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Unconventional Sources of Natural Gas

Unconventional Sources of Natural Gas Natural gas is a naturally occurring mixture of combustible hydrocarbons that is found in a broad range of geologic environments in the earth's crust. The most common hydrocarbon constituent of natural gas is methane, but higher hydrocarbons, such as ethane, propane, butane, and even pentane, also may be present in moderate concentrations. Likewise, other hydro­ carbons, such as ethylene, also may be present in moderate concentrations in some natural gas. These latter hydrocarbons are commonly referred to as the natural gasoline fraction. Most natural gas also contains nonhydrocarbon gases. The most common of these are carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and hydrogen sulfide. These gases range in concentration from trace quantities to major proportions. Helium is present also in some natural gas in amounts that warrant separation and recovery. Although natural gas is present in a broad range of geologic environ­ ments, only a few such environments contain sufficiently large concen­ trations with adequate rates of producibility to be considered sources of supply. These environments are almost invariably found in sedimentary rocks that have a moderate to high degree of porosity (void space in the rock) and permeability (capacity of a porous rock to transmit a liquid or a gas). http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Annual Review of Environment and Resources Annual Reviews

Unconventional Sources of Natural Gas

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Publisher
Annual Reviews
Copyright
Copyright 1983 Annual Reviews. All rights reserved
Subject
Review Articles
ISSN
1543-5938
DOI
10.1146/annurev.eg.08.110183.000331
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Natural gas is a naturally occurring mixture of combustible hydrocarbons that is found in a broad range of geologic environments in the earth's crust. The most common hydrocarbon constituent of natural gas is methane, but higher hydrocarbons, such as ethane, propane, butane, and even pentane, also may be present in moderate concentrations. Likewise, other hydro­ carbons, such as ethylene, also may be present in moderate concentrations in some natural gas. These latter hydrocarbons are commonly referred to as the natural gasoline fraction. Most natural gas also contains nonhydrocarbon gases. The most common of these are carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and hydrogen sulfide. These gases range in concentration from trace quantities to major proportions. Helium is present also in some natural gas in amounts that warrant separation and recovery. Although natural gas is present in a broad range of geologic environ­ ments, only a few such environments contain sufficiently large concen­ trations with adequate rates of producibility to be considered sources of supply. These environments are almost invariably found in sedimentary rocks that have a moderate to high degree of porosity (void space in the rock) and permeability (capacity of a porous rock to transmit a liquid or a gas).

Journal

Annual Review of Environment and Resources – Annual Reviews

Published: Nov 1, 1983

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