente e de história recente, quando comparado a outros países, sendo necessário construir mecanismos para atrair investimentos e melhorar eficiência deste mercado. O desenvolvimento do setor de gás natural exige grandes investimentos em infra-estrutura. Dado o elevado grau de incerteza no retorno dos investimentos no início da sua fase de desenvolvimento, a indústria é normalmente caracterizada pelo monopólio estatal e por um alto grau de verticalização. Com o objetivo de atrair investimentos estrangeiros e da iniciativa privada os governos de alguns países promoveram reformas regulatórias visando aumentar a garantia de direitos e atrair investimentos para a expansão da infra-estrutura. A abertura do setor de gás natural criou novos mercados mudando a forma da indústria operar. À medida que os países liberam os preços e baixa as barreiras de entrada, surgem novos participantes promovendo a competição. O aumento da competitividade beneficia a todos dado que os preços são mais competitivos e há uma maior oferta de contratos. Modelos distintos surgem neste processo de liberalização da indústria que refletem o quão avançadas estão as reformas. Qualquer que seja o modelo existente, a regulação tem como objetivo proteger os consumidores finais e os demais agentes do poder de mercado das empresas monopolistas. Dado esse contexto, esta dissertação tem como objetivo analisar a evolução das reformas regulatórias no Brasil no sentido de promover a competição e atrair investimento privado e assim propor subsídios para a regulação atual. Para tal partimos da análise da estrutura da indústria avaliando o grau de competição em cada elo da cadeia, a regulamentação de preços e o grau de poder de mercado da Petrobras. O suporte teórico da tese é baseado no estudo da teoria dos custos de transação e seu impacto no desenho da regulação. Por fim complementa-se o arcabouço teórico com a análise das diversas estruturas de indústria de gás natural existentes. Cada estrutura de mercado reflete diferentes graus de competição e de interação entre os agentes.

A dissertação aborda a interação Universidade-Empresa no âmbito da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul – UFRGS. O objetivo principal é analisar a interação Universidade-Empresa da UFRGS, contemplada na política de desenvolvimento e inovação tecnológica, sob responsabilidade da Secretaria de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico – SEDETEC. Os objetivos específicos foram apresentados em três artigos, sendo eles: artigo 1 - identificar as demandas de qualidade no processo de interação entre a UFRGS e empresas parceiras e propor melhorias para este processo; artigo 2 - descrever as modalidades de interação e apresentar o fluxo da formalização do processo de interação da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) com as Empresas, realizado através de projetos conjuntos; e artigo 3 - analisar o impacto promovido por projetos de interação entre a UFRGS e a PETROBRAS, fomentados por fundos setoriais e incentivos governamentais. O estudo de caso foi o procedimento metodológico adotado para a realização do trabalho. Como resultado obteve-se uma visão integrada do processo de interação entre a UFRGS e empresas. No artigo 1, foram identificadas as principais qualidades demandadas por empresas no processo de interação e foi realizado o desdobramento em requisitos da qualidade para a fase de formalização da interação. A partir dos desdobramentos destas demandas e a identificação dos principais procedimentos priorizados, foram apresentadas diretrizes de melhoria para a SEDETEC. O artigo 2 descreveu as modalidades de interação e apresentou o fluxo da formalização do processo de interação. Foram apresentadas as duas modalidades de projetos de interação, que pode ser via prestação de serviços e ações de parceria; os respectivos tipos de instrumentos jurídicos; e legislações e normativas pertinentes. No artigo 3, foi analisado o impacto promovido por projetos de interação entre a UFRGS e a PETROBRAS, fomentados por fundos setoriais e incentivos governamentais. Verificaram-se os resultados dos projetos, considerando os impactos científicos, tecnológicos e estratégicos tanto para a UFRGS como para a PETROBRAS. Por fim, há recomendações de trabalhos futuros. / The dissertation approaches the interaction University-company in the extent of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS. The main objective is to analyze the interaction University-company of UFRGS, meditated in the development politics and technological innovation, under responsibility of Secretariat of Technological Development-SEDETEC. The specific objectives were presented in three articles, being them: article 1-to identify the quality demands in the interaction process between UFRGS and companies partners and to propose improvements for this process; article 2-to describe the interaction modalities and to present the flow of the formalization of the process of interactions of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) with the Companies, accomplished through united projects; and article 3-to analyze the impact promoted by interaction projects between UFRGS and PETROBRAS, fomented by sector bottoms and government incentives. The case study was the methodological procedure adopted for the accomplishment of the work. As result was obtained an integrated vision of the interaction process between UFRGS and companies. In the article 1 they were identified the main qualities disputed by the companies in the interaction process and the unfolding was accomplished in requirements of the quality for the phase of formalization of the interaction starting from the unfolding of these demands and the identification of the main prioritized procedures, improvement guidelines were presented for SEDETEC. The article 2 described the interaction modalities and it presented the flow of the formalization of the interaction process. The two modalities of interaction projects were presented, that can be through services rendered and partnership actions; the respective types of juridical instruments; and legislations and pertinent normative. In article 3, it was analyzed the impact promoted by interaction projects between UFRGS and PETROBRAS, fomented by sector bottoms and government incentives. The results of the projects were verified, considering the scientific, technological and strategic impacts so much for UFRGS as for PETROBRAS. Finally, there are recommendations of future works.

A presente pesquisa faz uma análise do processo de reestruturação territorial no Brasil tendo como base as novas funções do Estado face às mudanças econômicas e políticas ocorridas em escala mundial denominadas de globalização ou mundialização do capital. O foco principal do trabalho é a diversificação da matriz energética brasileira com o início do uso do Gás Natural (GN) nos processos industriais e comerciais da região da Aglomeração Urbana do Nordeste do Rio Grande do Sul – AUNE, que engloba dez municípios e mais de 800 mil habitantes e se constitui na segunda maior aglomeração urbana do estado. Foram desenvolvidas pesquisas de campo nas oficinas mecânicas credenciadas pelo INMETRO aptas a fazerem conversões de veículos automotivos para o uso do gás natural e em empresas que utilizam o gás natural em seus processos produtivos. A pesquisa procurou traçar uma visão geral das transformações sociais e econômicas que o uso dessa nova fonte energética trouxe para a AUNE. / The present research analyzes the territorial restructuring process in Brazil, based on the new State's functions in light of global economic and political changes. The principal focus of the study is the Brazilian energy matrix's diversification, beginning with the of the use of natural gas in industrial and commercial process in northeastern Rio Grande do Sul (AUNE), which comprises ten cities and more than 800,000 people. It is the second biggest urban region in the state. Field research was developed in the mechanical workshops licensed by INMETRO to make the conversion to natural gas in vehicles and companies that utilize it in their production process. The research objective was to evidence a global vision of the economic and social changes that the use of this new energy source has brought to AUNE.

Increasing energy demand, coupled with the recent emphasis on domestic production, has resulted in an increase in natural gas exploration and pipeline construction in the central Appalachian region. Very little is known about the effects of natural gas pipeline construction on sediment production. The goals of this project were to measure erosion and examine the effects of vegetation and precipitation characteristics on erosion on a newly constructed pipeline in the Fernow Experimental Forest in West Virginia. The study explored whether seed rate, slope class, or aspect, influenced erosion. The cross country pipeline was buried beneath the surface on study hillslopes ranging from 30-68% and beneath a less steep segment with slopes ranging from 18-26%. A mixture of native herbaceous-plant seeds and straw mulch were applied following construction. Two different seeding rates were applied to compare vegetative recovery and to determine if increasing the seed rate would decrease erosion. A 1-time seed rate, or the normal Forest Service application rate, and a 3-time seed rate (1-time + twice that rate) were tested. Two aspects (northwest-facing and southeast-facing) and four precipitation variables (30-minute maximum intensity, duration, total rainfall amount, and time since last event) were defined. Sediment concentrations were compared for differences between two slopes, two seed rates, and two aspect classes. Precipitation variables were analyzed to identify those that could explain significant amounts of the variability in erosion from the pipeline. The 1-time seed rate sections produced less sediment than the 3-time seed rate sections, but this was probably more a function of subsurface flow differences associated with the sections seeded with the lighter rate and the water bar construction. Precipitation intensity explained the most variability in erosion. Study sites with gentler slopes produced less sediment than the steeper sections, as expected. As vegetation became established, sediment concentrations decreased for all study sections and reached low and relatively constant levels by approximately the end of August 2009.

This dissertation presents contributions to the understanding of the dynamic nature of permeability of Indonesian coal. It is the first-of-its-kind study, first presenting a comparison of experimental results with those obtained using existing analytical permeability models, and then modifying the existing anisotropic model for application to the unique physical structure of Indonesian coal. The first problem addressed in this dissertation was establishing the pressure-dependentpermeability of coal in a laboratory environment replicating in situ conditions for two coal types from the Sanga Sanga basin of Kalimantan, Indonesia. The change in permeability with depletion and the corresponding volumetric strain of coal were measured in the laboratory under uniaxial strain condition (zero lateral strain). Two gases, helium and methane, were used as the flowing fluids during experimental work. The results showed that, decreasing pore pressure resulted in significant decrease in horizontal stress and increased permeability. The permeability increase at low reservoir pressure was significant, a positive finding for Indonesian coals. Using the measured volumetric changes with variations in pressure, the cleat compressibility for the two coal types was estimated. In a separate effort, volumetric strain as a result of desorption of gases was measured using sister samples under unconstrained condition, in absence of the stress effect. Sorptioninduced strain processes were modeled using the Langmuir-type model to acquire the two important shrinkage parameters. All parameters calculated using the experimental data were used for the modeling exercise. The second component of this dissertation is the permeability variation modeling to enable projecting long-term gas production in the Sanga Sanga basin. For this, two commonly used isotropic permeability models were selected. These models, developed primarily for the San Juan coal, were unable to match the measured permeability data. This was believed to be due to the inappropriate geometry used to represent Indonesian coal, where butt cleats are believed to be absent. This was followed by application of the most recent model, incorporating partial anisotropy in coal. This consideration improved the modeling results although there clearly was room for improvement. The final challenge addressed in this dissertation was to consider the coal geometry appropriate for Indonesian coal, stack of sheets as opposed to a bundle of matchsticks. In order to incorporate the structural anisotropy for the stack of sheets geometry, two input parameters were modified, based on geo-mechanical anisotropy. After applying these to the modified model, the permeability modeling results were compared with the experimental data. The matches improved significantly. Finally, the effect of maximum horizontal stress on permeability of coal was estimated by using high and low maximum horizontal stress values and constant vertical and minimum horizontal stresses. The effect of maximum horizontal stress on permeability was found to be significant under uniaxial strain condition for both coals.

xx, 290 p. : ill. (some col.) / Macrocyclic phosphine compounds have long been sought as ligands for transition metal complexes because of their strong binding properties. Despite considerable effort in this field, no general methods for synthesizing phosphine macrocycles or their complexes have been developed. This dissertation describes attempts to synthesize an iron complex with a water-soluble macrocyclic tetraphosphine ligand for use in separating nitrogen from natural gas. Chapter I reviews previous syntheses of macrocyclic phosphine ligands and their complexes, focusing on ligand synthesis, coordination chemistry, and demetallation of the complexes. Chapter II reports on the synthesis of water-soluble secondary bidentate phosphine ligands, their coordination chemistry with iron(II), and attempts to use these complexes as templates for forming a macrocyclic iron-phosphine complex by reactions with carbon electrophiles. Over the course of treating these iron complexes with various carbon electrophiles, an interesting reaction between bromomaleic anhydride and proton sponge was discovered. Chapter III explores the product, 4-maleicanhydrido-1,8-bis-(dimethylamino)naphthalene (MAPS). Due to its conjugated donor-acceptor network, which is disrupted upon protonation, MAPS acts as a colorimetric version of a proton sponge. The attachment of MAPS to amine-functionalized solid supports, forming solid-supported proton sponge reagents, is also described. Chapter IV discusses the synthesis of an iron(II) complex of the water-soluble phosphine 1,2-bis(di(hydroxymethyl)phosphino)ethane (DHMPE). Although unbound hydroxymethylphosphines commonly react with NH-functional amines via the phosphorus Mannich reaction, this and other complexes of DHMPE do not undergo this reaction. Further investigation with hydroxymethylphosphine-boranes suggests that the currently-accepted mechanism of the phosphorus Mannich reaction is incorrect, and an alternate mechanism is proposed. Chapter V discusses the synthesis and functionalization of copper(I) complexes of water-soluble phosphines. Unlike the complexes described in Chapter I, these complexes readily react with α,ω-dihalides or di(acyl chloride)s, forming complexes whose mass spectra correspond to those with macrocyclic phosphine ligands. Unlike most macrocyclic tetraphosphine complexes, these complexes can be demetallated by treatment with sulfide. Finally, a new synthesis of water-soluble macrocycles, based on lessons learned during the course of these investigations, is proposed. This dissertation includes previously published and unpublished co-authored material. / Committee in charge: Dr. Michael M. Haley, Chairperson; Dr. David R. Tyler, Advisor; Dr. Darren W. Johnson, Member; Dr. Shih-Yuan Liu, Member; Dr. Mark H. Reed, Outside Member

[pt] Análise numérica do processo dinâmico do escoamento de gás natural em estações de entrega, considerando o comportamento transiente dos principais equipamentos existentes, tais como válvula de três vias, válvulas redutoras de pressão e aquecedores de gás. Desenvolvimento da lógica de controle dinâmica (controle PID - proporcional-integral-derivativo) de todos os equipamentos relevantes. Para determinação das propriedades termodinâmicas do gás natural empregou-se as equações de estado Peng-Robinson e Soave-Redlich-Kwong. O estudo apresenta um maior enfoque na análise do comportamento de aquecedores de gás indireto a banho d’água e na regulagem dinâmica da temperatura de entrega através de um controlador PID que comanda a válvula de três vias. Investigou-se o desempenho de uma estação de entrega de gás natural existente baseada nas condições operacionais estabelecidas no projeto. Simulou-se o escoamento correspondente a operação em uma estação de entrega real e realizou-se comparação direta com dados de instrumentação enviados ao supervisório de controle e aquisição de dados (SCADA). A metodologia desenvolvida reproduziu de forma adequada a operação em condições normais da estação de entrega de São Carlos-SP e eventos anormais como cenários de apagamento dos aquecedores que foram registrados no banco de dados do supervisório. Finalmente analisaram-se procedimentos a serem aplicados nas estações de entrega existentes para redução do consumo do gás combustível utilizado no processo de pré-aquecimento. / [en] Numerical simulation of the dynamic process of natural gas flow through citygate stations, considering the transient behavior of the main existing equipments, such as three-way-valves, pressure reduction valves and gas heaters. Development of the dynamic control logic (PID controller) of all relevant equipments. To determine the natural gas thermodynamic properties, the equations of state of Peng-Robinson and Soave-Redlich-Kwong were employed. The study concentrates in the analysis of indirect fired water bath heater and in the delivery temperature regulation using a PID controller that commands the three-way-valve. It was investigated the performance of an existing natural gas citygate station based on established design operational conditions. The flow field corresponding to an operational natural gas city gate station was determined and direct comparison with instrumentation data sent to supervisory control and data acquistion (SCADA) was performed. The methodology developed reproduced in a satisfactory way the normal operational condition of the São Carlos-SP natural gas citygate station and abnormal events such as the heater shut-down scenarios registered on SCADA database. Finally, procedures to be applied in existing delivery stations for the reduction of gas fuel consumption in the pre-heating process were analyzed.

No Brasil, as jazidas de carvão do nordeste do Rio Grande do Sul são consideradas como o maior potencial para reservatórios de gás metano associado com camadas de carvão (CBM). O objetivo desse estudo é avaliação do potencial da jazida Chico Lomã em relação ao gás natural associado com as camadas de carvão, através da realização de sondagem para coleta de testemunhos, seguido por medidas de desorção de gás para determinação do conteúdo de gás total. Para caracterização petrológica, foram realizadas descrição de litotipos, refletância da vitrinita e análise de macerais. A caracterização química incluiu análise imediata e elementar, poder calorífico, teor de enxofre, difração de raios X e fluorescência de raios X. Além disso, no gás coletado, foram analisados isótopos estáveis de carbono e hidrogênio e composição do gás. As amostras foram também analisadas quanto à capacidade de adsorção de metano. Para a área de estudo foi gerado um modelo geológico 3D para calcular o volume de carvão na jazida, seguido por uma avaliação do volume de gás associado com carvão. Os resultados indicam uma espessura cumulativa de 11, 46 m de carvão no poço CBM 001-CL-RS, associado com uma intrusão ígnea com 11 m de espessura, o que elevou o nível da refletância da vitrinita na zona de contato transformando parcialmente carvão em coque natural em distâncias menores que 2 m da intrusão. Os resultados da análise petrográfica da refletância da vitrinita do carvão indicam um range de 0.55 – 4.42 %Rrandom. A distribuição dos macerais indica maiores valores de vitrinita no topo da sequência. O conteúdo de liptinita mostra um range de ausente até 6,2%, enquanto o conteúdo de inertinita varia de 5,8 até 33,6%, com os maiores valores em direção à base da sequência. O conteúdo de matéria mineral, baseado em análises óticas, consiste principalmente de argilas, seguida de carbonato, pirita e quartzo. O teor de cinzas, baseado na análise imediata, mostra uma variação de 29,06 a 82,78%, com os maiores valores abaixo da intrusão ígnea. O conteúdo de matéria volátil apresenta correlação inversa com o aumento da refletância. O conteúdo de carbono (d.a.f.) aumenta com a refletância. O teor de enxofre mostra valores mais elevados nas amostras do topo da Formação Rio Bonito, bem como o poder calorífico. A análise da difração de raios X mostra que a maioria das amostras são constituídas principalmente de quartzo, caolinita, albita e calcita. A análise de fluorescência de raios X mostra maiores concentrações de Si, Al e Fe, porém também foram identificados elementos calcófilos, litófilos e siderófilos. As medidas de desorção do gás variam de 0,051 até 0,740 cm3/g carvão nas camadas acima da intrusão, enquanto que nas camadas abaixo da intrusão não foi determinado gás. Os valores dos isótopos de carbono e hidrogênio atribuem origem termogênica ao gás enquanto que metano é o principal componente no gás. A capacidade de adsorção de metano das amostras varia de 2,50 a 6,50 cm3 sugerindo uma insaturação das camadas de carvão. Baseado no modelo geológico 3D e nos dados analíticos, 7,152 bilhões de toneladas de carvão foram estimados para a jazida Chico Lomã, associado com 1,32 bilhões de m3 de gás. / In Brazil, the coal deposits in northeastern Rio Grande do Sul are considered to have the greatest potential for storage of methane gas associated with coal seams (CBM). The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential of the Chico Lomã coalfield in relation to natural gas associated with coal seams, by carrying out a CBM test well to collect samples, followed by gas desorption measurements to determine the total gas content. For petrological characterization, were performed description of lithotypes, vitrinite reflectance and maceral analysis. Chemical characterization included proximate and ultimate analyses, calorific value, sulfur content, X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence. In addition, the gas collected was analysed for stable carbon and hydrogen isotopes and gas composition. The samples were also analyzed for methane adsorption capacities. For the study area a 3D geological model was generated to calculate the volume of coal in the coalfield, followed by assessment of gas volume associated with the coal. The results indicate a cumulative coal thickness of 11, 46 m in well CBM 001-CL-RS, associated with an igneous intrusion of 11 m thickness, which increased the level of vitrinite reflectance in the contact zone partially transforming the coal to natural coke at distances less than 2 m of the intrusion. The results of the petrographic analysis of coal vitrinite reflectance indicate a range from 0.55 to 4.42 Rrandom%. The maceral distribution indicates higher values of vitrinite at the top of the sequence. The content of liptinite shows a range from nil to 6.2%, whereas the content of inertinite ranges from 5.8 to 33.6%, with the highest values towards the base of the sequence. The mineral matter content, based on optical analyses, consists mainly of clay, followed by carbonate, pyrite and quartz. The ash content, based on proximate analysis, shows a variation from 29.06 to 82.78%, with the highest values below the igneous intrusion. The volatile matter content shows an inverse correlation with the increase in reflectance. The carbon content (d.a.f.) increase with reflectance. The sulfur content shows higher values in samples from the top of the Rio Bonito Formation, as well the calorific value. X-ray diffraction analysis shows that most samples consist mainly of quartz, kaolinite, albite and calcite. X-ray fluorescence analysis shows higher concentrations of Si, Al and Fe, but also chalcophile, lithophile and siderophile elements were identified. The desorption gas measurements vary from 0,051 to 0.740 cm3 / g in seams above the intrusion, whereas in the seams below the intrusions no gas was determined. The carbon and hydrogen isotope values suggest a thermogenic origin of the gas, whereas methane is the predominant compound of the gas. The methane adsorption capacity of the samples varies from 2.50 to 6.50 cm3 suggesting an under-saturation of the coal seams. Based on the 3D geological model and analytical data 7.152 billion tons of coal were estimated for the Chico Lomã coalfield, associated with 1.32 billion m3 of gas.

A velocidade de queima laminar adiabática de reações de combustão é um parâmetro chave, relacionado à cinética química do combustível, a qual define características importantes como a forma e a faixa de estabilidade de uma chama. Nos últimos anos, um grande esforço vem sendo direcionado para a determinação precisa desse parâmetro para diferentes combustíveis, porém a grande diversidade de técnicas e metodologias de medição existente acarreta em uma grande dispersão entre os resultados encontrados na literatura. Dentre as várias técnicas disponíveis, o método do fluxo de calor destaca-se por fornecer medidas de velocidade de chama adiabática com boa precisão. O método, diferentemente dos demais existentes, não depende de extrapolações e é capaz de obter chamas aproximadamente adiabáticas. Neste estudo, foi construída uma bancada de trabalho baseada no método do fluxo de calor com a finalidade de medir a velocidade de chama plana laminar adiabática de diferentes misturas entre combustível e comburente. Foram realizadas medições para pré-misturas metano/ar e gás natural/ar em diferentes razões de equivalência (0,65 a 1,5) para a temperatura de 298 K e pressão atmosférica. Uma análise das possíveis fontes de erro é apresentada utilizando-se 95 % de intervalo de confiança, resultando em uma incerteza de 2,8 % para a pré mistura estequiométrica metano/ar para a qual a velocidade de chama encontrada foi de 35,4 cm/s. Nas mesmas condições, para a mistura gás natural/ar foi obtido o resultando de 34,8 cm/s, para a proporção estequiométrica com uma incerteza de 3,1 %. O experimento apresenta incertezas de medição tanto maiores quanto mais afastadas da condição estequiométrica a chama se apresenta, chegando a 20 % para chamas ricas com razão de equivalência 1,5. As medições obtidas para diferentes razões de equivalência mostram-se de acordo com os resultados encontrados na literatura, apresentando valor absoluto e de incertezas dentro dos padrões do método. / The adiabatic laminar burning velocity of a fuel/oxidant mixture is a key parameter in combustion. It defines important flame characteristics like its shape and stability range. In the last years, a great effort has been employed on the precise determination of this parameter for different fuels. The diversity of techniques and extrapolation methods for achieving adiabatic flame data results in the large scatter found in literature. Among various techniques available, the heat flux method is known to provide adiabatic burning velocity measurements with good accuracy. The method does not depend on extrapolations and is able to produce flames that closely reach the adiabatic condition. In this study, a workbench was built based on the heat flux method aiming at measuring the adiabatic laminar flame velocity of different fuel and oxidant mixtures. Data were obtained for methane/air and natural gas/air mixtures for different equivalence ratios (0.65 to 1.5) at 298 K and 1 atm. An analysis of possible error sources is also presented using 95% of confidence interval. For a soichiometric methane/air mixture the flame speed was found to be 35.4 cm/s with 2.8% of uncertainty. Under the same conditions, for a stoichiometric natural gas/air mixture the value obtained was 34.8 cm/s with an uncertainty of 3.1%. The experiment shows that the uncertainties increase as the premixture deviates from the stoichiometric condition, reaching 20% for an equivalence ratio of 1.5. The measurements obtained for different equivalence ratios are consistent with results found in the literature and with acceptable uncertainties for the method.

Natural gas hydrates store a substantial portion of the Earth's organic carbon, although their occurrence is restricted by thermobaric boundaries and the availability of methane-rich fluids. The complexity of geological systems and the multiphase flow processes promoting hydrate formation can result in a mismatch between the predicted and the observed hydrate distribution. The purpose of this research is to achieve a better comprehension of the factors that influence the distribution of gas hydrates and the mechanism of fluid movements beneath and across the gas hydrate stability zone (GHSZ). Therefore, this study integrates seismic, petrophysical and geochemical data from different gas hydrate provinces. This work provides evidence that hydrates can occur below bottom-simulating reflectors, in the presence of sourcing thermogenic hydrocarbons. The relationship between fluid-escape pipes and gas hydrates is further explored, and pipe-like features are suggested to host a significant volume of hydrates. The host lithology also represents a critical factor influencing hydrate and free gas distribution and, in evaluating a natural gas hydrate system, needs to be considered in conjunction with the spatial variability in the methane supply. The three-dimensional distribution of gas hydrate deposits in coarse-grained sediments, representing the current target for hydrate exploration, is shown to be correlated with that of the underlying free gas zone, reflecting sourcing mechanisms dominated by a long-range advection. In such systems, the free gas invasion into the GHSZ appears controlled by the competition between overpressure and sealing capacity of the gas hydrate-bearing sediments. Globally, the thickness of the free gas zones is regulated by the methane supply and by different multi-phase flow processes, including fracturing, capillary invasion and possibly diffusion. In conclusion, this research indicates that geological, fluid flow and stability factors interweave at multiple scales in natural gas hydrate systems.