NATURAL GAS

Natural gas exists in nature as wet or dry gas; as wet gas it is associated with crude oil or petroleum under pressure or alone as dry gas in deep subterranean spaces or reservoir under the earth. Typically natural gas is a colorless highly inflammable gas. its composition consists primarily of methane and ethane both gaseous under atmospheric condition. However, as associated gas it is quite common to find in addition other hydrocarbon like propane, butane, pentane and hexane.

Other gases that commonly occur in association with the hydrocarbon gases are nitrogen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen and noble gases like helium and argon. Nitrogen   and carbon dioxide are noncombustible and may be found in substantial proportions. Nitrogen is inert, but, if present in significant amounts, it reduces the heating value of the mixture; it must therefore be removed before the gas is suitable for the commercial market. Carbon dioxide is removed in order to raise heating value, reduce volume, and sustain even combustion properties. Also in addition natural gases may contain hydrogen sulfide or other organic sulfur compounds and water vapor.

Natural gas from the gas field undergoes a complex separation process in which most or the entire undesired constituent like sulfur, helium, nitrogen, hydrogen sulfides and carbon dioxide are removed before bottling.

The largest single application for natural gas is as a fuel for electric power generation and for industrial and domestic heating. It is also useful as a feedstock for chemical products. The clean burning characteristics of natural gas have made it a frequent choice as a nonpolluting transportation fuel, though it does emit the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, but to a less degree than petrol engines.

It is also employed in the production of Carbon black, a pigment made by burning natural gas with a limited supply of air and depositing the soot on a cool surface. Carbon black is an important ingredient in the manufacture of dyes, inks and rubber tires.

Its other uses are in the production of ammonia which is used directly as a plant nutrient or converted into a variety of chemicals like hydrogen cyanide, nitric acid, urea and a wide range of fertilizers.

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