NATURAL GAS


How Natural Gas became a Fossil Fuel
Description: How Natural Gas became a Fossil Fuel
Image copyright: http://www.powerhousekids.com/stellent2/groups/public/documents/pub/phk_eb_ng_001472.hcsp
Natural gas was made when dinosaurs and the plants they ate, died. The remains of these dinosaurs were buried under many layers of soil and rock. Over time all the heat and pressure created by the earth’s layers turned the animal and plant remains into petroleum and Natural gas. This process is why Natural gas is a fossil fuel.

For many years Natural gas was considered worthless. Today some countries (not the United States) get rid of it by burning it into huge flames. So big they can even be seen from a space shuttle. Natural gas is mainly made up of methane. Methane is highly flammable and burns almost completely.

Natural gas is one – fifth of the energy used in the United States. It supplies almost one – half of the energy used for cooking, heating etc.
Have you ever wondered how people can tell if there is a gas leak in their house. Well even though natural gas is odorless, gas companies add a chemical to Natural gas that smells somewhat like rotten eggs, so people can tell if there is a gas leak.

Even though Natural gas is nonrenewable (more in the nonrenewable section) the U.S. has a lot of Natural gas to last 100 years or more.


Sites used

Alliant Energy. How Natural gas is made. 3/4/08.
http://www.powerhousekids.com/stellent2/groups/public/documents/pub/phk_eb_index.hcsp.

U.S. Department of Energy. DOE – Fossil Energy: A brief intro to natural gas. 12/19/05. 3/4/08. http://www.fossil.energy.gov/education/energylessons/lessons/gas
Links:
   Bullet  How Natural Gas is made
   Bullet  DOE - Fossil Energy: A brief intro to natural gas
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