Natural Gas – History, Extraction, Impacts, and Future

Eternal flames

Natural gas ignited for religious ceremonies in ancient cultures like Greece and China.

Gas lamps

Used in the 1800s for lighting before the advent of electricity.

LNG Technology

Liquefied Natural Gas technology, emerged in the 1950s–1970s, enabling global trade.

Shale gas boom

Period starting in the 1990s, marked by increased natural gas production through fracking.

Conventional drilling

Traditional method used for extracting natural gas from gas reservoirs.

Hydraulic fracturing (Fracking)

Technique used to extract shale gas by injecting high-pressure fluid.

Pipelines

High-pressure systems used primarily for transporting natural gas.

CNG (Compressed Natural Gas)

Natural gas compressed to be used as a fuel for vehicles.

Combined-cycle plants

Electricity generation plants that operate at 45-60% efficiency using natural gas.

Methane Leak Detection

Technologies like infrared cameras and satellites used to identify gas leaks.

Flaring Reduction

Process of capturing excess gas instead of burning it off.

Carbon Capture

Experimental technology aimed at reducing carbon emissions in power plants.

Economic advantages of natural gas

Cheap and abundant, supports transitions to cleaner energy sources.

Environmental concerns of natural gas

Methane leaks are 25 times more harmful to the climate than CO₂ emissions.

Fracking controversies

Debates surrounding water usage and seismic activity associated with fracking.

Transition Fuel

Natural gas is seen as a bridge between fossil fuels and renewable energy sources.

LNG Demand Growth

Increasing need for liquefied natural gas driven by Asia's energy demands.

Methane Regulations

Stricter rules being implemented to control methane leaks and flaring practices.

Hydrogen Blend

The concept of mixing natural gas with hydrogen to produce cleaner energy.