NATURAL GAS
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- Natural gas is found deep within the earths crust in a combination of methane, ethane, propane, butane and pentane. - Natural gas is a fossil fuel, meaning it has been formed by the remains of organic matter. - Organic material is buried under mud and sediment, and over time, it becomes compressed and put under great pressures. |
| - The compression, combined with heat from the earth's core breaks down carbon in the organic matter, creating oil, natural gas and other fossil fuels. This type of heated natural gas can be referred to as thermogenic methane. |
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- Biogenic methane is the other type of natural gas which can be formed from the chemical breakdown of organic matter by microorganisms. - Once natural gas has been formed deep inside the earth, its low density and high pressure causes it to rise, often seeping out of the crust and onto land.
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- Natural gas is recovered from underground by drilling wells through the sediment and covering rock. Because this gas is usually under great pressure, it can flow up the pipeline attached to the drilling rig easily. - Compared with other fossil fuels, natural gas is the second highest producer of energy in the United States. |
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• natural gas home • history • formation/ production • human use • maps • future possibilities |
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