About natural gas

Natural gas is a mixture of gases that are often fossil deposits, non-partner (only), dissolved or associated with (accompanying) oil or coal deposits. Although its composition varies depending on the deposit which is extracted, is composed mainly of methane in quantities that can commonly exceed 90 or 95% (eg. On non-associated gas from the well West Sole in the North Sea) and often contain other gases, such as nitrogen, ethane, CO2, H2S, butane, propane, mercaptans and traces of heavier hydrocarbons. As an example of pollutants include non-associated gas from Kapuni (NZ) containing up to 49% CO2. As additional sources of this natural resource, is being investigated deposits of methane hydrates which, according to estimates, could pose a much higher energy reserve to current natural gas.

Also can be obtained with decomposition processes of organic debris (garbage, vegetables - gas reservoirs) in the treatment plants remains these (urban waste water treatment plants, waste processing plants, alpechines, etc..). The gas thus obtained is called biogas.

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Natural gas which is obtained must be processed for commercial use or household. Some of the gases that are part of the natural gas extracted was separated from the mixture because they have no energy capacity (nitrogen or CO2), or because they can be deposited in the pipes used for distribution due to its high boiling point. If criogénicamente gas will be liquefied for storage, carbon dioxide (CO2) solidificaría interfering with the cryogenic process. The CO2 can be determined by procedures ASTM D 1137 or ASTM D 1945. The propane, butane and heavier hydrocarbons as compared with natural gas are removed, as their presence can cause accidents during combustion of natural gas. Water vapor also removed for these reasons and because at temperatures close to room temperature and high pressure methane hydrates form that can clog pipelines. The sulfur compounds are removed to low levels to prevent corrosion and harmful odors, as well as to reduce emissions of compounds that cause acid rain. The detection and measurement of H2S can be done with methods ASTM D2385 and ASTM D 2725. For domestic use, as well as the butane, he adds some traces of methyl mercaptan, which is easy to detect a gas leak and prevent their ignition.