Natural Gas

What is natural gas?

• Natural gas is a fossil energy source that formed deep
beneath the earth's surface.
• Gas is a fossil fuel which can be used to generate electricity.
• By burning gas, we create heat which powers a turbine.
• The rotation of this turbine spins a generator which creates
electricity.
• Like oil, natural gas is a product of decomposed organic
matter, typically from ancient marine microorganisms,
deposited over the past 550 million years.
What is natural gas?
• This organic material mixed with mud, silt, and sand on the
sea floor, gradually becoming buried over time.
• Most natural gas has been created through either biogenic or
thermogenic processes.
• Biogenic gas is formed when methanogenic organisms in
marshes, bogs, landfills, and shallow sediments anaerobically
decompose but are not subjected to high temperatures and
pressures.
Where does natural gas come from?
• Naturally occurring gases result from layers upon layers of
decomposing animal and plant matter found under sediment, land,
and sea.
• When the buried organic matter becomes oxygen-deprived, it goes
through a thermal breakdown of intense heat and pressure under the
Earth’s surface. 
• This process, which occurs over millions of years, converts organic
matter into hydrocarbons and leaves it in the gaseous state of natural
gas. 
Where does natural gas come from?
• There are two categories of natural gas, which we base on the gas’s
origin and location. The categories are labeled as

• Conventional
• unconventional
Conventional natural gas
• Conventional natural gas deposits are mostly found with oil
reservoir deposits and are relatively easy to access. We
extract conventional natural gas through an original drilling
method (called vertical well drilling) and traditional pumping
techniques.
Unconventional natural gas
• Unconventional natural gas deposits are more difficult to
access. Poor accessibility could be due to how far beneath
the Earth’s surface they’re located. Generally speaking, we
find unconventional natural gas deposits in rock formations
that we classify as impenetrable. Unconventional natural gas
is commonly extracted from coalbed methane, methane
hydrates, shale gas, and tight gas sandstone. 
Natural gas
There are four naturally occurring gases, they are known as
the four natural gases and include the first four alkanes —
- Methane
- Ethane
- Butane
- Propane
What is Methane?
• Methane, a non-toxic gas, is the main ingredient in
natural gas, making up over 80% of the mixture.
• Its chemical formula is CH₄ making it the simplest
form of hydrocarbon molecules.
• Since methane is odorless, smelly sulfur
compounds are added to it when it’s used as a gas
so that we’re able to detect leaks.
• When burned, methane emissions release into the
atmosphere, where they become greenhouse gas.
Example of methane
Ethane
• Ethane’s chemical formula is C₂H₆ — it’s the only two-carbon alkane.
Ethane typically makes up 1% to over 6% of the natural gas mixture,
making it the second-largest fossil fuel component. Ethane’s primary use is
as a petrochemical feedstock for ethylene production.
• A petrochemical feedstock is a material (feedstock) derived from
petroleum (petrochemical) for manufacturing countless everyday items.
You may even be using a few petrochemical products right now, including
batteries, clothing, digital devices, electric vehicle parts, medical
equipment, solar panels, wind turbine blades, and the list goes on.  
• Ethane is also a greenhouse gas, but on a much smaller scale than
methane.
Example of ethane
Propane
• The chemical formula for propane is C₃H₈, which makes it a three-
carbon alkane. Small amounts of propane are a component of the
natural gas mixture. 
• however, we mainly use it as a fuel for grills, portable stoves, buses,
taxies, forklifts, and recreational vehicles.
• Propane can be used for appliances, such as furnaces, laundry dryers,
and water heaters. Propane combustion is not as clean as natural gas,
but it is much cleaner than gasoline. 
Propane
• There are 3 grades of propane:

• HD5
• HD10
• Commercial propane
HD5 Propane
• HD5 grade propane is “consumer grade” propane. It is the
most common and the highest grade propane available to
consumers.
• Minimum of 90% propane
• Maximum of 5% propylene
HD10 Propane
• HD10 grade propane allows up to 10% propylene in the
propane/propylene mixture and is still has a “propane” label. Creating
plastics uses propylene, so HD10 can possibly create issues in some
engines and vehicle applications.
• While propylene can cause engine components to “gum” or stick
during operation, HD10 spec propane works just fine in domestic and
commercial propane powered appliances. The only possible issue in
using HD-10 propane involves its use as an engine fuel (vehicles,
forklifts, etc.).
Commercial propane
• Commercial grade propane and HD10 grade propane are sometimes
used interchangeably. This is due to the fact that both grades are sub-
HD5 spec product and do not meet the standards of engine grade
propane. Refineries use commercial propane in their processes and
fractionation of chemicals for end use in numerous industries. While
commercial grade propane can be used in a manner similar to that of
HD10 propane, it is not used in vehicle applications.
Butane
• Butane is highly flammable and is an easily liquefied gas.
• Its chemical formula is C₄H₁₀.
• Butane makes up a small part of the natural gas mixture, but it’s
better known for its use in cigarette lighters, blowtorches, and
portable stoves, and as an aerosol propellant, a refrigerant, and a
heating fuel. 
•  It has two isomers; n-butane and isobutane.
Example of butane
How Are Gas and Natural Gas Different? 
• We use natural gas as a heating source, for cooking, and for electricity
generation. Gas or gasoline (also known as petrol because it’s a
product of petroleum and crude oil) is used mainly as engine fuels for
vehicles.
• Natural gas produces nearly 25% less carbon dioxide than gasoline,
making it a cleaner resource. 
• In their natural states, gasoline is a liquid, while natural gas is actually
a gas.  
• Although they are both created with hydrocarbons, natural gas
contains fewer atoms than gasoline. 
How Do We Get Natural Gas?

• After being wholly formed, natural gas deposits become trapped

underground within rock formations. We can extract natural gas from
there. The process is easiest if the surrounding sediments and rock
formations are both highly permeable and porous. 
What Is Permeability? 
• Something that can be passed through, generally by liquid and gas, is
permeable. The easier it is to pass through, the higher permeability it
has. Permeability in rock is measured by how the pore spaces are
interconnected. Suppose natural gas has a lower density than its
surrounding rocks. In that case, it will flow upwards through these
pore spaces until it reaches tight rock formations, and there it sits.
This is where we find many natural gas deposits today. 
What Is Porosity?
• When something is full of openings or tiny holes, we consider it to be
porous. Rocks with high porosity have many small holes, or empty
space, found within their rock grains. These voids allow for liquid and
gas to be easily absorbed. Sandstone is an example of a rock with high
porosity because it has a large amount of vacant space, or storage
space, found within its grains.  
How Do We Locate Natural Gas Deposits?
• We first need to determine where to locate natural gas deposits. We can identify
them by using seismic testing. Seismic waves are generated in areas where
underground rock formations known to house natural gas deposits, such as coal
beds and shale rock, are suspected to be.  
• Geophysicists interpret the results through acoustic receivers called geophones.
After a natural gas deposit has been located and selected for development, a
number of steps are taken.  
• First, the drilling company will meet with the landowner to discuss and negotiate
their surface access rights. The crew will then determine which method of
drilling will be necessary to reach the gas. And, they’ll drill an exploratory well to
find out if there is a large enough natural gas deposit to justify extraction. 
How Is Natural Gas Extracted?

• There are three different techniques used for the extraction of natural

gas. The method is chosen based on the area’s geology and how
accessible the natural gas deposits are. The three modes of extraction
include vertical drilling, horizontal drilling, and hydraulic fracturing,
also known as fracking. 
What Is Vertical Drilling? 
• Circling back to conventional natural gas, vertical drilling is typically
only used when natural gas deposits are found 
directly below the Earth’s surface. Wells are drilled right into the
porous rock formations that are holding these conventional natural
gas deposits. True to its name, the drilling happens straight down, in a
vertical direction.  
What Is Horizontal Drilling? 

• a flexible drilling pipe and a steerable drill bit work together to

navigate tight rock formations by bending a vertical well and then 
drilling at a horizontal angle through the natural gas deposit.
What Is Hydraulic Fracturing or
Fracking?
• Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is the method used throughout
North America to unearth natural gas that was previously inaccessible
 due to impenetrable rock formations. The fracking process involves
injecting a mixture of chemicals, sand, and water into a well at high
pressures. These high pressures fracture rock formations that lay far
down beneath the Earth’s surface, hence the name hydraulic
fracturing. 
What Are the Concerns About Fracking?

• We must use large amounts of water for fracking, which is not so eco-

friendly. It also makes it difficult and costly since the heavy water
often needs to be transported to remote locations. 
• The fossil fuel industry is not transparent about which 
chemicals they use in the mixture. This non-transparency leads to the
concern of possible groundwater contamination. 
• Fracking may be the cause of some earthquakes.  
What Happens With Natural Gas After
Extraction?
• After the drilling is complete and the natural gas supply is flowing into
the well, the drilling equipment is removed and replaced with a
wellhead. Gathering pipelines then move the gas supply to the
processing plant facilities. 
How Is Natural Gas Made?  
• natural gas is processed using a filtration system. Filtration removes
unwanted gases and other impurities such as acid, hydrogen sulfide,
mercury, nitrogen, sulfur dioxide, and water vapor. Certain gas plants
will even remove the by-products, such as butane, ethane, pentane,
and propane.  
• We can process natural gas into two different forms, compressed
natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG). Upon completion of
processing, the natural gas is considered clean and ready for
consumer distribution.  
What Is Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)? 

• Compressed natural gas is primarily comprised of methane. The high amounts of

pressure used to create CNG shrink the gas to under 1% of its original volume.
When combined with air and ignited, CNG works as fuel.  
• Since natural gas is odorless and colorless, natural gas companies add odorants to
CNG as a safety precaution. The odor is similar to the smell of rotten eggs. Gas
companies add the foul smell to CNG to warn people of potential leaks. If a leak
occurs outdoors, CNG is so light that it should simply dissipate. But a leak in an
enclosed space could prove dangerous as it may cause a fire or explosion, and
could lead to serious health problems, including suffocation. 
• Compressed natural gas can be easier to handle than liquefied natural gas. Adding
to its benefits, CNG is less expensive to produce and has an unlimited hold time,
which means it will never expire while in storage. 
What Is Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)?
• Liquefied natural gas is still primarily comprised of methane, but it’s
been processed into a liquid state. To achieve this, anything that can
freeze, such as carbon dioxide, certain hydrocarbons, and water
vapor, must be removed, and the gas must be cooled to negative 260
degrees Fahrenheit. This extreme temperature can make it difficult
and dangerous to handle.  
How Is Natural Gas Distributed? 

• A vast network of gas pipelines is used to safely move natural gas

supplies from extraction sites to the processing plants and then on to
the final destination. From here, distribution or gas companies deliver
natural gas to businesses and homes, or safely store it for use at a
later date. 
Does Natural Gas Rise or Fall?
• It makes sense to assume that gases that are heavier than air will fall
to the ground while gases that are lighter than air will rise. And, in a
fundamental sense, this is, in fact, correct. If there is a significant
natural gas leak in your home, methane, which is less dense than air,
will rise to the ceiling. So, to answer the question above, 
natural gas rises.  
What Are the 3 Biggest Uses of Natural
Gas?
• Electric Power Plants 
• Industrial Use 
• Residential Use
Where Do We Find Natural Gas? 

• A mere 10 countries contain nearly 80% of the world’s 

largest natural gas reserves. Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates,
Venezuela, Nigeria, and Algeria.
How Is Natural Gas Measured? 
• In general, we measure natural gas in cubic feet (cf). However, when
calculating how much energy is generated by natural gas, the
measurement unit is British thermal units (BTU).
Is Natural Gas Considered Clean Energy?

• Although natural gas is considered the cleanest burning fossil fuel—

and is considered by some to be a form of clean energy—many now
express that while it might be “cleaner,” natural gas is 
not actually a clean energy resource. When burned, natural gas 
releases carbon emissions into the Earth’s atmosphere, which
scientists link to environmental complications. It is known as being
the cause of air pollutants, chronic health problems, climate change,
global warming, habitat destruction, and natural disasters.