What types of natural gases are produced in New Mexico?
The vast majority of natural gases produced in New Mexico are hydrocarbon gas. This gas type is what most people think of when “natural gas” is mentioned – hydrocarbon gases will burn and are used to heat our homes, power factories, generate electricity, etc. Two other types of naturally occurring gases are also produced in New Mexico: carbon dioxide and helium. Naturally occurring carbon dioxide is produced from the Bravo Dome field of Union and Harding Counties in northeastern New Mexico. The carbon dioxide is transported by pipeline to the Permian Basin where it is injected into old oil fields in order to increase oil recovery from old fields that might otherwise be abandoned. The Bravo Dome field is one of the largest known naturally occurring accumulations of carbon dioxide in the world. During 2001, approximately 120 billion cubic feet of carbon dioxide worth $51 million were produced from the Bravo Dome field. This production contributes directly to the state’s economy and tax b
