Natural gas, the main part of which is methane (92-98%), is today the most promising alternative fuel for cars. Natural gas can be used as fuel in both compressed and liquefied forms.
Methane- the simplest hydrocarbon, colorless gas (in normal conditions) odorless, chemical formula - CH4. Slightly soluble in water, lighter than air. When used in everyday life and industry, odorants (usually thiols) with a specific “gas smell” are usually added to methane. Methane is non-toxic and harmless to human health.
Extraction and transportation
The gas is found in the bowels of the Earth at a depth of one to several kilometers. Before starting gas production, it is necessary to carry out geological exploration work to determine the location of deposits. Gas is extracted using wells drilled specifically for this purpose using one of the possible methods. Gas is most often transported through gas pipelines. The total length of gas distribution pipelines in Russia is more than 632 thousand kilometers - this distance is almost 20 times the circumference of the Earth. Length main gas pipelines on the territory of Russia - 162 thousand kilometers.
Use of natural gas
The scope of natural gas is quite wide: it is used for space heating, cooking, water heating, production of paints, glue, acetic acid and fertilizers. In addition, natural gas in compressed or liquefied form can be used as a motor fuel in motor vehicles, special and agricultural machinery, railway and water transport.
Natural gas is an environmentally friendly motor fuel
90% of air pollution comes from vehicles.
Switching transport to environmentally friendly motor fuel - natural gas - allows reducing emissions of soot, highly toxic aromatic hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, unsaturated hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere.
When burning 1000 liters of liquid petroleum motor fuel, 180-300 kg of carbon monoxide, 20-40 kg of hydrocarbons, and 25-45 kg of nitrogen oxides are released into the air along with exhaust gases. When natural gas is used instead of petroleum fuel, toxic substances are released into environment is reduced by approximately 2-3 times for carbon monoxide, for nitrogen oxides - 2 times, for hydrocarbons - 3 times, for smoke - 9 times, and the formation of soot, characteristic of diesel engines, is absent.
Natural gas is an economical motor fuel
Natural gas is the most economical motor fuel. Its processing requires minimal costs. Essentially, all you need to do with gas before refueling your car is compress it in a compressor. Today, the average retail price of 1 cubic meter of methane (which in its energy properties is equal to 1 liter of gasoline) is 13 rubles. This is 2-3 times cheaper than gasoline or diesel fuel.
Natural gas is a safe motor fuel
The concentration* and temperature** flammability limits of natural gas are significantly higher than those of gasoline and diesel fuel. Methane is twice lighter than air and, if leaked, quickly dissolves in the atmosphere.
According to the “Classification of flammable substances by degree of sensitivity” of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations, compressed natural gas is classified as the safest, fourth class, and propane-butane is classified as the second.
* The formation of an explosive concentration occurs when the gas vapor content in the air is from 5% to 15%. In open space, the formation of an explosive mixture does not occur.
** The lower limit of methane auto-ignition is 650°C.
Natural gas - technological motor fuel
Natural gas does not form deposits in the fuel system and does not wash away the oil film from the cylinder walls, thereby reducing friction and reducing
engine wear.
The combustion of natural gas does not produce solid particles and ash, which cause increased wear on engine cylinders and pistons.
Thus, the use of natural gas as a motor fuel allows you to increase the service life of the engine by 1.5-2 times.
The table below shows a few facts about CNG and LNG:
Instructions
Natural gas can be used to fuel gas lamps intended for lighting. Methane itself is used as a raw material for the production of acetylene, ammonia, methanol and hydrogen cyanide.
At the same time, natural gas is raw material base in the production of ammonia. Almost three quarters of all ammonia is used to produce nitrogen fertilizers.
Hydrogen cyanide, obtained from ammonia, together with acetylene serves as the initial raw material for the production of various synthetic fibers. From acetylene it is possible to produce various sheets, which are quite widely used in industry and in everyday life. It is also used to produce acetate silk.
In the chemical industry, methane is used not only to produce various plastics, but also to produce organic acids and alcohol. It is with the use of natural gas that it became possible to create many chemical substances, which do not occur in nature, for example, polyethylene.
Natural gas is one of the best views fuels that are used for industrial and domestic needs. Its value as a fuel also lies in the fact that this mineral fuel is quite environmentally friendly. When it burns, much less harmful substances appear if combined with other types of fuel. That is why natural gas is one of the main sources of energy in all human activity.
Hydrogen It is rarely found in its pure form on Earth, but it is very common in compounds: found in water, plant and animal organisms, and natural gases. In space, this is the most common element.
You will need
- A publication on general chemistry or a textbook on chemistry for grades 8-9.
Instructions
In order to define hydrogen, you need to know some of it. Some of them will help you cope with the task at hand. short term, and some require being in a chemical facility. It is not necessary to use all methods, one or two are enough.
Hydrogen- the easiest of all. For example, the task may be to determine hydrogen, having several vessels with unknown gases. In this case, you need to pay attention to the vessel - the hydrogen should be either upside down or closed (possibly with glass, which can be moved aside for further determination). Otherwise, the hydrogen will escape. This gas is odorless and colorless.
When ignited, hydrogen burns with a non-luminous flame, and water is formed. Good way definitions, but very dangerous, because A mixture of hydrogen and oxygen is called an oxyhydrogen gas because of its ability to explode. Although it should be noted that when low temperatures This one won't work. Only at 300? C does not begin to form a large number of water, at 500?C a fire occurs, and at 700?C an explosion occurs.
If the gas is passed over hot copper oxide, the copper will be reduced, resulting in a reddish metal. To conduct this experiment, it is necessary to follow safety rules and, preferably, be in the appropriate place (in the laboratory).
Natural gas is a mineral of a group of sedimentary rocks, which is a mixture of gases. This resource arose as a result of the decomposition of organic matter in the bowels of the Earth. Environmentalists recognize natural gas as the cleanest type of fossil fuel.
Characteristics and types of natural gas
The characteristics of natural gas depend on its composition. It is 1.8 times lighter than air, the spontaneous combustion temperature is 650°C. Dry gas has a density from 0.68 kg/m3 to 0.85 kg/m3, and liquid gas has a density of 400 kg/m3. A mixture of gas and air from 5% to 15% of the volume is explosive. Specific heat combustion from 8-12 kW-h/m3. When using natural gas in internal combustion engines octane number equals from 120 to 130.
Most natural gas is a mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons. The main part is methane (CH 4 - up to 98%), as well as heavy hydrocarbons - ethane C 2 H 6, propane C 3 H 8, butane C 4 H 10. The composition also includes other non-carbon substances: hydrogen H2, hydrogen sulfide H2S, carbon dioxide CO2, nitrogen N2, helium He.
In its pure form, natural gas has neither color nor odor. To make it easier to determine the location of the leak, odorants, substances with an unpleasant odor, are mixed into it.
Types of natural gas:
- liquefied (LPG);
- swamp;
- oil;
- carbonic;
- gas hydrates;
- slate;
- lighting;
- coke;
- compressed or compressed (CNG);
- associated petroleum;
- by tiers and sub-tiers of the earthen layer Cretaceous period, where it is mined today - Turonian, Cenomanian, Valanginian, Achimov.
Natural gas field
Basically, natural gas deposits are found in the sedimentary shell of the earth's crust. Russia owns huge reserves of natural gas (Urengoy field), in Europe - Norway, the Netherlands, and most countries Persian Gulf, Iran, Canada, USA, there are large deposits in Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. Gas hydrates are present in huge quantities at great depths under the seabed, as well as underground.
Natural gas production
Before mining, exploration is first carried out - gravitational, magnetic, seismic or geochemical. However, the only reliable way to find out whether there is a gas reserve underneath you is to drill a well. Natural gas is found at a depth of one kilometer. In the bowels of the Earth, gas is found in microscopic pores, which are connected to each other by channels - cracks, through which high pressure this important resource penetrates the pores more low pressure until it is inside the wells. All this is carried out in accordance with Darcy's law - the filtration of gases and liquids in a porous medium. Gas comes out of the depths as a result of the fact that in wells it is under pressure, which is several times higher than atmospheric pressure.
Gas is extracted using wells, which are evenly distributed throughout the entire field area. This is done to ensure a uniform drop in reservoir pressure in the reservoir. The extracted gas is prepared for transportation. Gas is transported by pipelines, special gas tankers, and railway tanks.
Use of natural gas
Natural gas is used as a highly economical fuel for power plants, the cement and glass industries, ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, the production of building materials, and the production of various organic compounds. This important resource is used for municipal and domestic needs. An energy source for megacities, motor fuel, paint, glue, vinegar, ammonia - we have all this thanks to natural gas.
Natural gas combustion
Natural gas is a mineral in a gaseous state. It is used very widely as a fuel. But natural gas itself is not used as a fuel; its components are separated from it for separate use. It is often an associated gas during oil production. Natural gas in reservoir conditions (conditions of occurrence in the bowels of the earth) is in a gaseous state in the form of separate accumulations (gas deposits) or in the form of a gas cap of oil and gas fields - this is free gas; either in a dissolved state in oil or water (in reservoir conditions), and in standard conditions - only in a gas state. Natural gas can also be in the form of gas hydrates.
Almost 90% of it consists of hydrocarbons, mainly methane (CH 4). It also contains heavier hydrocarbons - ethane, propane, butane, as well as mercaptans and hydrogen sulfide (usually these impurities are harmful), nitrogen and carbon dioxide (they are basically useless, but not harmful), water vapor, beneficial impurities of helium and other inert substances gases
Chemical composition
The main part of natural gas is methane (CH 4) - up to 98%. Natural gas may also contain heavier hydrocarbons - homologues of methane:
- ethane (C 2 H 6),
- propane (C 3 H 8),
- butane (C 4 H 10),
- and other alkanes – from C 5 and above
As well as other non-hydrocarbon substances:
- A more thorough analysis made it possible to detect small amounts of helium (He) in natural gas.
Physical properties
Approximate physical characteristics (depending on composition):
- Density:
- from 0.7 to 1.0 kg/m 3 - dry gaseous, at n. u.
- 400 kg/m 3 - liquid.
- Heat of combustion of one m 3 of natural gas in a gaseous state at normal conditions: 28-46 MJ, or 6.7-11.0 Mcal.
- Octane number when used in internal combustion engines: 120-130.
- The concentration limits of ignition (explosion) of natural gas (methane) are in the range from 5 to 15%. Outside these boundaries, the gas-air mixture is not capable of spreading flame. During an explosion, the pressure in a closed volume rises to 0.8... 1 MPa.
- Pure natural gas is colorless and odorless. To be able to detect a leak by smell, a small amount of odorants (most often ethyl mercaptan) is added to the gas, which has a strong bad smell, these are odorants.
- Natural gas quickly evaporates and disperses into the atmosphere, which is important from a safety point of view.
Natural gas reserves
Map of natural gas reserves in the world
Methane and some other hydrocarbons are widespread in space. Methane- the third most common gas in the universe, after hydrogen and helium. In the form of methane ice, it participates in the structure of many planets and asteroids far from the sun, but such accumulations, as a rule, are not classified as natural gas deposits, and they have not yet been found practical application. Significant amount hydrocarbons are present in the Earth's mantle, but they are also not of interest.
Huge deposits of natural gas are concentrated in the sedimentary shell of the earth's crust. According to the theory of the biogenic (organic) origin of oil, they are formed as a result of the decomposition of the remains of living organisms. Natural gas is believed to form in sedimentary shells at greater temperatures and pressures than oil. Consistent with this is the fact that gas fields are often located deeper than oil fields.
Russia (Urengoyskoye field), USA, Canada have huge reserves of natural gas. From others European countries Norway is worth noting, but its reserves are small. Among former republics Soviet Union Turkmenistan, as well as Kazakhstan (Karachaganak field), own large gas reserves.
In the second half of the 20th century at the University. I.M. Gubkin discovered natural gas hydrates (or methane hydrates). Later it turned out that the reserves of natural gas in this state are huge. They are located both underground and in a slight depression under the seabed.
| A country | 2010 | 2006 | ||
| Extraction, billion cubic meters | Share of world market (%) | Extraction, billion cubic meters | Share of world market (%) |
|
| Russian Federation | 647 | 673,46 | 18 | |
| USA | 619 | 667 | 18 | |
| Canada | 158 | |||
| Iran | 152 | 170 | 5 | |
| Norway | 110 | 143 | 4 | |
| China | 98 | |||
| Netherlands | 89 | 77,67 | 2,1 | |
| Indonesia | 82 | 88,1 | 2,4 | |
| Saudi Arabia | 77 | 85,7 | 2,3 | |
| Algeria | 68 | 171,3 | 5 | |
| Uzbekistan | 65 | |||
| Turkmenistan | 66,2 | 1,8 | ||
| Egypt | 63 | |||
| Great Britain | 60 | |||
| Malaysia | 59 | 69,9 | 1,9 | |
| India | 53 | |||
| UAE | 52 | |||
| Mexico | 50 | |||
| Azerbaijan | 41 | 1,1 | ||
| Other countries | 1440,17 | 38,4 | ||
| World gas production | 100 | 3646 | 100 | |
Natural gas production and processing
Gas fields
An oil or gas reservoir is an accumulation of hydrocarbons that fill the pores of permeable rocks. If the accumulation is large and its exploitation is economically feasible, the deposit is considered industrial. Deposits occupying significant areas form deposits.
Gas drying
The moisture content of gas during its transportation often causes serious operational difficulties. Under certain external conditions(temperature and pressure), moisture can condense, form ice plugs and crystalline hydrates, and in the presence of hydrogen sulfide and oxygen cause corrosion of pipelines and equipment. To avoid these difficulties, the gas is dried, reducing the dew point temperature by 5...7 °C below operating temperature in the gas pipeline.
Gas purification from hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide
In flammable gases used for gas supply to cities, the hydrogen sulfide content should not exceed 2 g per 100 m 3 of gas. There are no norms limiting the carbon dioxide content, but for technical and economic reasons in the transported gas it should not exceed 2%.
Gas odorization
Natural gas is odorless. Therefore, in order to detect gas leaks in a timely manner, they give it a smell - the gas is odorized. Ethyl mercaptan (C 2 H 5 SH) is used as an odorant. In terms of toxicity, it is qualitatively and quantitatively identical to hydrogen sulfide and has a sharp, unpleasant odor.
Transportation
The main type of gas transport currently is pipeline. Gas moves through large diameter pipes under a pressure of 75 atmospheres (7.5 MPa). As gas moves through the pipeline, it loses energy; it is spent on overcoming the frictional force both between the pipe wall and the gas, and between the layers of the gas itself. In order for the pressure in the pipeline to be maintained at a given level, it is necessary to have compressor stations (CS) at a certain distance from each other, which must maintain the pressure in the pipeline at a level of 75 atmospheres. Maintaining and constructing a pipeline costs a lot of money, but, nevertheless, the pipeline is the cheapest way to transport oil and gas.
Another way to transport gas is to use special tankers - gas carriers. These are specially equipped ships for transporting gas in a liquefied state under certain conditions. To transport gas using this method, it is necessary, in addition to the tankers themselves, to carry out a number of preparatory measures to enable their use. It is necessary to extend a gas pipeline to the seashore, build a port for tankers, a gas liquefaction plant, and the tankers themselves. However, this type of gas transportation is economically feasible when the consumer is more than 3,000 km away from the production sites.
Natural gas synthesis
There are many ways to obtain natural gas from other organic substances, such as waste from agricultural activities, wood processing and food industries, etc.
Natural gas is the most valuable energy carrier, which is an environmentally friendly type of fuel. Gas production increases annually, which is associated with growth industrial production and an increase in the planet's population.
The largest importer of gas is Russia. Most of Russian gas supplied via pipelines. It mainly goes to Europe. The most gas goes to Germany (39.8 billion m³), Turkey (26.2 billion m³) and Italy (24.9 billion m³). A small part of Russian gas in the form of liquefied natural gas goes to Japan and South Korea.
The role of gas in the modern world
In the modern economy, energy resources play a leading role. An indicator of the economic development of each state is its level of energy consumption. Their importance is evidenced by the fact that more than 70% of mined minerals are classified as energy resources. One of the most important species energy resource is natural gas. Currently the gas volume is energy balance of the planet is about 25%, and by 2050 it will increase to 30%.
The largest consumers of gas are the USA (646 billion m³, 2009) and Russia (389.7 billion m³). Their gas consumption is respectively 22% and 13.3% of global gas consumption.
Since the role of such an energy resource as in the global economy is very large, then great importance gas importing countries also have. To estimate gas imports, you can use the latest statistical collection from British Petroleum, released in the middle of last year.
In accordance with this document, the United States is in first place in natural gas production, producing 687.6 billion m³, which is 20.5% of all gas produced in the world.
In second place is Russia with 604.8 billion m³ (17.8%).
It should be noted that the rise of the United States to first place in gas production is associated with the development of shale gas technology in this country. This technology involves pumping an aqueous solution under high pressure into a well drilled at a depth of 500 to 3,000 m, passing through a layer of shale. As a result, hydraulic fracturing of the formation occurs and cracks are formed through which gas enters the well. The cost of such gas is quite high, so at low gas prices they become unprofitable.
Gas usage
Natural gas can be used primarily as a fuel in industry and in everyday life. At the same time, it has a number of advantages. These advantages of gas are: 
- complete combustion without soot and smoke;
- after its combustion, no ash is formed;
- ease of ignition and adjustment of flame size;
- ease of transportation to the consumer;
- absence harmful products combustion.
The relative cheapness of gas production plays an important role. If gas is compared with coal, then the cost of 1 ton of gas in terms of fuel equivalent will be only 10% of the cost of coal.
Gas is used in the metallurgical, cement, light and food industries National economy as fuel. Gas is also used as a raw material for the chemical industry. Gas often replaces conventional fuels such as coal, fuel oil or peat. Due to the high qualities of the gas, production efficiency increases when used. For example, in the metallurgical industry, the use of gas allows saving expensive coke, increasing the productivity of furnaces and improving the quality of the metal produced. The use of gas in thermal power plants allows significant savings on fuel transportation, increasing the operating time of boilers, automating power plant control and reducing the number of required personnel.
IN Lately An important application of gas is its use as fuel for cars. This approach makes it possible to reduce the emissions of harmful substances generated during the operation of a car engine by 40–60%.
Gas consumption by various sectors of the economy is divided approximately as follows:
- 45% of gas is used in industry;
- 35% is used in thermal power plants;
- 10% of gas goes to the needs of the housing and communal services industry.
Gas reserves
Due to big role the role natural gas plays in the planet's economy, serious importance is attached to gas reserves. At the same time, with 
The data is updated every year. There are several sources of information on gas reserves issued by such reputable organizations as the CIA, OPEC or British Petroleum. According to this information, explored and confirmed gas reserves on the planet amount to approximately 185 trillion m³. According to scientists' calculations, this amount of gas can last the inhabitants of the planet for 63 years.
The American Geological Survey estimates that approximately 140 trillion m³ of undiscovered reserves and 85 trillion m³ of hard-to-reach reserves need to be added to these reserves. And in total, as this service suggests, there may be about 290 trillion m³ of potential gas reserves on the planet, in addition to explored and confirmed ones.
The largest number of proven gas reserves is located in Russia (48.7 trillion m³), which is almost a quarter of the volume on Earth. Iran is in 2nd place (34 trillion m³), Qatar is in third (25 trillion m³).
Natural gas fields and production methods
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When the impact of natural gas is compared to other types of fuel, gas creates fewer greenhouse gases. This is due to its chemical composition and greater heat transfer. However, burning natural gas also produces greenhouse compounds. For example, carbon emissions from natural gas have doubled in 30 years.
Countries with developed industries bear the main blame for this. Thus, the United States emits 20% of the total volume, European countries – 18%, and Russia – 15%.
New mining technologies can cause certain harm to the environment if they are used carelessly. Firstly, this is the possibility of contamination of groundwater with chemicals, secondly, the possibility of micro-earthquakes in places of hydraulic fracturing, and thirdly, the possibility of leaks of methane, a greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. All this requires careful preparation for drilling wells and analysis of the consequences of this method of gas production.
conclusions
- The development of the global economy requires a large amount of energy resources such as natural gas.
- Russia is one of the largest producers and importers of gas.
- The planet has large gas reserves, and almost a quarter of these reserves are located in Russia.
- To improve the Earth's ecology, it is necessary to optimize gas use technologies in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.