What is natural gas?
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Natural gas is a fossil fuel energy source. Natural gas contains many different
compounds. The largest component of natural gas is methane, a compound with one
carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms (CH ). Natural gas also contains smaller amounts
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of natural gas liquids (NGLs, which are also hydrocarbon gas liquids), and
nonhydrocarbon gases, such as carbon dioxide and water vapor. We use natural gas as
a fuel and to make materials and chemicals.
How did natural gas form?
Millions to hundreds of millions of years ago, the remains of plants and animals (such as
diatoms) built up in thick layers on the earth’s surface and ocean floors, sometimes
mixed with sand, silt, and calcium carbonate. Over time, these layers were buried under
sand, silt, and rock. Pressure and heat changed some of this carbon and hydrogen-rich
material into coal, some into oil (petroleum), and some into natural gas.
Where is natural gas found?
In some places, natural gas moved into large cracks and spaces between layers of
overlying rock. The natural gas found in these types of formations is sometimes
called conventional natural gas. In other places, natural gas occurs in the tiny pores
(spaces) within some formations of shale, sandstone, and other types of sedimentary
rock. This natural gas is referred to as shale gas or tight gas, and it is sometimes
called unconventional natural gas. Natural gas also occurs with deposits of crude oil,
and this natural gas is called associated natural gas. Natural gas deposits are found on
land, and some are offshore and deep under the ocean floor. Natural gas found in coal
deposits is called coalbed methane.
Source: Adapted from United States Geological Survey factsheet 0113-01 (public
domain)
Click to enlarge
Operators preparing a hole for the explosive charges used in seismic exploration
Source: Stock photography (copyrighted)
How do we find natural gas?
The search for natural gas begins with geologists who study the structure and
processes of the earth. They locate the types of geologic formations that are likely to
contain natural gas deposits.
Geologists often use seismic surveys on land and in the ocean to find the right places to
drill natural gas and oil wells. Seismic surveys create and measure seismic waves in the
earth to get information on the geology of rock formations. Seismic surveys on land may
use a thumper truck, which has a vibrating pad that pounds the ground to create
seismic waves in the underlying rock. Sometimes, small amounts of explosives are
used. Seismic surveys conducted in the ocean use blasts of sound that create sonic
waves to explore the geology beneath the ocean floor.
If the results of seismic surveys indicate that a site has potential for producing natural
gas, an exploratory well is drilled and tested. The results of the test provide information
on the quality and quantity of natural gas available in the resource.
What happens when natural gas is found?
If the results from a test well show that a geologic formation has enough natural gas to
make a profit, one or more production (or development) wells are drilled. Natural gas
wells can be drilled vertically and horizontally into natural gas-bearing formations. In
conventional natural gas deposits, the natural gas generally flows easily up through
wells to the surface.
In the United States and in a few other countries, natural gas is produced from shale
and other types of sedimentary rock formations by forcing water, chemicals, and sand
down a well under high pressure. This process, called hydraulic
fracturing or fracking (sometimes referred to as unconventional production), breaks up
the formation, releases the natural gas from the rock, and allows the natural gas to flow
to and up wells to the surface. At the top of the well, natural gas is collected in gathering
pipelines and sent to natural gas processing plants.
did youknow
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Because natural gas is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, natural gas companies add
mercaptan to natural gas to give it a distinct and unpleasant odor, which helps people
detect leaks in natural gas pipelines. Mercaptan is a harmless chemical that smells like
rotten eggs.
Natural gas is processed for sale and consumption
Natural gas withdrawn from natural gas or crude oil wells is called wet natural
gas because, along with methane, it usually contains NGLs—ethane, propane, butanes,
and pentanes—and water vapor. Wellhead natural gas may also contain
nonhydrocarbons such as sulfur, helium, nitrogen, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon
dioxide, most of which must be removed from natural gas before it is sold to consumers.
From the wellhead, natural gas is sent to processing plants where water vapor and
nonhydrocarbon compounds are removed and NGLs are separated from the wet gas
and sold separately. Some ethane is often left in the processed natural gas. The
separated NGLs are called natural gas plant liquids (NGPLs), and the processed natural
gas is called dry, consumer-grade, or pipeline-quality natural gas. Some wellhead
natural gas is sufficiently dry and satisfies pipeline transportation standards without
processing. Chemicals called odorants are added to natural gas so that leaks in natural
gas pipelines can be detected. Dry natural gas is sent through pipelines to underground
storage fields or to distribution companies and then to consumers.
In places where natural gas pipelines are not available to take away the associated
natural gas produced from oil wells, the natural gas may be reinjected into the oil-
bearing formation, or it may be vented or burned (flared). Reinjecting unmarketable
natural gas can help to maintain pressure in oil wells to improve oil production.
Coalbed methane can be extracted from coal deposits before or during coal mining, and
it can be added to natural gas pipelines without any special treatment.
Most of the natural gas consumed in the United States is produced in the United States.
Some natural gas is imported from Canada and Mexico in pipelines. A small amount of
natural gas is also imported as liquefied natural gas.
Last updated: December 27, 2022
