Being a derivative of oil, natural gas is a kind of mixture of flammable gas originated from fossil in earth’s crust. It is composed of methane (CH4), ethane (C2H6), propane (C3H8) and butane (C4H10). And there is a little amount of carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen (N2), helium (He) and hydrogen sulphide (H2S) in its content.
Hydrocarbon compounds that comprise natural gas are also compounds of oil in underground. Gas can be on its own or with oil underground. Just like oil, natural gas also is present in microscopic pores of rocks and reaches to production oil wells by flowing through the rock.
Historical sources show that natural gas first used in China in 900 B.C. The common use of natural gas was started in England in 1790. Natural gas use increased in 1920s as pipeline transportation dramatically increased after the World War II.
The share of natural gas, first used in USA in energy sector, in world’s energy consumption was not over 10% in 1950s. Natural gas, which was previously considered a useless waste resulting from oil production and eliminated by burning in production facilities, is today used in houses and industry as a strategical source of energy.
Source: General Directorate of Petroleum Affairs
