Where does natural gas come from?
Natural gas is a resource on which much of the world relies as an energy source. Though pure natural gas is odorless and colorless, it is highly combustible and burns cleaner than other fossil fuels. Natural gas is usually obtained from reservoirs deep within the earth by drilling, and is often found alongside oil deposits and extracted during oil drilling operations by companies such as Western Pipeline Corporation. Both oil and natural gas which are found within the earth form from the remains of ancient organic matter that has undergone intense pressure and heat in the absence of oxygen. Under these intense heat and pressure conditions for long periods of time, carbon bonds in the organic matter break down and eventually form deposits of oil and natural gas. Deposits containing oil, natural gas and water are not uncommon. Due to differences in density, oil tends to float on top of collected water, while the lighter natural gas rests above the oil. Though oil and natural gas often oc
Natural gas is a combustible, gaseous mixture of simple hydrocarbon compounds, usually found deep in underground reservoirs formed by porous rock. It can be found by itself or with crude oil and hydrocarbon condensates — gases that liquefy at normal atmospheric pressure and closely resemble kerosene. Slowly, over the course of millions of years, the pressure and heat from the earth turned the remains of plants and tiny sea animals buried by sand and rock into petroleum and natural gas. The main ingredient in natural gas is methane (CH4). Minor amounts of other gases, including ethane, propane, butane and pentane may also be found. Natural gas is a clean burning fuel, producing primarily carbon dioxide, water vapor and small amounts of nitrogen oxides when combusted.
Natural gas wells can be thousands of feet deep. The gas comes up to the surface under its own pressure. It might be cleaned or de-watered, and it is sent by pipeline to a compressor station. The gas is compressed to thousands of psi and sent thru large steel pipelines (underground) all around the country. Once it reaches its destination, it is ‘distributed’ by a network of smaller pipes and pressure regulators to the consumer. An ‘odorant’ is also added to gas, to give it that ‘rotten egg’ smell so you can tell if there’s a leak.
