Different types of natural gas
The two basic types of natural gas are called wet and dry. The type of gas depends on the rock formation from which it comes. Dry gas consists mostly of methane, but wet gas has other natural gas liquids. These include butane, ethane and propane. They need to be separated from the methane before it is suitable for public use. Methane Natural gas is found in condensate wells, gas wells and oil wells. Before the gas can be used, all the other ingredients need to be removed. In dry natural gas, methane is the most abundant component. It is highly combustible and useful for many energy purposes. Once the methane is separated from the other ingredients, it is used to generate electricity through steam and gas turbines and sent through pipelines to homes for cooking, heating and air conditioning. Where Are the Different Types of Natural Gas Found? • Conventional natural gas is found in large cracks in overlying layers of rock • Unconventional natural gas is found in tiny spaces in the formations of sandstone, shale and other sedimentary rock • Associated natural gas is found in crude oil • Coalbed methane is found in coal deposits Methane from coalbeds can be extracted from the coal deposits before the mining starts as well as during the mining process. It can be added to natural gas pipelines without special treatment. Natural gas is odorless, colorless and tasteless. Mercaptan is added to the gas to give it an unpleasant odor, so it is easy for us to detect leaks in pipelines. Mercaptan smells like rotten eggs and is harmless. Ethane The next most abundant component of Calgary natural gas is the hydrocarbon ethane. It is a byproduct of petroleum refining. It has a higher heating value than methane and is isolated from the methane. It may be used to produce polyethylene and ethylene products for packaging, insulation, trash liners and other things. Propane Propane is another energy source that is separated from the other components in natural gas. It can be processed as a gas or a liquid. It is mainly used to fuel engines and for central heating, cooking stoves and water heaters, especially in large buildings. Many barbecue grills use propane because it is easily portable and gives high-energy output. It fuels the engines of some large trucks and buses. Butane There is less butane in natural gas than other hydrocarbons. It makes up about 20 percent of natural gas composition. It is a useful form of energy. Once it is isolated, it may be a component of vehicle gas, lighters and refrigerating units. Some aerosol cans still use butane, but this may be harmful to the environment and is being discontinued in many products. Other byproducts are water vapor, carbon dioxide, pure sulfur and, in some cases, nitrogen and helium. Natural gas can also be liquefied through certain technology and is called liquefied natural gas (LNG). This may be diesel, gasoline or jet fuel. Biogas is a natural gas that is produced by the anaerobic decay of organic matter. It comes from natural sources such as marshes, swamps, agricultural waste such as enteric fermentation and manure. Landfills also produce methane gas. These sources of natural gas can build up pressure underground causing an explosion hazard. To prevent this, the gas is sometimes burned to produce heat or electricity. Landfill gas cannot be used in residential areas unless it is cleaned to less than three percent CO2. Natural gas is comprised of several components that, once isolated, are used as energy sources. Methane is the most abundant ingredient and the most commonly used for household purposes.
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