| When we use natural gas powered heaters and | | | | microorganisms known as methanogens. |
| stoves in our homes, we usually neglect to | | | | Methanogens are microscopic organisms which live |
| ponder the fact that these modern conveniences | | | | in environments devoid of oxygen and chemically |
| are made possible by a natural substance of | | | | decompose organic matter, creating methane as |
| ancient origin. Even the electricity supplied by utility | | | | a byproduct. Contrary to the natural gas formed |
| companies often relies on natural gas for | | | | by compression of organic matter under intense |
| production. Natural gas, which is composed | | | | pressure at great depths, methane created by |
| primarily of methane, is an important source of | | | | methanogens is typically found closer to the |
| energy in the world today, burning cleaner and | | | | earth’s surface where the organisms live. |
| producing less harmful emissions than other fuels. | | | | Once natural gas forms within the earth, its low |
| With the widespread use and reliance on natural | | | | density causes it to rise through the path of least |
| gas, one can easily forget that this key source of | | | | resistance, often escaping the earth’s crust |
| energy originated from organisms which lived | | | | and dissipating into the atmosphere. But natural |
| millions of years ago. | | | | gas deposits that are sought for extraction by |
| Several differing theories attempt to explain the | | | | companies such as Western Pipeline Corporation |
| true origin of natural gas, though the most widely | | | | form when impermeable rock “traps” the |
| accepted explanation is that natural gas forms | | | | natural gas within the earth, preventing it from |
| from the remains of ancient microorganisms as | | | | escaping and causing it to collect, creating a |
| well as plant and animal matter that have | | | | reservoir. |
| undergone conditions of extreme heat and | | | | Natural gas is usually located within such reservoirs |
| pressure over very long periods of time. As such | | | | floating atop oil deposits, which have formed |
| organic matter is buried by increasing amounts of | | | | reservoirs in much the same way. However, |
| mud and sediment over time, the resulting | | | | deposits containing only natural gas are not |
| pressure forces it further underground, | | | | unusual. Both the oil and natural gas may be |
| compressing the matter and subjecting it to the | | | | extracted by drilling into the impermeable rock |
| high temperatures that exist deep within the | | | | restricting the fossil fuels to the reservoir. The |
| earth. Intense compression and high temperature | | | | natural pressure already present within the |
| conditions cause carbon bonds in the organic | | | | reservoir allows the fossil fuels to escape on their |
| matter to break down, a chemical transformation | | | | own once the rock containing them is penetrated. |
| resulting in the formation of natural gas and other | | | | Once natural gas is extracted from the earth, it is |
| fossil fuels. | | | | treated (if necessary) and distributed to supply |
| Another way natural gas is formed is by | | | | the energy on which much of the world relies. |