NATURAL GAS

• natural gas home

 

• history

 

• formation/ production

 

• human use

 

• maps

 

• future possibilities

 

 • environmental impacts

 

• technology/ advancements

 

• references

 

• fsem 037 home

 

 

 

 

History
- Natural Gas was first recognized by a Greek herdsmen in 1000 B.C., when he came across a burning springs which he identified to be flames rising from fissure rock.

- Natural Gas escaping from the earth's crust was noticed to be ignited by lightning bolts creating large flames.

- At this time, the cause of the fires was unknown.

- Because people were not able to explain the mysterious fires, they were believed to be divine and supernatural phenomenon's which were often incorporated into religious beliefs in India and Greece.

- Around 500 B.C. the Chinese used bamboo shoots to build crude pipelines for the transportation of gas.

-  Here it was used to separate salt from sea water, making it drinkable. 

- During the 1600's, Native Americans ignited gases seeping from the earth to burn land and construct fires.

- In 1785, natural gas was put to use lighting houses and street lights in Britain.

- In 1816, natural gas was introduced to the United States.

- The first natural gas well was dug in New York by William Hart in 1821. 

- Colonel Edwin Drake, in 1859 dug an oil well and hit the first natural gas reserves 69 feet below the earths crust.

- Because natural gas was often difficult to transport due to the lack of a pipeline infrastructure, in 1883, Robert Bunsen invented the Bunsen burner.  This devise was made to mix natural gas with outside air that could be used in many locations.  The Bunsen burner was easy to transport.

- In 1881, the first construction of major pipelines was built from central Indiana to Chicago, a length of 120 miles. It was not until the 1920's that sufficient pipelines were established.

- The first car powered by natural gas was constructed in the mid 1930's.

Laying PipelinesLaying Pipelines- WWII marked the turning point for natural gas.  During this time period, new welding techniques, pipe rolling, and other complex advancements were made, allowing thousands of pipelines to be constructed in the US, giving people new ways to obtain electricity.

•  natural gas home •  history  •  formation/ production  •  human use  •  maps  •  future possibilities 

•  environmental impacts 

•  technology/ advancement  •  references  •  fsem 037 home