Natural Gas is a gaseous fossil fuel, formed similarly to
other fossil fuels though the decomposition
of
plants and animals
remains to form organic matter several years ago. The organic matter,
over
years have been overlain by soil and rocks
and has undergone several transformations through pressure
and heat
to form fossil
fuel substances such as
coal, oil (petroleum), and natural gas. Natural
gas is the gaseous releases from the decomposing organic matter. It is
trapped in-between the spaces in the coal and can be extracted through
pipes to the surface to provide energy required to generate electricity,
provide heating and cooling at homes and industries, power manufacturing
companies, used as fuels in cars and in the manufacturing of several
products (watch the video: Facts about Natural Gas below).
Natural
gas
is mainly methane (CH4), while still in the ground with
some other impurities. It is purified after extraction
to give natural gas that is used in meeting the earlier identified energy
needs. It could be sourced on
land and offshore by drilling. Drilling is preceded by exploration to
identify the potential natural gas deposits.
After abstraction, natural gas is cleansed at a gas processing plant to
remove the "by-products" usually propane and butane.
Because natural gas is colorless, odourless and tasteless,
Mercaptan (a
chemical that has a sulphur like odour) is added before distribution, to
give it a distinct unpleasant odour (smells like rotten eggs). This serves
as a safety device by allowing it to be detected in the atmosphere, in
cases where leaks occur.
Natural Gas Renewable?
Natural Gas
energy is not a renewable energy resource because it was formed over
millions of years (according to scientists) and it requires million of
years to be replenished.
It, however, provides a better alternative to other
fossil fuels such as coal and oil. Natural gas burns more cleanly and
produces less greenhouse gases. It has only one carbon atom as in CH4.
There are concerns about
natural gas leaking during production, transportation or storage. Best
industrial practices and new
technologies are being developed in the industry to ensure minimal or no
leaks of natural to the environment.
Uses of Natural Gas
Energy to run electrical power
plants. Similar to coal and crude oil, and indeed most power plants
including Nuclear, hydroelectricity natural gas is burn to produce
the heat that heats generating steam used to run a turbine connected to
the generator that produces electricity
provide heating and cooling at homes and industries,
power manufacturing companies,
used as fuels in cars and in the manufacturing of several products (watch
the video: Facts about Natural Gas above).
Alternative Energy Source to Natural Gas:
If natural gas is not renewable, what is
the alternative energy source?
Modern day technology uses digesters to transform
organic material
such as
plants
and
animal wastes into a gas very similar to natural gas. The
gas so formed by this process is called BIOGAS.
Biogas has similar composition as Natural Gas. Biogas is renewable because
it can be easily replenished using living or recently dead plant and animal
remains. Readers are advised to go to the biogas page
for more details.
Natural
gas