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Natural Gas Basics

Natural gas and crude oil are called hydrocarbons because both are composed of carbon and hydrogen atoms. Natural gas molecules are generally shorter; four carbon atoms or less. Crude oil molecules contain five or more carbon atoms per molecule.

Natural gas is both a clean burning fuel source and the primary feedstock into the U.S. petrochemical industry. Raw natural gas in fields is processed to separate the methane out from butane, propane, and large amounts of ethane. The three heavier liquids are prone to condensation in natural gas pipelines.

Natural Gas Liquids and Petrochemicals

Methane - One carbon atom; chemical formula CH4. The principal use of methane is as a fuel. The natural gas that is delivered to your home is almost pure methane. Methane is also an upstream component of many important industrial chemicals:

  • Methanol - A primary raw material in automotive windshield wash and also used as a racing fuel. Chemical derivatives of methanol also play an important role in our everyday lives:

Ethane - Two carbon atoms; chemical formula C2H6. Ethane is the second-largest component of natural gas, typically comprising up to 6% of the volume of gas produced from a natural gas field.

  • Ethylene - The vast majority of ethane is consumed in the production of ethylene by steam cracking. Consumer products made from ethylene derivatives represent a large part of the petrochemical industry here in the U.S.:

Propane - Three carbon atoms; chemical formula C3H8. Truck fleets, forklifts, barbecue grills, portable stoves and even the new Roush Ford F-150 pick-up use propane fuel. Propane's octane rating is noticeably higher than gasoline at 110.

Many homes not connected to municipal (methane) gas pipelines use propane for their appliances and furnaces. Other fuel uses for propane:

  • Refrigerators.
  • Flamethrowers.
  • Hot air balloons.
  • Fuel for explosions and other special effects in theme parks and movies.

Butane - Four carbon atoms; chemical formula C4H10. Primary fuel uses for butane are:

  • bottled fuel for cooking and camping.
  • fuel for cigarette lighters.
  • a propellant in aerosol sprays.
  • as refrigerants.

Natural Gas Quality

Gas quality standards vary depending on the pipeline system and are usually a function of each pipeline system's design and the markets that it serves. In general, the standards specify that the natural gas be within a specific range of heating value. In the U.S., gas must generally be should be 1.035 MMBtu per cubic foot of gas at 1 atmosphere and 60 °F.

Sour Gas - Natural gas that contains detectable amounts of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is called sour gas. It's a poisonous gas that is also very corrosive. Hydrogen sulfide must be removed from raw gas by rather expensive equipment at the well site to prevent corrosion damage to well site pipes and equipment as well as to meet utility pipeline gas specs. As H2S is particularly dangerous to humans, a typical pipeline limit for hydrogen sulfide would be in the range of 4 parts per million per 100 standard cubic feet.

Sweet Gas - Natural gas that does not contain hydrogen sulfide is considered sweet gas.

Wet Gas - Wet gas is natural gas that contains naturally liquid hydrocarbons (called "condensate") with the chemical composition of gasoline. Refineries pay a slightly lower price for condensate than they do for crude oil because the octane of condensate is very low.