Physical Properties of Natural Gas

Natural gas is a mixture of light hydrocarbons including methane,

ethane, propane, butanes, and pentanes (the typical composition is given
elsewhere). Other compounds found in natural gas include CO2,
helium, hydrogen sulfide, and nitrogen. The composition of natural gas is
never constant; however, the primary component of natural gas is methane
(typically at least 90%). Methane is highly flammable; it burns easily and
almost completely. It emits little air pollution. Natural gas is neither
corrosive nor toxic, its ignition temperature is high, and it has a narrow
flammability range, which makes it an inherently safe fossil fuel compared
with other fuel sources. In addition, because of its specific gravity (0.60),
which is lower than that of air (1.00), natural gas rises if escaping, and thus
dissipates from the site of any leak.

Considering the vast supplies of natural gas, the low production

costs, and the relatively limited export prospects as compared with those
for oil, Iran should pursue a vigorous policy of rapid natural gas
development. Every effort should be made to resolve existing bottlenecks
and to accelerate expansion of natural gas transmission and distribution
systems. The economics of stepped-up natural gas utilization on a national
level are extremely favorable, and the savings in annual oil refining and
pipeline costs, plus the export value of the oil saved, far outweigh the cost
of any expanded system over the long run. Industrial users will probably be
quick to switch to natural gas once it is made available. Penetration into the
residential and commercial market, however, may be slow unless natural
gas use is actively promoted and economic incentives are offered to
encourage consumers to switch from liquid-fueled to gas-fueled appliances.
1. Natural gas is of high calorific value, uniform in composition, and free
from undesirable impurities. (Any sulphur compounds present can be
removed by well-established processes.) These properties make it a
valuable fuel gas for all applications when burned in suitable
appliances.
2. The calorific value is much higher than that of most fuel gases but the
flame speed is relatively low. Special burners are required. The flame
is not very luminous so there is relatively little radiation from it within a
 furnace. Boilers therefore require relatively large convective heat-
transfer tanks.
3. The fuel is explosive in certain ranges of mixtures with air. Safety
devices are needed for start-up, and to switch off the fuel in the event
of flame failure.
4. Natural gas is an excellent fuel for internal combustion engines. Its
high anti-knock qualities make high compression ratios possible, with
consequent improved efficiency
5. Methane and natural gas are also good fuels for gas turbines.
6. Explosive mixtures of methane and air contain much smaller
proportions of methane than is the case with coal gas. Consequently
small leaks of methane are more dangerous than similar leaks of
manufactured coal gas.
Chemically, natural gas is mostly methane (CH4), about 75% to 99% of the
gas; however, small quantities of other hydrocarbons can also be
found in natural gas, along with carbon dioxide, hydrogen,
nitrogen, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen sulfide. Gas in oil
reservoirs aids the extraction of oil in a way similar to the air in
pressure tanks of suburban well-supplied home water systems. Gas
expands as the pressure is released by pumping out the oil, and it
squeezes out the oil from the pores and cracks of the rock.
In secondary oil recovery methods, gas is often pumped back into the
reservoir to increase the oil production. Gas is a clean burning fuel,
not like coal, which produces enormous air pollution. It is an efficient
fuel because it is used in its natural state and does not have to be
generated from other fuels. Of oil-associated gases, the lightest
produced in oil refineries are methane and ethane. These normally
serve as fuels in the refineries and can be burnt as waste products if
not saleable.