HOW NATURAL GAS IS STORED AND DELIVERED

The gas companies collect it in huge storage tanks, or underground, in old gas wells. The gas remains there until it is added back into the pipeline when people 

begin to use more gas, such as in the winter to heat homes. Natural gas is moved by pipelines from the producing fields to consumers. Since natural gas demand is greater in the winter, gas is stored along the way in large underground storage systems, such as old oil and gas wells or caverns formed in old salt beds. The gas remains there until it is added back into the pipeline when people begin to use more gas, such as in the winter to heat homes.

When chilled to very cold temperatures, approximately -260 degrees Fahrenheit, natural gas changes into a liquid and can be stored in this form. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) can be loaded onto tankers (large ships with several domed tanks) and moved across the ocean to deliver gas to other countries. Once in this form, it takes up only 1/600th of the space that it would in its gaseous state. When this LNG is received in the United States, it can be shipped by truck to be held in large chilled tanks close to users or turned back into gas to add to pipelines. When the gas gets to the communities where it will be used(usually through large pipelines), the gas is measured as it flows into smaller pipelines called "MAINS". Very small lines, called "SERVICES", connect to the mains and go directly to homes or buildings where it will be used.

HOW NATURAL GAS IS MEASURED

We measure and sell natural gas in cubic feet (volume) or in British Thermal Units (heat content). Heat from all energy sources can be measured and converted back and forth between British thermal units (Btu) and metric units. See the Energy Calculator for help with converting natural gas units. One Btu is the heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit. Ten burning kitchen matches release 10 Btu. One cubic foot of natural gas has about 1031 Btu. A box 10 feet deep, 10 feet long, and 10 feet wide would hold one thousand cubic feet of natural gas. 

For example, a candy bar has about 1000 Btu. 

Pipeline companies buy natural gas in thousands of cubic feet or Mcf. M = one thousand.

NATURAL GAS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Natural gas burns more cleanly than other fossil fuels. It has fewer emissions of sulfur, carbon, and nitrogen than coal or oil, and it has almost no ash particles left after burning. Being a clean fuel is one reason that the use of natural gas, especially for electricity generation, has grown so much and is expected to grow even more in the future. Of course, there are environmental concerns with the use of any fuel. As with other fossil fuels, burning natural gas produces carbon dioxide, which is the most important greenhouse gas. Many scientists believe that increasing levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere are changeing the global climate.