All you need to know about natural gas

Natural gas is the most environmentally friendly hydrocarbon on the planet. Natural gas comes in a wide variety of forms. It doesn’t produce any ash or sulphur oxides when burned, and the nitrogen emitted is minimal. The gas seeps out of the rock, shale, salt, or clay layers, but the majority of the gas molecules remain trapped. Natural gas is extracted from reservoirs using trapped deposits.

Both natural gas and crude oil can be found in plenty all over the planet. Methane, or CH4, is the primary component of natural gas. Nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and water vapour may also be included in the mixture if raw natural gas is discovered in the wild. Processing raw natural gas removes methane and ethane, which are then sold.

Types of Resources

Conventional

These simple geological traps catch natural gas as it travels through pores in permeable rock to an impenetrable rock cap. In contrast to other earthly substances, natural gas rises to the surface because of its lower specific gravity. In reservoirs with higher pressures below the surface, gas is forced upwards via the well.

Unconventional

If the sand is too compact Low-permeability sandstone and carbonate trap the gas, preventing it from rising to the surface. Coal-bed Remove the water from the mine’s reservoir to extract methane, which is then absorbed by coal. This type of shale rock has low permeability, and the gas is trapped in clay particles or micro-fractures within the rock itself.

Resources vs Reserves

Resources are volumes of natural gas, whether or not they have been discovered. The estimated discovered resource quantity refers to the amount of gas in recognised reservoirs that may be far from current pipelines and markets, as determined through discoveries. Under present or predicted technology and economic conditions, estimates of gas volumes that can be recovered are known as undiscovered resources.

Reserves

Under current technological and economic conditions, the amount of exploitable natural gas reserves is extremely high. Access to the reserves is simple because of the existence of pipelines and markets.

Systems for the Delivery of Natural Gas

Pipeline

Natural gas can be transferred from the point of production to the point of consumption via an extensive network of high- and low-pressure pipelines. Transport pipelines often include a variety of pipe types, including gathering systems, transmission piping, and distribution piping. Raw natural gas is transported to the processing plant in small diameter, low-pressure pipelines, where it is cleaned and prepared for the pipelines’ end-user use.

Transmission pipes are the most frequent form of pipeline used to transmit natural gas. There are no big industrial users who are connected to the transmission system directly via the distribution line system for natural gas delivery.

LNG

There are a number of ways to transport natural gas over long distances, including LNG. At atmospheric pressure, natural gas must be chilled to -160 degrees Celsius to turn into liquid. Transporting large amounts of energy across short and long distances is now conceivable using specially constructed ocean tankers and vehicles, as the gas volume is reduced by a factor of 600! Once the LNG arrives at the receiving terminal, the regasification process is utilised to warm and convert it back into a gas. End-users receive it through pipelines.

Other Important Facts

Fossil fuels like natural gas can be found in the Earth’s crust. It is derived from the fossilised remains of extinct plants and animals. These organisms were buried under thousands of feet of earth and rock, where they were subjected to intense heat from the intense compression. The once-living organisms were converted into natural gas as a result of these forces.

A hydrocarbon is a chemical substance that contains hydrogen and carbon atoms. Methane is the most basic hydrocarbon. Hexagonal in shape, it’s made up of just one carbon and four hydrogen nuclei. Being both flammable and cleaner than some other energy sources, natural gas is one of the most widely used fuels.

Production

Reservoirs of natural gas can be discovered below the earth’s surface. A thick layer of rock blocks the natural gas from rising to the top. The locations where the gas is trapped are referred to as pools. However, the molecules of natural gas are actually stored in tiny pores and crevices throughout the rock formation.

In order to get natural gas from a well, geologists use advanced technology to discover prospective reservoirs of natural gas. Exploration isn’t always successful since finding natural gas buried hundreds of metres or even miles beneath the earth’s surface is so difficult.

It is common for natural gas extracted from an underground reservoir to be sent to a gas-processing facility to remove pollutants and other by-products. There are a number of by-products that can be used for various purposes, such as propane, pentane, butane, and sulphur (typically from sour gas*). A network of pipelines transports the clean natural gas (nearly pure methane) to its final destination, including our homes.

Residential

The use of natural gas as a source of energy generation is more environmentally friendly. Furnaces and storage tanks for hot water are the most prevalent domestic applications for natural gas. Appliances such as stoves, dryers, fireplaces, and barbeques can all be powered by natural gas.

Commercial

Natural gas is used in a wide range of commercial establishments, including schools, hotels, and restaurants. Gas is utilised for heating, cooling, and cooking, the same as in homes. Increasingly, large commercial organisations are turning to natural gas for on-site power generation as an inexpensive alternative.

Industrial

The industrial sector accounts for more than half of natural gas consumption. Plastic, food processing, glass, and paper manufacturing all make use of it. Products like plastic, anti-freeze, fertiliser, and textiles are all made from natural gas by-products. As one of the cleanest, cheapest, and most efficient sources of power, natural gas is a logical choice for many applications.

Conclusion

Decomposing plant and animal matter that has been buried in sedimentary rock layers for millions of years is the organic source of natural gas. In sediment and rocks, gas is generated and then moves via the pore spaces and fractures.