Advantages and Disadvantages of Natural Gas

What is Natural Gas
Like petroleum, natural gas is a fossil fuel, but it's in gaseous state, and is composed mainly of methane (CH₄). It is formed along with oil fields and coal beds. A major plus point of this fuel is that it burns with low emissions and can be safely stored. This property makes it a convenient and efficient source of heating and generating electricity.

Extraction
The obvious question that comes in everyone's mind is whether it is formed and extracted in the same manner as petroleum! The answer is yes. Natural gas, as said above, is formed alongside coal and oil fields. It's a fossil fuel, and is formed as a result of anaerobic digestion of various kinds of dead matter that includes plants, etc. under the Earth's surface. It's found deep inside the Earth and is drilled the same way like oil.

It can also be obtained from coal through a process called coal gasification. In this process, coal is exposed to high pressure and temperature so that it breaks into gaseous components. The process is not used widely because the cost factor is the main deterrent. It is often referred to as the cleanest alternative burning fossil fuel. It can be used in the form of compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

Advantages

• Is more environment friendly than oil or coal. It is largely because of the fact that it has only one carbon, and hence, produces less emissions. It is a known fact that for same amount of heat, it emits 30% less carbon dioxide than burning oil and 45% less carbon dioxide than burning coal, thereby, improving the quality of air.
• Is cheap (less expensive than gasoline), and therefore, very cost-effective.
• Can be safely stored and burned.
• Most of its natural reserves are still underutilized.
• Emits 60-90% less smog-producing pollutants.
• Due to clean burning process, doesn't produce ashes after energy release.
• Has high heating value of 24,000 Btu per pound.

Disadvantages

• One disadvantage of natural gas that is often credited as an advantage by experts, is that it's a non-renewable energy resource. It's availability is finite. Critics also point that its extraction leaves out large craters within the earth.
• Is highly volatile (highly flammable), and can be dangerous, if handled carelessly.
• Is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, that makes detection of its leak very difficult.
• In gas pipelines, a substance (contains carbon monoxide) that has a strong odor is added to help detect a leak. But, these substances may be harmful and cause deaths. In fact, natural gas use is the most common cause of carbon monoxide deaths.
• Constructing and managing such pipelines cost a lot.

Whatever be the disadvantages, they cannot deny the fact that natural gas has the cleanest burning of all the other fuels. Although, its high cost may prevent its widespread use, it's the need of the hour to help control the world's pollution levels. Although, it's a nonrenewable source of energy, who knows, it may outlast coal and oil.