NATURAL GAS

BY: ERIKA RODRIGUEZ AND TIERRA ALEXANDER

WHAT IS NATURAL GAS? Natural gas is a term applied to a gas found in nature that is primarily methane. There are 2 forms of natural gas: fossil natural gas and biogas. Fossil natural gas is produced by fossil fuel. Biogas is produced through the anaerobic decomposition of organic matter other than those that create oil and coal.

HISTORY OF NATURAL GAS

Naturally occurring natural gas was discovered in the U.S as early as 1626 The first commercialized natural gas occurred in Britain, Around 1785. In 1816, Baltimore, Maryland used manufactured natural gas to become the first city in the United States to light its streets with gas. In 1836, the City of Philadelphia created the 1st owned natural gas distribution company.

In the 20th century, the use of natural gas expanded to home heating and cooking, appliances, manufacturing and processing plants, and boilers to generate electricity.
Today, Natural gas currently supplies < of the energy consumed by residential and commercial customers, and about 41 percent of the energy used by U.S. industry.

WHERE IS NATURAL GAS FOUND?

Fossil natural gas is often found and collected in coal beds and oil fields. Biogas is found in swamps, landfills and where there are heavy concentrations of manure.

IS IT RENEWABLE OR NON-RENEWABLE?

It can be both. Fossil Natural gas cannot while Biogas can.

COST: UNITED STATES NATURAL GAS INDUSTRIAL PRICE (DOLLARS PER THOUSAND CUBIC FEET)

Year

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

2010 6.93 6.76 6.01 5.12 5.08 5.04 5.49 5.37 4.61 4.73 4.60 5.50 2011 5.64 5.75 5.20 5.33 5.20 5.20 5.04 5.20 4.82 4.70 4.63 4.57 2012 4.54 4.17 3.71 3.19 3.01 3.29 3.55 3.80 3.53 3.91 4.43 4.72 2013 4.58 4.53 4.58 4.95 5.00 4.90 4.48 4.33

ADVANTAGES

Its the cleanest fossil fuel meaning less impurities, less chemically complex , and its combustion results in less pollution.

DISADVANTAGES

Natural gas can be dangerous if handled carelessly . And since its colorless, tasteless, and odorless, leak detection can be difficult.

EXAMPLES OF NATURAL GAS USAGE IN THE U.S.

Natural gas is consumed primarily in the pulp and paper, metals, chemicals, petroleum refining, stone, clay and glass, plastic, and food processing industries. These businesses account for over 84 percent of all industrial natural gas use.

IS NATURAL GAS A SOLUTION TO U.S. ENERGY CRISIS?

While there is the possibility that shale gas will allow U.S. natural gas supplies to increase for a few years (or even 10 or 15 years), natural gas is only about one-fourth of U.S. fossil fuel use, so it would be very difficult to ramp it up enough to meet all of these needs.

SOURCES

http://www.apga.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3329 http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-and-you/affect/natural-gas.html