What is natural gas?
Natural gas is made up of hydrocarbon gases, primarily methane.
It is usually found deep below the earth's surface, often with
deposits of oil, and is removed by wells that are drilled to
access the petroleum deposits.
After it reaches the surface, the gas is separated from any
oil or water that may have been present in the petroleum
deposit. It is then processed to remove impurities, other gases
such as propane and butane, and any remaining water or water
vapor.
Why use natural gas?
Natural gas is a fuel of choice because it is:
- Efficient
- Clean-burning (emits few pollutants)
- Flexible
- Plentiful
Natural gas is the cleanest-burning fossil fuel. Environmental
concerns have led to a number of new uses for gas to take
advantage of its clean-burning characteristics. For example,
electric generation facilities are choosing to build and install
gas-fired turbines and to use natural gas in conjunction with
other fuels to reduce emissions.
How is natural gas transported?
Natural gas is transported in an underground system of
large-diameter pipes. The force that propels the gas is its
pressure, which gradually dissipates as it travels through the
pipeline. A series of compressor stations are positioned along
the pipeline's path. Each station has a number of large
compressors that increase the pressure of the gas to push it to
the next station along the line.
Who uses natural gas?
There are five main groups of natural gas users.
- Residential users: use natural gas in their homes to
fuel furnaces and appliances such as stoves, water heaters
and clothes dryers.
- Commercial users: use natural gas in businesses such as
restaurants, hotels, and hospitals.
- Industrial users: use natural gas for heating processes
and as fuel for the generation of steam.
- Electric utilities: use natural gas to generate
electricity.
- Natural gas pipeline companies: use natural gas as a
fuel to run compressor units.
What Is LNG?
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is natural
gas that has been cooled to about minus 260 degrees Fahrenheit
for shipment and/or storage as a liquid. The volume of the
liquid is about 600 times smaller than the gaseous form. In this
compact form, natural gas can be shipped in special tankers to
receiving terminals in the United States and other importing
countries. At these terminals, the LNG is returned to a gaseous
form and transported by pipeline to distribution companies,
industrial consumers, and power plants.
Liquefying natural gas provides a
means of moving it long distances where pipeline transport is
not feasible, allowing access to natural gas from regions with
vast production potential that are too distant from end-use
markets to be connected by pipeline.
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