Rajan Wilcox
Natural gas is a fossil fuel energy source that is used for heating, electricity, manufacturing, and transportation. It is composed primarily of methane and smaller amounts of natural gas liquids (NGLs) and nonhydrocarbon gases such as carbon dioxide and water vapor. Natural gas liquids are sold as propane or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and can be converted into other liquid products such as gasoline, diesel, or jet fuel using gas-to-liquids (GTL) technologies. In the United States, natural gas is the largest source of energy production, and its low price and smaller carbon footprint compared to coal have contributed to its rapid growth in electricity generation. However, it is important to note that natural gas contributes to climate change, and human activity is responsible for a significant portion of methane emissions associated with its extraction, storage, transportation, and distribution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Natural gas supply in the US | The US has been the world's top producer of natural gas liquids since 2010 |
| The US was the largest source of energy production in 2016, with natural gas accounting for 33% | |
| The US leads the world in natural gas production but is only fifth in proved reserves | |
| Natural gas as a fuel | Natural gas is a fossil fuel energy source |
| It is made up of methane, natural gas liquids, and nonhydrocarbon gases | |
| It is used as a fuel for heating, cooking, and industrial processes | |
| It is also used as a transportation fuel, with over 20 million natural gas vehicles worldwide | |
| Compressed natural gas (CNG) is a cheaper and cleaner alternative to gasoline | |
| Gas-to-liquids (GTL) technologies can convert natural gas into gasoline, diesel, or jet fuel | |
| Environmental impact | Natural gas emits fewer toxic air pollutants and less carbon dioxide compared to other fossil fuels |
| However, it contributes to climate change and is a greenhouse gas | |
| Fugitive emissions can result in a similar carbon footprint to other fossil fuels | |
| Cooking with natural gas can lead to poor indoor air quality and respiratory issues |
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What You'll Learn
Natural gas is a fossil fuel
Natural gas is used as a fuel and to make materials and chemicals. It is a major industry, accounting for about 30% of the energy used in the United States. About 40% of this fuel goes to electric power production, and the remainder is used for residential, commercial, and industrial purposes, such as heating and cooking. Natural gas is also used as a transportation fuel, with over 20 million natural gas vehicles worldwide as of 2014.
Natural gas is usually processed to remove impurities such as water, hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, water vapour, helium, and nitrogen. The byproducts of this processing include ethane, propane, butanes, pentanes, and higher molecular weight hydrocarbons. Natural gas liquids are used either for fuel (sold as propane or liquid petroleum gas (LPG)) or as feedstock for the petrochemical industry. Gas-to-liquids (GTL) technologies can also convert natural gas into liquid products such as gasoline, diesel, or jet fuel.
Natural gas is a growing contributor to climate change. It is a significant source of methane and carbon dioxide emissions, which are greenhouse gases. In addition, gas venting and unintended fugitive emissions throughout the supply chain can result in natural gas having a similar carbon footprint to other fossil fuels. However, when burned for heat or electricity, natural gas emits fewer toxic air pollutants, less carbon dioxide, and almost no particulate matter compared to other fossil fuels.
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Gas-to-liquid (GTL) technologies
Natural gas can be converted into liquid products such as gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel through a process called Gas-to-liquid (GTL) technology. GTL technology is a refinery process that converts natural gas or other gaseous hydrocarbons into longer-chain hydrocarbons. This process is particularly useful for producing liquid fuels that are easier to transport than natural gas, such as gasoline and diesel.
There are two general strategies for GTL:
- Direct partial combustion of methane to methanol.
- Fischer-Tropsch-like processes that convert carbon monoxide and hydrogen into hydrocarbons.
The Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) process is a common GTL technology that involves several chemical reactions. The first step is converting natural gas, which is mostly methane, into a mixture of hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide, known as syngas. The syngas is then cleaned to remove impurities like sulfur, water, and excess carbon dioxide to prevent catalyst contamination. The F-T reaction combines hydrogen and carbon monoxide at high pressure and temperature in the presence of an iron catalyst, forming different liquid hydrocarbons. These liquid products are then further processed into liquid fuels.
Another GTL technology is methanol to gasoline (MTG), which can produce synthetic gasoline from natural gas. Syngas to gasoline plus (STG+) is a process that can directly produce gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and aromatic chemicals from natural gas through a single-loop process.
GTL plants face challenges in the US market due to high capital costs and market uncertainty. As of 2013, there were proposals for three GTL plants in the US, with only one being a large-scale facility. However, Shell operates two GTL plants in Malaysia and one in Qatar, the world's largest GTL facility. Sasol, another company, operates a GTL plant in South Africa and is involved in joint ventures in Qatar and Nigeria.
GTL technologies offer a mechanism to bring down the international prices of diesel, gasoline, and crude oil by converting cheaper natural gas into liquid products. However, GTL fuels are generally more expensive to produce than conventional fuels.
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Natural gas liquids (NGLs)
Natural gas is a fossil fuel energy source that contains many different compounds. It is composed predominantly of methane (CH4), with smaller amounts of natural gas liquids (NGLs) and non-hydrocarbon gases such as carbon dioxide and water vapour. NGLs are also hydrocarbon gas liquids.
NGLs are used either as fuel or as feedstock for the petrochemical industry. They are sold as propane or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). LPG is commonly used to fuel grills for outdoor cooking and portable grills. LPG is more abundant and less expensive than compressed natural gas (CNG), which is sparsely available in rural areas. LPG is also used for similar applications.
The United States has been the world's top producer of NGLs since 2010, with production increasing 70% between 2005 and 2014, from 1.74 million barrels per day in 2005 to 2.96 million in 2014. This increase in production has lowered the price of NGLs in the North American market, leading to a surge in the construction and expansion of petrochemical plants. These plants convert ethane and propane into ethylene and propylene, which are used to make plastics.
NGLs can also be converted into gasoline, diesel, or jet fuel using gas-to-liquids (GTL) technologies. GTL technologies such as Fischer-Tropsch (F-T), methanol to gasoline (MTG), and syngas to gasoline plus (STG+) can produce synthetic gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel directly from natural gas.
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Natural gas vehicles
CNG vehicles store natural gas in tanks under pressure, while LNG is stored as a liquid, resulting in greater energy density. The choice between CNG and LNG depends on factors such as vehicle application needs and driving range. NGVs have a shorter driving range than comparable diesel or gasoline vehicles due to the lower energy density of natural gas, and extra storage tanks can increase range but may impact cargo capacity.
NGVs are available from original equipment manufacturers or through qualified system retrofitters, who can convert vehicles to run on natural gas with aftermarket conversion systems. Heavy-duty vehicles such as trucks and buses can also be converted to run on natural gas, utilizing spark ignition systems or hybrid electric motor configurations. As of 2016, the US had a fleet of 160,000 NGVs, including 3,176 LNG vehicles. Other countries with a significant number of natural gas-powered buses include India, Australia, Argentina, Germany, and Greece.
While natural gas vehicles offer environmental and economic benefits, they also face challenges such as fuel storage, infrastructure limitations at fueling stations, and resistance from convenience-seeking private individuals. Additionally, the cylinders required for storing CNG and LNG take up more space than gasoline or diesel tanks, reducing cargo space in the vehicle. Despite these challenges, the adoption of NGVs is driven by lower operating costs and government incentives to reduce pollution from heavy vehicles in urban areas.
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Natural gas vs gasoline
Natural gas and gasoline are two popular types of Huntsville generators. Natural gas is a fossil fuel that is sometimes informally referred to simply as "gas", especially when compared to other energy sources like oil, coal, or renewables. It is composed mainly of methane, which is predominantly made up of hydrogen and is found in natural reserves. Gasoline, on the other hand, is derived from crude oil and is composed of carbon compounds.
Natural gas is considered a cleaner energy source than gasoline because it produces fewer harmful emissions, such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. It is also less flammable than gasoline, making it a safer option in terms of explosion risks. Additionally, natural gas generators are more cost-effective, with operating costs that are nearly half that of gasoline generators. However, gasoline generators have their own advantages, such as greater power output and reliability. They are also more readily available and can be used in remote areas without utility connections.
The process of converting natural gas into gasoline used to be very energy-consuming, but advancements in technology have made it less demanding. Through gas-to-liquids (GTL) technologies, natural gas can be converted into liquid products such as gasoline, diesel, or jet fuel. This conversion process allows for the preservation of fossil fuels while still fuelling gas-powered vehicles.
In terms of pricing, natural gas offers more value for money. In April, the average price of gasoline was $3.65 per gallon, while the average price of natural gas was $2.15 GGE (gasoline-gallon equivalent). This means that with natural gas, you can get more energy for a lower cost. However, it's important to consider that natural gas supply is often limited to underground pipelines, whereas gasoline can be shipped globally by tankers.
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Frequently asked questions
Natural gas is a fossil fuel energy source that is made up of many different compounds, the largest of which is methane. It is found alongside other fossil fuels like coal and oil.
Yes, natural gas can be converted into gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel using gas-to-liquids (GTL) technologies. GTL technologies produce synthetic fuels from natural gas.
Natural gas is a significant source of energy worldwide, particularly in the United States, where it was the largest source of energy production in 2016, representing 33% of all energy produced in the country. It is also used for transportation fuel, with over 20 million natural gas vehicles worldwide as of 2014.
