Natural gas guide

For both private and commercial use, we utilise raw materials that our planet provides us with. A typical example of such resources is natural gas, which has recently become an important focus of media reports, as it continues to be an essential part of our energy supply.

But what exactly is natural gas? What are the valuable, but possibly also questionable properties of natural gas? And how can this substance be extracted? Are there specific regulations on how to safely explore, transport and use this substance? Here, we at Compur Monitors have compiled some information for you. If you have any further questions, we be happy to provide you with competent and specific advice.

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Historical facts about natural gas
Physical and chemical properties of natural gas
Types of natural gas
How natural gas is produced
Deposits of natural gas
Extraction and production of natural gas
Applications of natural gas
Environmental impact of natural gas
Natural gas and safety aspects
The detection of natural gas

Historical facts about natural gas

Good to know: Even though many people believe that the formation of natural gas is a constant process, the formation processes surrounding natural gas deposits on our planet are already complete. The natural gas we use today was formed millions of years ago. It is estimated to be between 15 million and 600 million years old. So today we are consuming ancient raw materials the deposits of which are limited.

Even though natural gas is millions of years old, the period in which it has been used commercially by humans is pretty short. The first wells extracting natural gas are said to have been drilled in the third century BC. Chinese workers planned to use natural gas as a source of energy, for example to heat salt pans. The commercial natural gas extraction started in America, traditionally an established gas-producing country, in the 19th century. The first gas companies and pipelines were established.

Germany did not start using natural gas as a fossil fuel until the early 1960s.

Physical and chemical properties of natural gas

Natural gas: a valuable mixture hidden beneath the earth surface

If you take a closer look at natural gas, the name says it all. This is because the two components of the term natural gas already indicate what kind of substance it is. On one hand, natural gas is a substance that exists underneath the earth surface. This can be either the soil of the mainland or under water. Natural gas and crude oil are oftimes found together. This is not surprising, as the formation of natural gas and crude oil is based on very similar processes.

The second component of the term natural gas, i.e. gas, already describes the physical state of this valuable substance: natural gas is in a gaseous state. However, anyone who thinks that the natural gas found underground is a single homogeneous substance is mistaken. In fact, natural gas is a mixture of gases, as the next chapter of our natural gas guide describes.

The mixture of natural gas

Classification of natural gas:
Natural gas is classed as a natural gas. It is a representative of hydrocarbons and therefore an organic gas. The compressed gas is colourless and has no odour.

Chemical properties of natural gas:
Natural gas consists of mixtures that can vary greatly. The respective composition of a natural gas deposit depends in particular on the site where it was found and which formation processes that took place there in prehistoric times.

However, all natural gas deposits have one thing in common: the main component of the chemical composition is methane. This member of the chemical group of substances known as alkanes typically makes up between 70 and 99 per cent of a natural gas mixture. Methane therefore also determines the properties of the natural gas in particular.

However, natural gas also contains other components. Varying proportions of butane, ethane and ethene, pentanes and propane characterise the specific properties of this mixture, which always has a high hydrocarbon content.

Natural gas also contains other accompanying substances. Hydrogen sulphide is a typical component of natural gas. Organic sulphur compounds (mercaptans) may be also present. The stronger natural gas smells, the higher the content of these sulphur-containing substances. The sulphur in it must be removed by desulphurisation, e.g. in a Claus plant. Nitrogen and carbon dioxide are also typical components of natural gas.

Even noble gases are components of the raw gas, i.e. natural gas extracted directly from the earth. Helium in particular is an important representative of such noble gases. These noble gases are also known as inert gases. In general, the higher the proportion of noble gases such as helium, the higher the quality of the natural gas mixture.

Physico-chemical properties of natural gas:
Characteristic properties of natural gas are the boiling point between -195 and -155 °C, density between 0.7 and 1.0 kg/m³ and an ignition temperature between 575 and 640 °C. The LEL is 4.4 %. The water solubility of natural gas is extremely low. Users should pay particular attention to the high flammability of natural gas. Contact between natural gas and chlorine and chlorine dioxide, nitrogen oxides and nitrogen trifluoride, difluorine dioxide and difluorine oxide, but especially liquid oxygen, can lead to dangerous reactions. This also applies to contact between natural gas and oxidising agents, e.g. bromine pentafluoride, chlorine trifluoride and iodine heptafluoride.

Types of natural gas

Dry and wet natural gas: learn the difference
Because natural gas is a gaseous mixture, it may initially come as a surprise that a distinction is made between dry and wet natural gas. Nevertheless, experts make this distinction because natural gas, as a naturally occurring mixture, can have very different compositions.

Wet natural gas has a particularly high content of hydrocarbons other than methane, such as ethane or propane. These can be easily converted from a gaseous to a liquid state under pressure. This is why such mixtures are also referred to as wet natural gas. If natural gas has a high content of water vapour, it is also called wet natural gas.

Dry natural gas contains a lot less substances that can be liquified, such as water and higher alkanes.

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How natural gas is produced

Natural gas is generated under high pressure, high temperature and the presence of special microorganisms. These conditions are present underground. The pressure comes from heavy rock and earth above. And, this area must be isolated, so that the gas produced cannot escape. The formation of crude oil follows the same mechanisms.

Deposits of natural gas

Our entire planet has gas deposits, regardless on which continent. However, calculations show that our planet’s natural gas deposits might soon be exhausted. Some estimates even say, this will happen within a few decades. Therefore it is important to find alternative energy sources.

The countries with the highest production volumes are: United States of America, Russia, Iran, People’s Republic of China, Qatar and Canada. Underground storage facilities are the tried and tested means of storing processed natural gas in order to compensate for load changes or peaks in demand.

Various processes are applied in order to produce natural gas safely and environmentally friendly. The high sulphur content of some natural gas, as well as the carbon oxide present must be removed by gas scrubbing and desulphurisation. Some of these substances have the potential to damage the environment and may be toxic to humans. Drying is a particularly safe and efficient production method usable gas. We distinguish between natural gas drying by removing water, natural gas drying as absorption drying by using glycol, which also removes water, and drying of natural gas by special molecular sieves.

The methods of cleaning and drying gas are used in particular to produce a natural gas that offers a consistently good calorific value and that does not damage valuable fittings, pipelines or other equipment with hard particles, condensation or corrosion.

Extraction and production of natural gas

In principle, we distinguish between two forms of natural gas extraction. Because natural gas and crude oil are often found together, they can also be extracted together. In this case, the natural gas is of course a welcome by-product of the actual extraction of crude oil from the earth. Or, of course, natural gas fields from which the valuable gas mixture is extracted directly. Special measures are required once the gaseous raw material has been extracted.

Some methods is to make it easier and cheaper to transport natural gas by changing its aggregate state. This is realised using different methods.

Pressurised containers compress the natural gas, for example. Such natural gas is then referred to as CNG, compressed natural gas. The liquefaction of natural gas also serves to reduce its volume. This liquefaction is achieved either by compression or by cooling. Specialists then refer to the respective gas as LNG, or liquefied natural gas. Using special processes, natural gas can be converted into liquid hydrocarbons and used as a raw material for other organic compounds.

These processes make it possible, to transport natural gas not only through pipelines. The particular advantage of compressed natural gas and the associated reduction in volume is that it can be transported in tankers.

Applications of natural gas

As a fossil fuel, natural gas offers attractive supply options in a wide range of applications. The classic use of natural gas is, of course, in the heating of buildings. However, natural gas is also well suited to commercial manufacturing processes that require thermal energy. Typical examples are ovens in bakeries, industrial plants in cement or glass works, the generation of electricity or production processes in heavy industry. But of course, natural gas has also proven itself as a fuel. This applies to both shipping and motor vehicle traffic. Refineries also use natural gas as an easy-to-handle energy source. Gas-fired power plants that run on natural gas are particularly flexible when it comes to covering peak demand.

Environmental impact of natural gas

Despite being a fossil fuel, natural gas is considered a relatively clean option because it causes comparatively little carbon dioxide contamination in our the environment. Conventional heating oil, for example, emits 25 % more CO₂ than natural gas. Natural gas also scores highly in terms of extraction. This is because the joint extraction of crude oil and natural gas causes fewer emissions and energy consumption. However, this does not apply if fracking, a rather new method is used. This method is said to be dangerous to the environment.

Natural gas itself is a non-toxic gas. It is also not considered a substance hazardous to water.

Natural gas and safety aspects

Natural gas is a particularly flammable substance. Air and natural gas together can cause dangerous explosions. That is why safety strategies regarding the tightly closed natural gas container are essential. High concentrations of natural gas displace oxygen. This is something that safety experts must also take into account – for example, if there has been a natural gas leak. Danger of suffocation!

The above-mentioned interactions between natural gas and, for example, chlorine and fluorine, but also oxidising agents, must be professionally and thoroughly assessed by safety experts.

Comprehensive safety measures must be taken into account when using natural gas. These may affect different areas of a company. This natural gas guide is also intended to present important aspects of safe natural gas handling.

Gas cylinders – correct handling

A key aspect of the safe storage and use of natural gas concerns gas cylinders and tanks as classic containers. Both the safety personnel of companies that use natural gas and the responsible employees must know all relevant regulations. Gas containers must be stored away from work areas and protected from mechanical impact and heat. Their valves must be handled with care and opened slowly if necessary. After use, close them carefully and securely. Avoid transferring gas between containers!

Proper storage of gas containers

A large part of the technical protective measures related to gas cylinders concerns their storage – always outside of work areas. The containers must be upright, impact-resistant and absolutely leak-proof. Gas cylinders and similar gas containers must not block escape routes. The room should have cool temperatures, definitely less than 50 degrees Celsius, and be away from sunlight. Valves should be additionally secured with protective cages or caps. Consistent monitoring is also an essential protective measure. Early detection of leaks and escaping natural gas must be implemented. This also applies to electrical charging or unfavourable heating. If a leak is suspected, sprinkling with cool water is an effective measure to prevent possible explosions.

Regulations relating to the storage of gas cylinders also include so-called co-storage conditions. In order to prevent explosions and fires, this primarily concerns oxidising gases and flammable substances. Companies must also ensure a large distance between gas containers, oxidising materials and sources of ignition or heat.

There is a strict ban on storing natural gas and other hazardous substances together. For example with other explosive and flammable substances or mixtures, oxidising substances, toxic, radioactive, corrosive and other substances that are hazardous to health. Also not allowed is foodstuff and animal feed.

The storage and use of natural gas also requires technical and personnel protection measures. Fire extinguishing equipment must be provided for fire prevention and firefighting reasons. Fire safety officers and employee training are essential to prevent hazards from escaping natural gas. Such training must be refreshed annually – due to the importance of a well-functioning protection concept regarding the storage and use of natural gas, but also to maintain vigilance regarding the dangers of natural gas.

Because natural gas and air can form an explosive mixture, the formation of an explosive mixture must be strictly prevented. All types of ignition sources – such as open flames, sparks, heaters or electrical appliances – must not be present in the vicinity of gas cylinders and other gas containers. It goes without saying that smoking, grinding and welding without hot work permit are strictly prohibited.

Pressurised gas cylinders may only be used by trained and authorised persons. The company’s risk analysis describes in detail the potential dangers of using natural gas and provides an escape and rescue plan, which also describes the escape routes and how they must be marked. Flame-retardant clothing and safety shoes serve as personal protection against the hazardous effects of natural gas. If gas escapes from a container despite all safety precautions, the alarm plan comes into force.

Release of natural gas

If natural gas escapes, there is a risk of explosion. An important criterion for explosion and fire prevention is the exclusion of ignition sources. Clearing contaminated areas and neighbouring areas is a mandatory measure. Warnings must be followed. Persons must not enter the endangered area without appropriate protective equipment. The next steps for safety personnel is to prevent further gas leaks and monitor the current concentration of the released natural gas.

If fires are caused by the release of natural gas, sprayed water or dry powder are suitable extinguishing agents. Still intact gas containers should also be cooled down with water jets and ideally removed from the hazardous area. After notifying the fire brigade, emergency services should ideally receive information about existing closed, open or damaged gas cylinders immediately.

Disposal of natural gas containers

According to the AVV, the Waste Catalogue Ordinance, natural gas is considered to be hazardous. The user is therefore obliged to dispose of it properly. Normally, empty pressurised gas cylinders must be returned to the supplier. In order to avoid confusion between full and empty gas cylinders, the containers must be labelled correctly. Explosion hazard zone II applies around gas transfer stations.

Regulations relating to the use of natural gas

Numerous regulations address the correct handling of natural gas. Typical examples are: Waste Catalogue Ordinance (AVV), workplace labelling according to the ASR, DGUV (regulations of the accident insurance institutions), various provisions of the TRGS – technical regulations for hazardous substances -, EH-GHS classification and labelling, Hazardous Incident Ordinance and many other provisions affect the natural gas sector. And, of course, a strategically clever safety concept can also better cover insurance issues. Indispensable for the development and implementation of comprehensive security concepts: training employees and appointing security experts by the company.

The detection of natural gas

A good natural gas guide should of course also provide valuable information regarding the detection of any natural gas leaks. There are excellent measuring devices that can be used to detect various occurrences of natural gas leaks. These serve as valuable support in terms of safety – because a leak of the typically colourless and odourless natural gas would otherwise not be detectable.

Modern measuring devices – including those from the Compur Monitors range – detect natural gas leaks with highly specific, reliable measurement technology. It is easy to use and gives yiu peace of mind. Ex measurements are therefore an important addition to safety precautions relating to natural gas hazards. Compur Monitors offers a comprehensive range of customisable options for the safe measurement of any gas leaks. Relevant categories include stationary gas detectors and, of course, portable detectors. Depending on the device, immediate gas warnings as well as leak detection can be realised. Simple application means that measurement results can also be read by non-experts.

Must important for safety in your plant is a functioning safety concept. When you use the beneficial, but also not harmless product natural gas. If you need advice about the selection of a professional and precisely fitting measuring device, the team at the specialist Compur Monitors provides detailed and specific advice.