What is ‘Natural Gas’?

It is the cleanest (that is, emitting the least CO2) and simplest in comparison with
the rest of the fossil fuels (Thompson P., 2008). Natural gas is produced when heat
and pressure start to break the molecules of the crude oil at a certain level
underneath the earth, composed mainly of CH4 ‘methane’ plus other gasses such as
ethane (C2H6), propane (C3H8), butane (C4H10), pentane (C5H12), carbon dioxide
(CO2), nitrogen (N2), helium (He) and hydrogen sulphide (H2S) (Natural gas, Wikipedia,
2008).

The chemical elements of Natural Gas

(Redrawn and adapted from the source: Natural Gas, Melvin A., 1983)

Component Russian Trans Europe Ekofisk Gronington Average

Gas Naturgas Gas Gas Value
% Pipeline % % %
(TENP)
Gas %
Methane CH4 96.6 85.2 84.7 79.3 86.4
Ethane C2H6 1.9 5.3 8.8 2.9 4.7
Propane C3H8 0.5 1.6 3.1 0.5 1.4
Butanes C4H10 0.1 0.5 0.9 0.2 0.4
Nitrogen N2 1.6 5.7 0.4 14.1 5.4
Carbon Dioxide 0.2 1.5 1.8 2.9 1.6
CO2
Pentanes C5H12 & 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.1 0.175
Higher
Hydrocarbons

Natural gas, which contains only methane is named ‘dry natural gas’, while the other
type of natural gas which contains hydrocarbons other than methane is named ‘wet
natural gas’ (Natural gas, Wikipedia, 2008).

Laboratory tests for various types of natural gas, concerning the content of methane
(and other elements – illustrated in the above Table) have established that the
average value of four different types of natural gas samples from around the world
is 86% of the total mass of the sample.
A positive aspect of natural gas for the power stations is that it can be used
directly to generate electricity (i.e. directly turning the turbine – using
technique called combined-cycle) (Moore M. J., 1997) rather than being used to
produce steam to turn the turbine, as is the case with coal and oil.

Statistics related to the natural gas reserve show that natural gas came top
in comparison with oil (total world reserve 6,182,692 according to the
estimation for the year 2007) (Energy Information Administration, Dept. of Energy, USA,

2007).

When it comes to ‘preference’ for power generating companies in choosing

fossil fuel, then natural gas – in addition to its emitting less CO 2 than oil and
coal - is the preferred option for generating electricity.

Most of the world’s natural gas reserve can be found in the Middle East and
Russia i.e. 67% of the world’s total reserve is located in these regions (World

Coal Institute, 2008).

Najib Altawell

References

Energy Information Administration, Official Energy Statistics from the US Government (2009)
Petroleum
http://www.eia.doe.gov/oil_gas/petroleum/info_glance/petroleum.html 4.4.2009 16.03 Hrs.

Melvin A. (1988) Natural Gas: basic science and technology. British Gas plc,
ISBN 0-85274-478-1

Moore M. J. (1997) Nox emission control in gas turbines for combined cycle gas turbine plant.
Proc Instn Mech Engrs Vol 211 Part A.
http://journals.pepublishing.com/content/7q7572753416841j/ 27.02.08 11.59 Hrs.

Thompson P. (2008) Alternate Energy Source: natural gas. The Beginner’s Guide to Peak Oil, The
Wolf at the door (website).
http://wolf.readinglitho.co.uk/subpages/natgas.html 27.02.08 11.52 hrs

Wikipedia (2008) Natural gas http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/natural_gas 3.7.2008 15.02 hrs.

World Coal Institute (2008) Coal facts 2007

http://www.worldcoal.org/pages/content/index.asp?PageID=188 7.10.2008 12.17 Hrs.

© Altawell 2010