FUTURE PROSPECTS OF NATURAL GAS IN INDIA
Natural gas, earlier considered as just a by-product of crude oil production, has now gainedsignificant importance as a valuable source of energy internationally. Natural gas is now gaining prominence as the fuel of the future as it meets clean fuel requirements and is cost effective for major industries, as compared to traditional fuels such as coal and naphtha. Gas assets in Indiadid not receive much attention till few years back. However, mounting oil bills and need for cleaner fuels has necessitated the country to explore its gas potential. Supply deficit has long been a significant feature of India’s gas market. However, coming years will become a turning point as these constraints are now loosening up due to LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) imports anddomestic gas finds
What is natural gas?
Natural gas
is a gas consisting primarily of methane. It is found associated with fossil fuels, incoal beds, as methane catharses, and is created by methanogenic organisms in marshes, bogs, andlandfills. It is an important fuel source, a major feedstock for fertilizers, and a potent greenhousegas.It is odorless, colorless & highly inflammable. Natural gas is often informally referred to as simply
gas
, especially when compared to other energy sources such as electricity. Before natural gas can be used as a fuel, it must undergoextensive processing to remove almost all materials other than methane. The by-products of that processing include ethane, propane, butanes, pentanes and higher molecular weighthydrocarbons, elemental sulfur, and sometimes helium and nitrogen.
Utilization