natural gas and its uses
• Natural gas is an odorless, colorless, flammable gas. It is non-toxic and lighter than air.
• The gas chiefly consists of methane (CH4), but also contains other hydrocarbons such as ethane, butane, propane and naphtha.
Oil and gas deposits in the North Sea were formed millions of years ago through the decomposition and transformation of organic matter (plant and animal remains).
In its primary form, natural gas can be used for residential heating and cooking, for industrial purposes and as fuel, or it can be converted into electricity at a gas power plant.
• As a fossil fuel, natural gas is formed from the decaying remains of pre-historic plant and animal life. As with petroleum, most natural gas formation is due to the breakdown of prehistoric marine zooplankton. Zooplankton subsist on a diet of phytoplankton, which, in turn, rely upon the energy of the sun to produce organic matter and energy through photosynthesis.
• Once a potential natural gas deposit has been located by a team of exploration geologists and geophysicists, it is up to a team of drilling experts to dig down to where the natural gas is thought to exist. This section will describe the process of drilling for natural gas, both onshore and offshore. Although the process of digging deep into the Earth's crust to find deposits of natural gas that may or may not actually exist seems daunting, the industry has developed a number of innovations and techniques that both decrease the cost and increase the efficiency of drilling for natural gas. Advancements in technology have contributed greatly to the increased efficiency and success rate for drilling natural gas wells.
• Determining whether to drill a well depends on a variety of factors, including the economic potential of the hoped-for natural gas reservoir. It costs a great deal of money for exploration and production companies to search and drill for natural gas, and there is always the inherent risk that no natural gas will be
• The gas chiefly consists of methane (CH4), but also contains other hydrocarbons such as ethane, butane, propane and naphtha.
Oil and gas deposits in the North Sea were formed millions of years ago through the decomposition and transformation of organic matter (plant and animal remains).
In its primary form, natural gas can be used for residential heating and cooking, for industrial purposes and as fuel, or it can be converted into electricity at a gas power plant.
• As a fossil fuel, natural gas is formed from the decaying remains of pre-historic plant and animal life. As with petroleum, most natural gas formation is due to the breakdown of prehistoric marine zooplankton. Zooplankton subsist on a diet of phytoplankton, which, in turn, rely upon the energy of the sun to produce organic matter and energy through photosynthesis.
• Once a potential natural gas deposit has been located by a team of exploration geologists and geophysicists, it is up to a team of drilling experts to dig down to where the natural gas is thought to exist. This section will describe the process of drilling for natural gas, both onshore and offshore. Although the process of digging deep into the Earth's crust to find deposits of natural gas that may or may not actually exist seems daunting, the industry has developed a number of innovations and techniques that both decrease the cost and increase the efficiency of drilling for natural gas. Advancements in technology have contributed greatly to the increased efficiency and success rate for drilling natural gas wells.
• Determining whether to drill a well depends on a variety of factors, including the economic potential of the hoped-for natural gas reservoir. It costs a great deal of money for exploration and production companies to search and drill for natural gas, and there is always the inherent risk that no natural gas will be