Understanding natural gas

Natural gas is the third largest energy resource consumed by human society today, with annual production and consumption of more than 4 trillion cubic meters. In recent years, in order to solve the climate problem and promote the energy transition, the production and consumption of natural gas has been attached importance by all countries in the world, the status of natural gas in the world energy consumption has been rising, and the importance of natural gas in the global energy market has become increasingly apparent, and the natural gas industry has entered the "golden age". On March 3, 2023, the Oil Price website published Michael Cohen's article "Natural Gas: A Comprehensive Guide to the World's Most Important Fuel," which provides a brief but relatively comprehensive overview of natural gas. In order to give you a preliminary understanding of natural gas as a clean energy resource, we have translated and organized Cohen's article, and added the data map of the U.S. Energy Information Administration on natural gas to the article, making the introduction of natural gas in this article more complete, comprehensive and intuitive.

Natural gas is a fossil fuel made up of methane and other hydrocarbons formed by the decomposition of organic matter; It can be mined through a variety of methods as an abundant and relatively cheap source of energy for heating, cooking and power generation, among other things; While natural gas has its benefits, it can also cause environmental problems such as greenhouse gas emissions and water pollution.

Natural gas is a fossil fuel that has been used for centuries in homes, businesses and industry. It is a clean fuel that emits fewer greenhouse gases than other fossil fuels such as coal and oil. In this article, we'll explore what natural gas is, where it comes from, how many uses it has, and why it's important

1.What is natural gas？

Natural gas is a mixture of hydrocarbons that exists deep beneath the earth's surface. It is formed from the remains of plants and animals that lived millions of years ago, and over time, high temperatures and pressures transformed these organic materials into the fossil fuel we know as natural gas.

The main component of natural gas is methane (CH4), which accounts for 70-90% of its composition. Other components include ethane (C2H6), propane (C3H8), butane (C4H10), and pentane (C5H12), compounds that give natural gas its unique odorless, colorless properties.

2. Where does the gas come from?

There are several different types of natural gas, each with its unique composition and properties, and the most common types of natural gas include:Conventional natural gas: This is the most common type of natural gas, extracted from underground rock formations, or associated with oil resources.

Shale gas: This type of natural gas is found in shale rock formations and requires hydraulic fracturing or "fracking" to extract it.

Tight gas: This type of gas is found in low-permeability sandstone, limestone, or dolomite rock formations and requires hydraulic fracturing to extract it.

Each type of natural gas has its own unique characteristics that make it suitable for different applications. For example, conventional natural gas is commonly used for heating and cooking in homes and businesses, while shale gas and tight gas are often used for electricity generation due to their abundance and lower cost than conventional natural gas.

3. What is natural gas used for?

Natural gas has many uses in different sectors of the economy, and some of the most common uses include:

Heat the house. One of the most common uses of natural gas is heating. Natural gas furnaces are efficient and cost-effective, making them a popular choice for homeowners, and natural gas can also be used to heat water for showers and baths.

In addition to residential heating, natural gas is also used for commercial and industrial heating, with many businesses using natural gas to heat buildings and warehouses.

Generate electricity. Natural gas is also an important source of fuel for power generation. Power plants use natural gas to generate electricity by burning it in a turbine or generator, and in the process produce steam that drives the generator to generate electricity.

Natural gas-fired power plants are increasingly popular because of their high efficiency and low emissions compared to other fossil fuels such as coal.

Transport. Natural gas can also be used as a transportation fuel, of which compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) are two types of natural gas that can be used as a transportation fuel.

CNG is mainly used in light vehicles, such as cars and trucks, where it is stored in high-pressure tanks. Liquefied natural gas, mainly used in heavy vehicles such as buses and trucks.

The manufacturing industry. Natural gas is also an important raw material in many manufacturing processes, where it is used as a feedstock for chemicals such as ammonia and methanol. Eventually, these chemicals are used to make products such as fertilizers, plastics and pharmaceuticals.