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NATURAL GAS

__What is Natural Gas?__ Natural gas is a non-renewable resource. Natural gas serves as a natural source of energy. Although it is a very clean burning fuel, it has many disadvantages. Furthermore, p eople believe the length of time left for natural gas is limited to 70 years.

__How does it work?__ Natural gas has may uses. It is used for power generation, domestic use, transportation fuel, fertilizer, aviation, hydrogen and manufacturing goods. Before natural gas can be used as a fuel, it must undergo extensive processing to remove almost all materials other than methane. The by-products of the processing includes ethane, propane, butane, pentane and higher molecular weight hydrocarbons, elemental sulfur, and sometimes helium and nitrogen. 

__Where is Natural Gas from?__ Natural gas is from methane and other gases trapped between seams of rock under the earth's surface. In addition, pipes are sunk into the ground to release the gas. Natural gas is often used in houses for heating and cooking.

__Disadvantages of Natural Gases__


 * When burnt, it gives off atmospheric pollutants, including greenhouse gases. (It is non-renewable).
 * There are huge prices of transporting natural gas through pipes.
 * There is a high level of maintenance to looking after the pipes as they constantly need to be checked in order to ensure there are no gas leaks. If there was a leak, many problems would form if they are not found soon enough.

 __Advantages of Natural Gases__  __Energy Changes Involved__ Chemical energy to;   __Environmental Effects__   Under this, we have a pie chart showing the natural gas usage by sector. 
 * Gas is a ready-made fuel.
 * It is a relatively cheap form of energy.
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: normal;">It's a slightly cleaner fuel than coal and oil.
 * Natural gas has clean, complete combustion
 * Another advantage is that Natural gas is well known for its availability.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 19px;"> Electric energy
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 19px;">Kinetic energy
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 19px;">Heat energy
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 19px;">Light energy <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Cleanest fossil fuel (produces less carbon dioxide per joule than either coal or oil. Also, far fewer pollutants than other fossil fuels.)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Substantially contributes to global carbon emissions.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">It is a greenhouse gas
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Made of methane (which has a radiative forcing 20 times larger than Carbon Dioxide)

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> Below is an image of the processing of natural gas: <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,helvetica,sans-serif;">



<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> As the graph above shows. The Middle East has the largest World Natural Gas Reserves, and Europe has the smallest.

Example:

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">__United States__

The United States has many natural gas reserves. These reserves provide natural gas for many sources, whether for houses or for businesses.

<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;"> (Trillion Cubic Feet) || Study** || **1999 NPC Study** ||
 * **U.S. Natural Gas Resources**
 * || **1992 NPC
 * || As of Jan 1, 1991 || As of Jan 1, 1998 ||
 * **Lower 48 Resources** ||  ||   ||
 * Proved Reserves || 160 || 157 ||
 * Assessed Additional Resources || 1135 || 1309 ||
 * Old Fields (Reserve Appreciation) || 236 || 305 ||
 * New Fields || 493 || 633 ||
 * Nonconventional || 406 || 371 ||
 * **Total Remaining Resources** || **1295** || **1466** ||
 * **Alaskan Resources** ||  ||   ||
 * Proved Reserves || 9 || 10 ||
 * Assessed Additonal Resources || 171 || 303 ||
 * Old Fields (Reserve Appreciation) || 30 || 32 ||
 * New Fields || 84 || 214 ||
 * Nonconventional || 57 || 57 ||
 * **Total Remaining Resources** || **180** || **313** ||
 * **Total U.S. Remaining Resources** || **1475** || **1779** ||
 * Source: National Petroleum Council - Meeting the Challenges of the Nation's Growing Natural Gas Demand, 2007 ||
 * **Total U.S. Remaining Resources** || **1475** || **1779** ||
 * Source: National Petroleum Council - Meeting the Challenges of the Nation's Growing Natural Gas Demand, 2007 ||
 * Source: National Petroleum Council - Meeting the Challenges of the Nation's Growing Natural Gas Demand, 2007 ||