Natural gas is one of the safest, most efficient, and environmentally friendly fuel sources you can use in your home. But have you ever wondered where it comes from?
By the time that little blue flame lights up on your stove, natural gas has actually traveled hundreds of miles to reach your home. Plus, it’s gone through several processes to make it safe and viable for at-home use.
Read on to learn more about what makes modern natural gas transport safe and efficient.
Natural Gas: Origins and Extractions
So, where does natural gas come from?
Simply put, natural gas forms deep below the surface of the earth. It’s created as organic materials are compressed into coal, rock, and other minerals over the course of time.
Originally, natural gas was entirely a by-product of crude oil production. However, these days, there are several methods used to detect it underground, where it’s often found trapped in cracks or pooled into larger reservoirs.
Engineers are able to use special testing techniques to discover large quantities of natural gas. From there, they’re able to use wells and pumps to draw it out of the ground with pressure.
A well will be drilled either vertically or horizontally. When a horizontal well is used in combination with pressure, water, sand, and chemicals, it’s called hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking.”
Compressor Stations
After it’s extracted from the earth, natural gas is sent to your house through high-pressure systems that run through a series of pipelines.
Gas moves through these pipelines at speeds of around 30 MPH and pressures of up to 1500 PSI. The use of large pipes allows them to withstand the intense pressure and transport large quantities of gas at the same time.
Naturally, the pressure in the pipes decreases as the gas moves away from its source. In order to keep the pressure high, compressor stations are set up about every 50 miles along the route.
These stations allow operators to control and shut off gas as needed. Also, operators are able to monitor and adjust gas transport with safety and efficiency in mind. These days, many of these tasks are designed to be performed by automated systems.
Eventually, the pipes diverge into separate branches as they move towards towns, cities, and homes.
The smaller the pipes get, the lower the pressure that pushes the gas forward. By the time natural gas reaches your home, it’s typically only moving at a rate of about .25 PSI.
Processing and Transmission
Typically, when natural gas is extracted from the earth, it’s mixed in with other gasses such as butane, ethane, and propane. The mix may also contain water vapor, sulfur, helium, and carbon dioxide.
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.
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.
Natural gas reaches 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.
Getting Natural Gas Into Your Home
Gas lines are designed to deliver and withstand capacities in accordance with the population density and demand associated with your town or city.
The utility company will raise and 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.
At last, natural gas arrives at your house via a service line. Your local utility company is able to maintain this line and monitor your gas meter accordingly.
It’s important to note that any gas lines on your property are essentially your own responsibility. Here’s how to tell if you have natural gas lines on your property.
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.
Questions? Just Ask!
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