What is Natural Gas?

Natural gas is a combustible gaseous mixture of simple hydrocarbon compounds including methane, ethane, propane, butane and pentane. The principal constituent of natural gas is methane.

In its pure form, natural gas is colorless, odorless, tasteless and two times lighter than air. Natural gas is neither corrosive nor toxic, its ignition temperature is high and it has a narrow flammability range, making it an inherently safe fossil fuel compared to other fuel sources.

Formation of Gas

Natural gas comes from organic remains of ancient plants and animals. The erosion process carried these biological remains down rivers and streams onto shorelines, where they are deposited along with mud and silt.

Overtime, sedimentary materials such as mud and sand cover the organic remains. Eventually the organic materials transform into petroleum products due to the intense pressure and heat present in the rock formation.

The oil and gas which migrate through the pores in the sedimentary rock eventually reach an impermeable layer of dense rock and collect in large deposits.