That little blue flame that warms your home and cooks your food undergoes quite the journey to get there. As a matter of fact, natural gas travels hundreds of miles before reaching its final destination.
In this article, we’ll explore how natural gas journeys from millions of miles below the earth’s surface to reach your home. Also, we’ll take a look at the latest tools used to ensure modern natural gas transport is safe and efficient.
Stage One: Origins and Extractions
So, where does natural gas come from? And what are natural gas reserves like?
To start, let’s understand how natural gas is formed. Over millions of years, organic material is buried under layers and layers of sediment, where it undergoes complex transformations from increasing pressure and temperatures. As a result, natural gas reserves are formed.
Natural gas reserves are found all over the world, trapped in cracks or pooled into larger reservoirs typically located near oil deposits.
In the past, natural gas was produced as a by-product of crude oil production. However, these days, there are lots of alternative methods to help us detect it underground. Engineers can use specific testing techniques to find large quantities, and from there, they use wells and pumps to draw it out of the ground with pressure. A well is drilled horizontally or vertically—when it’s used horizontally in combination with pressure, water, sand, and chemicals, it’s known as hydraulic fracturing or “fracking.”
Stage Two: From Well to Pipeline
After it’s extracted from the earth, natural gas is sent to your home through a series of pipelines. This intricate network ensures that natural gas arrives safely and efficiently.
Gas moves through these pipelines at speeds of around 30 mph and pressures of up to 1500 pounds per square inch (PSI). Using large pipes allows the system to withstand intense pressure and transport large quantities of gas.
The pressure in the pipes decreases as the gas moves away from its source. To keep the pressure high, compressor stations are set up about every 50 miles along the route. These stations allow operations to control and shut off gas as needed, to ensure safety and efficiency at every step. Operators are also able to monitor and adjust gas transport, though many of these tasks are automated to enhance accuracy.
Eventually, the pipes diverge into separate branches as they move towards towns, cities, and homes. The smaller the pipes get, the lower the pressure needed to push the gas forward. By the time natural gas arrives at your home, it’s typically only moving at a rate of about .25 PSI.
Stage Three: Processing and Transmission
Typically, when natural gas is extracted from the earth, it’s mixed in with other gasses like butane, ethane, and propane. The mix may also contain water vapor, sulfur, helium, and carbon dioxide. This is where the natural gas processing plant plays a critical role.
Processing plants help clean up the gas along the route. Once gas has been processed, it’s referred to as natural gas plant liquids (NGPL) or “dry” natural gas. This process is essential before natural gas arrives at your home. Sometimes, it’s transformed into liquefied natural gas for easier transportation and storage.
Also, gate stations are set up around cities and other large urban areas to help with regulation and safety. These stations further reduce pressure, monitor flow rates, and add mercaptan, which gives the gas the familiar “sour” scent or rotten egg smell, which helps consumers detect natural gas leaks in case of an emergency.
Natural gas arrives at your house through a series of pipelines and local distribution companies. Sometimes it’s stored at large facilities outside of towns and cities so that it can then be distributed to homes and businesses as needed.
Stage Four: Getting Natural Gas Into Your Home
At last, natural gas arrives at your house via a service line.
Gas lines are designed to handle capacity based on population density and demand of your town or city. The utility company will raise or lower pressure on various lines to account for variations in demand. These days, these decisions are made using data that’s gathered about consumption and environmental factors in the area. This makes for a safe and efficient delivery system that works to reduce waste.
Your local utility company can maintain this line and monitor your gas meter. However, any gas lines on your property are your responsibility, so it’s important to be prepared for their upkeep.
When natural gas reaches your meter, it goes through a pressure regulator to reduce its pressure levels. Once it arrives at your home, the pressure should only be around .25 PSI.
When you turn on your stove, you’ll notice a blue flame. It takes on that color because the gas pressure is only a bit higher than the regular air pressure.
Learn more about natural gas transport with RP Gas
Make the most of one of the safest, most efficient, and environmentally friendly fuel sources. Working with a qualified team of energy experts ensures you’re connected with the right solution for your needs.
RP Gas has years of experience delivering safe and quality installations for natural gas piping, propane systems and related products. Get in touch today to learn more about natural gas and whether it makes sense for you.
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