Natural Gas

Natural gas is, like crude oil, a fossil fuel. Natural wells appear to have existed in the Middle East and in China. Natural gas occurs either associated with crude oil or non-associated. Natural gas is processed before transport and use only as far as is necessary. Therefore, the main properties such as gas composition, and hence energy content, are fairly constant for the final users, who are supplied by pipeline from constant gas sources. Raw natural gas comes from three types of wells: oil wells, gas wells, and condensate wells. Natural gas from oil wells is typically termed "associated gas." The process and equipment used to separate oil from natural gas can vary widely. Although dry pipeline quality natural gas is virtually identical across different geographic areas, raw natural gas from different regions may have different compositions and separation requirements. A large proportion of natural gas is produced far away from industrial or populated areas.