Natural gas is the most usable and most preferable fuel gas. This fossil fuel is the reason we are doing fine until now. This gas is helping the way of our survival on this planet in many ways. But how does natural gas form? That's a good question. Let's find out the answer.

Natural Gas

Natural gas is pure methane (CH4). Methane is the base hydrocarbon of the series. Hydrocarbon means the compound of hydrogen and carbon. Then it is obvious to have linked with hydrogens and carbon-based compounds for formation. How do the hydrogen and carbon-based compounds form natural gas? We will discuss this along the Gasask, a true site for any kind of gas-related FAQ.

Formation

We know that our body is made up of waters and complex compounds of sugars, starch, and meats. All these are made of hydrocarbons. Not about our bodies, the plants and trees, and other animal bodies are made up of the same compounds. And these compounds are nothing but hydrocarbons.

When these animal bodies and plants get died, they eventually get mixed with our surface. As these are highly putrescent, these bodies easily dissolve into nature. And an interesting fact is nature has its purification process. That means our nature does recycle itself. And as that process, these animal bodies and plants get absorbed by itself.

What happens after absorbing? As you know that deeper, you'll go beneath the surface the temperature and pressure will rise gradually. The more the magnitude of the depth, the more increased heat, and pressure. That dissolved hydrocarbons are crushed into that high temperature and pressure. Those products of hydrocarbons get fermented hard. By fermenting in that high temperature and pressure, those products of hydrocarbons produce methane, ethane, propane, and butane, all in the gas state. And that methane gas is what we call Natural gas.

Processing

The raw natural gas is not so ideal to use. Because the raw natural gas is not pure. That is mixed with impurities. Impurities like carbon dioxide (CO2), water (H2O), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), etc. These impurities reduce the efficiency of natural gas. As we need more efficiency, these impurities reacting with air creates not-wanted products and in combustion, those products may be of high risk. And that's why the raw natural gas needs to be processed, needs to be purified.

The after processing of Natural gas is dealt with those steps. Processing plants do purify the gas to almost 90% of pure methane. And which is very much ideal for getting the proper energy for our needs and deeds.

Another factor is kept in mind. The transportation and distribution of this gas. As we know that methane is one of the highly flammable fuel gases. So, during transportation and distribution, the gas could have reacted with the air at normal temperature and can cause great loss to the lives. And that would be much unfortunate and not so appreciable. That's why the gas is needed to be transported at a lower temperature and pressure. This state is called a cryogenic state. That's what we refer to as Liquified Natural Gas, LNG.

Verdict

Learn before choosing your gas solution. Be economical, be wise, be smart. And keep your environment clean.