News 
Market Data 
Discover
Replies to post #44333 on FuelCell Energy Inc (FCEL)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigationJump to search
Not to be confused with gasoline, biogas, or liquefied petroleum gas.
The global natural gas trade in 2013. Numbers are in billion cubic meters per year[1]
Natural gas extraction by countries in cubic meters per year around 2013
Natural gas (also called fossil gas; sometimes just gas) is a naturally occurring hydrocarbon gas mixture consisting of methane and commonly including varying amounts of other higher alkanes, and sometimes a small percentage of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, hydrogen sulfide, or helium.[2] Natural gas is colorless and odorless, and explosive, so a sulfur-smell (similar to rotten eggs) is usually added for early detection of leaks.[3] Natural gas is formed when layers of decomposing plant and animal matter are exposed to intense heat and pressure under the surface of the Earth over millions of years.[4] The energy that the plants originally obtained from the sun is stored in the form of chemical bonds in the gas.[5] Natural gas is a fossil fuel.
Natural gas is a non-renewable[5] hydrocarbon used as a source of energy for heating, cooking, and electricity generation. It is also used as a fuel for vehicles and as a chemical feedstock in the manufacture of plastics and other commercially important organic chemicals.
The extraction and consumption of natural gas is a major and growing driver of climate change.[6][7][8] It is a potent greenhouse gas itself when released into the atmosphere, and creates carbon dioxide when burnt.[9][10] Natural gas can be efficiently burned to generate heat and electricity, emitting less waste and toxins at the point of use relative to other fossil and biomass fuels.[11] However, gas venting and flaring, along with unintended fugitive emissions throughout the supply chain, can result in a similar carbon footprint overall.[12][13][14]
