Facts, Facts, Facts

Gas Facts

Natural gas is a clean, affordable and efficient energy source that can heat our homes, fuel our stoves and power transportation. The principle ingredient of natural gas is the hydrocarbon compound called methane. In many natural gas deposits, methane makes more than 70% of the gas.

Natural gas is as close as we can get to an ideal fuel. It requires minimal processing before use and it has high calorific value. Due to its gaseous state, it mixes with oxygen easily for more efficient combustion.

When natural gas is burned it produces mostly carbon dioxide and water vapour. These are the same substances emitted when we breathe.

Natural gas is usually measured in standard cubic metre (volume) or btu (British Thermal Unit) (heat content). One standard cubic metre of natural gas has about 9,230 kcal.

Liquefied natural gas, or LNG, is natural gas in a liquid form that is clear, colorless, odorless, non-corrosive, and non-toxic. In this form, it takes up 1/600th of the space that it would in gaseous state.

LNG is produced when natural gas is cooled to minus 162° Celsius through a process known as liquefaction. During this process, the natural gas, which is primarily methane, is cooled below its boiling point, whereby certain concentrations of hydrocarbons, water, carbon dioxide, oxygen, and some sulfur compounds are either reduced or removed. LNG is also less than half the weight of water, so it will float if spilled on water.

LNG is transported in double-hulled ships specifically designed to handle the low temperature of LNG. These carriers are insulated to limit the amount of LNG that evaporates.

Is LNG flammable? When cold LNG comes in contact with warmer air, it creates a visible vapor cloud from condensed moisture in the air. As it continues to get warmer, the vapor cloud becomes lighter than air and rises. When the vapor mixes with air, it is only flammable when the mixture is between 5-15% natural gas. When the mixture is less than 5% natural gas it doesn't burn. When the mixture is more than 15% natural gas in air, there is not enough oxygen for it to burn.

LNG, CNG & LPG – What’s the difference? Liquefied Natural Gas or LNG is natural gas stored as a super-cooled (cryogenic) liquid. Natural gas consists mostly of methane and is drawn from gas wells or in conjunction with crude oil production. The temperature required to condense natural gas depends on its precise composition, but it is typically between -120 and -170°C. The advantage of LNG is that it offers an energy density comparable to petrol and diesel fuels, extending range and reducing refuelling frequency. Compressed Natural Gas or CNG is stored on the vehicle in high-pressure tanks - 20 to 25 MPa (200 to 250 bar, or 3,000 to 3,600 psi). A sulphur-based odourant is normally added to CNG to facilitate leak detection. Natural gas is lighter than air and thus will normally dissipate in the case of a leak, giving it a significant safety advantage over gasoline or LPG. Liquefied Petroleum Gas or LPG is a mixture of gas, mainly propane (C3H8 ) and butane (C4H10 ). It is produced as a by-product of natural gas processing and petroleum refining. At normal temperatures and pressures, LPG will evaporate. Because of this, LPG is stored in pressurised steel bottles. It is commonly used as a fuel in homes for cooking and heating and as a transportation fuel. LPG is non-toxic and flammable gas which is heavier than air.

Both LPG and natural gas are completely odourless and colourless. The odour comes from the addition of trace levels of a sulfur compound, usually 'Mercaptan'. Mercaptan is added to LPG at the refinery before it is shipped to distributors.

In the industrial sector, natural gas is often used as a raw material for products such as hydrogen, fertilizers and plastics. It is also commonly used as an energy source for food processing, glass making and even steel fabrication. It is also widely used to produce electricity via co-generation.