Natural gas is a non-renewable source of energy and is a fossil fuel like petroleum. It is essentially composed of methane, which is a hydrocarbon. Before processing, it may have other hydrocarbons, such as butane and propane. Natural gas is odorless and it is therefore required by law to add an odorous substance to help detect it in case of leaks. Usually Mercaptan is added, which gives a pungent smell.
Industries, commercial establishments, and residences use natural gas. In the US, 25 percent of the energy demand is satisfied by natural gas. It is used primarily for heating and cooking purposes. More than 62 million homes use natural gas for their home heating requirements. Hence, the demand surges in winter for heating purposes. In industries, it is used to produce electricity and industrial heating. Industrial demand is dependent upon various factors such as crude oil availability.
According to the Energy Information Administration, the total production in the US was 19 trillion cubic feet of gas in 2004. The total consumption was 23 trillion cubic feet of gas. The shortfall is met by imports, mostly from Canada and Mexico. Natural gas is imported through tankers in a liquefied form as Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), and it is converted back to gaseous form before transmission. A small proportion of the production is also exported to other countries.
Natural gas burns cleaner than other fossil-based fuels and emits lower levels of sulfur, and hence is the preferred fuel for electricity-producing companies. Being a fossil fuel, it has a greenhouse effect on the environment. Natural gas has safety hazard, as it can easily catch fire. In fact, the law to add an odorant was prompted by an accident in a high school in Texas in the nineteenth century.
The availability of natural gas is dependent upon the capacities of oil and gas fields at onshore and offshore locations. The US faces a serious but surmountable challenge to meet the demand supply gap.
Related Articles of Interest :
-
Natural Gas Prices
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Energy experts across the world share the belief that natural gas is most likely to displace gasoline in the future, since natural gas is a cleaner and a more efficient fuel than gasoline. Moreover, with oil supplies getting smaller with each passing day, natural gas...
-
Natural Gas Properties
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Natural gas is a gaseous fossil fuel that has methane as its primary compound. It is derived from organic material that was deposited or buried under the earth, millions of years ago. It contains heavier gaseous hydrocarbons, like ethane propane, and butane as well as...
-
Natural Gas Generators
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Before natural gas reaches the final customers, it probably travels thousands of miles through pipelines under pressure from locations as far as the Gulf of Mexico and the Rocky Mountains. In fact, the Panhandle-Hugoton gas field in Texas alone has an estimated reserve of 66...
-
Natural Gas Heaters
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
A heater is important household equipment for people living in cold regions. It is usually installed in houses when the outside temperature falls below -10 degrees C. There are a number of heaters available in the market such as pool heater, electric heater and natural...
-
Natural Gas Fireplaces
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
In the medieval period, it was common amongst people belonging to the upper strata of the society to organize traditional gatherings comprising of their family and friends. These social gatherings usually took place in the cozy atmosphere of a room, against the backdrop of the...
-
Natural Gas Production
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
According to basic data provided by the Energy Information Administration, the total world output is 95 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. The major producers are the US and the Gulf countries. The US accounts for one-fifth of the production. Natural gas is produced in...
-
A Look at Industrial Air Compressors
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Manufacturers and industry alike depend on the services of industrial air compressors. Most industries that use air compressors use high quality industrial-grade models. These models are different, more powerful and more expensive than ones that are used for lightweight jobs and for regular homeowners. Industrial...
-
Diesel Generators
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Fuels such as gasoline, diesel, propane or natural gas basically power home generators. Some models also have multi fuel capabilities and run on gasoline, propane or natural gas. The choice of the fuel will depend on the availability of the fuel in times of emergency,...
-
Propane Gas Prices
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
So you thought the fuel in the white container attached to your barbecue grill is some cheap fuel? You were wrong! Propane is a versatile fuel and it does not come cheap. Today there is a rising demand for propane across many sectors, such as...
-
Engine-Driven Air Compressors: An Overview
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Air compressors are typically run on either electricity or natural gas. In either case, it is often suggested that fuel and utility costs can be quite hefty. In response to the rising costs of energy, many industries have begun seeking more cost effective ways to...