What Is Released When Natural Gas Is Burned?

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Natural gas accounts for over a quarter of our energy consumption in the United States. It’s primarily utilized in households to power heating and cooking equipment. It can, however, be used to power cars instead of petroleum. Natural gas burning produces only carbon dioxide and water vapor as byproducts, making it a very clean fuel when compared to coal and petroleum, which produce more carbon dioxide and other toxic byproducts.

When natural gas is burned, what is produced?

Natural gas’ qualities combine to make it the safest, cleanest, and most ecologically friendly energy source for the twenty-first century.

  • A combination of numerous light hydrocarbons and other gases that occurs spontaneously. Methane, which is made up of one part carbon and four parts hydrogen, is the main component of natural gas (CH4).
  • Non-corrosive and lighter than air.
  • In its natural state, it is odorless and colorless.
  • As a result, a stench similar to rotten eggs is added to Natural Gas for safety concerns, allowing leaks to be detected and rectified.
  • At any temperature above -260 degrees Fahrenheit, it becomes gaseous.
  • It is non-toxic and does not contain any hazardous elements, yet it can displace oxygen in enclosed places if used in excessive quantities.
  • Methane burns cleanly and produces little pollutants when burned.
  • Carbon dioxide and water vapor are the primary by-products of natural gas burning when done correctly.
  • Natural gas creates less carbon dioxide and other pollutants than any other fossil fuel because methane has just one carbon atom.
  • It’s safer to use than most other fuels.
  • Natural gas does not burn on its own. Only a correct mixture of gas and air, with a flammability range of around 5 to 15 percent natural gas and 95 to 85 percent air, can cause combustion. Even with the right mixture, a high ignition temperature of around 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit is required.
  • Because it is a potent greenhouse gas, burning it and creating carbon dioxide is preferable to releasing it into the atmosphere.

Natural Gas is the safest energy source available because of all of these qualities. It is even safer if you understand and implement proper safety procedures.

When natural gas is used, what is released, making it the cleanest fossil fuel?

Natural gas, which is mostly made up of methane, is the most environmentally friendly fossil fuel. Methane may literally pull carbon out of the air when it is created from non-fossil sources like food and green waste. Methane is a tremendous environmental benefit since it produces more heat and light energy per unit of mass than any other hydrocarbon or fossil fuel, including coal and gasoline refined from oil, while emitting far less carbon dioxide and other pollutants that contribute to smog and unhealthy air. This means that the more natural gas is used to generate electricity rather than coal, or to fuel automobiles, trucks, and buses instead of gasoline, the fewer greenhouse gas emissions and smog-related pollutants are created.

Methane that is discharged into the atmosphere before being burned, on the other hand, is hazardous to the environment. Methane contributes to climate change because of its ability to trap heat in the atmosphere. Although methane has a short lifetime in the atmosphere compared to other greenhouse gases, it is more effective at trapping heat than those other gases. While natural processes in soil and chemical reactions in the atmosphere aid in the removal of methane from the atmosphere, it is critical that all human activities that add methane to the atmosphere be carried out in ways that limit methane emissions. This includes developing techniques to catch and utilise methane that would otherwise be discharged into the atmosphere. Methane from waste water treatment plants or dairies, for example, can be caught and used as a fuel to minimize methane emissions while also reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

Is CO2 released when natural gas is burned?

To create the same amount of electricity, natural gas emits about half as much CO2 as coal. It also produces a lot less pollution that is harmful to human health.

Is carbon monoxide produced by natural gas?

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a toxic gas that you can’t see, smell, or taste. It is formed when carbon-based fuels such as kerosene, gasoline, natural gas, propane, charcoal, or wood are burned incompletely due to a lack of oxygen.

Is methane produced when natural gas is burned?

Natural gas is displacing coal, which could help combat climate change by emitting fewer carbon emissions when used. However, natural gas production and transportation emit methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. What is the scope of the methane problem?

Thousands of methane emissions measurements have been taken at more than 700 sites in the production, gathering, processing, transmission, and storage portions of the natural gas supply chain by our research teams at Colorado State University during the last five years.

This knowledge has provided us with a unique perspective on the key sources of methane emissions from natural gas, as well as the issues the sector faces in detecting and lowering, if not eradicating, these emissions.

Our findings, as well as that of a number of other researchers, was recently incorporated into a new study published in the journal Science. Methane emissions from oil and gas activities appear to be significantly greater than current EPA estimates, according to this extensive analysis.

What’s wrong with methane

Divide the amount of methane emitted each year by the total amount of methane pumped out of the ground each year from natural gas and oil wells to get the size of the methane leakage. According to the EPA, the rate of methane leakage is now estimated to be 1.4 percent. That is, 1.4 percent of each cubic foot of natural gas extracted from subsurface reservoirs is lost to the environment.

The results of a five-year series of 16 investigations coordinated by environmental advocacy group Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), which included more than 140 researchers from over 40 institutions and 50 natural gas firms, were compiled in this study.

The endeavor brought together academics from universities, think tanks, and the oil and gas industry to create the most accurate estimate of total methane emissions from all US oil and gas operations. It combined information from a variety of previous research with measurements taken on the ground and in the air.

According to the findings of the new study, the United States’ oil and gas industry leaks 13 million metric tons of methane each year, or a methane leak rate of 2.3 percent. The 60 percent gap between our new estimate and the current EPA estimate might have significant climate implications.

Quizlet: What is released when natural gas is burned?

– Carbon dioxide and water are the byproducts of its combustion. Although natural gas combustion creates carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, it produces less carbon dioxide per unit of energy produced than coal or oil combustion.

Is it safe to burn natural gas?

When natural gas is burned for energy, it produces fewer air pollutants and carbon dioxide (CO2) than when coal or petroleum products are burned to produce the same amount of energy. Natural gas emits about 117 pounds of CO2 per million British thermal units (MMBtu), compared to more than 200 pounds per MMBtu from coal and more than 160 pounds per MMBtu from distillate fuel oil. Natural gas’s clean-burning attributes have contributed to greater natural gas use in the United States for electricity generation and as a transportation fuel for fleet cars.

How much CO2 is released by natural gas?

In 2019, the United States had 120.9 million households (EIA 2020a). Each home used an average of 11,880 kWh of provided power. In 2019, total household consumption of natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, and fuel oil was 5.23 quadrillion Btu, 0.46 quadrillion Btu, and 0.45 quadrillion Btu, respectively (EIA 2020a). This equates to 41,510 cubic feet of natural gas, 42 gallons of liquefied petroleum gas, and 27 gallons of fuel oil per family in the United States.

In 2019, the national average carbon dioxide output rate for generated energy was 884.2 lbs CO2 per megawatt-hour (EPA 2021), equating to around 953.7 lbs CO2 per megawatt-hour for delivered electricity (assuming 7.3 percent transmission and distribution losses) (EPA 2021; EIA 2020b).

1

Natural gas has an average carbon dioxide coefficient of 0.0551 kg CO2 per cubic foot (EIA 2019). The total amount of CO2 oxidized is 100 percent (IPCC 2006).

Distillate fuel oil has an average carbon dioxide coefficient of 431.87 kg CO2 per 42-gallon barrel (EPA 2021). The total amount of CO2 oxidized is 100 percent (IPCC 2006).

Liquefied petroleum gases have an average carbon dioxide coefficient of 235.7 kg CO2 per 42-gallon barrel (EPA 2021). The oxidized percentage is 100 percent (IPCC 2006).

Total CO2 emissions per home were calculated by converting total residential electricity, natural gas, distillate fuel oil, and liquefied petroleum gas consumption from various units to metric tons of CO2.

Calculation

Note that due to rounding, the results of the computations given in the equations below may not be correct.

1. Electricity: 11,880 kWh per home(1/(1-0.073)) = 884.2 lbs CO2 per megawatt-hour generated MWh produced vs. MWh delivered 1 metric ton/2,204.6 lb = 5.139 metric tons CO2/home = 1 MWh/1,000 kWh1 metric ton/2,204.6 lb = 1 metric ton/2,204.6 lb = 1 metric ton/2,204.6 l

2. Natural gas: per residence, 41,510 cubic feet

2.29 metric tons CO2/home = 0.0551 kg CO2/cubic foot/1,000 kg/metric ton

3. LPG (liquefied petroleum gas): 42 gallons per household

1/42 gallon/barrel

CO2/barrel: 235.7 kg

0.23 metric tons CO2/home = 1/1,000 kg/metric ton

4. Fuel oil consumption: 27 gallons per household

1/42 gallon/barrel

CO2/barrel: 431.87 kg

0.28 metric tons CO2/home = 1/1,000 kg/metric ton

5.139 metric tons CO2 for electricity + 2.29 metric tons CO2 for natural gas + 0.23 metric tons CO2 for liquid petroleum gas + 0.29 metric tons CO2 for fuel oil = 7.94 metric tons CO2 per residence per year.

Sources

  • Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) (2020a). Residential Sector Key Indicators and Consumption, Table A4 of the 2020 Annual Energy Outlook.
  • Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) (2020b). Table A8: Electricity Supply, Disposition, Prices, and Emissions in the 2020 Annual Energy Outlook.
  • Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) (2019). Table A4: Approximate Heat Content of Natural Gas for End-Use Sector Consumption, Monthly Energy Review November 2019. (PDF) (About PDF, 270 pages, 2.65 MB)
  • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (2021). Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks in the United States, 1990-2019. Tables A-47 and A-53 in Annex 2 (Methodology for Estimating CO2 Emissions from Fossil Fuel Combustion). Washington, DC: US Environmental Protection Agency. #430-R-20-002 (PDF) (US EPA) (96 pp, 2 MB, About PDF)
  • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (2021). eGRID, yearly national emission factor for the United States, data for 2019. Washington, DC: US Environmental Protection Agency.
  • IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) (2006). The IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories were published in 2006. 2nd Edition (Energy). Geneva, Switzerland: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

What is the process by which natural gas emits CO2 into the atmosphere?

Natural gas is promoted as a clean energy source, however the reality differs significantly. Natural gas is a fossil fuel that is extremely polluting.

Climate change

Carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere when fossil fuels are burned, increasing CO2 levels, trapping heat, and contributing to global climate change.

  • Despite the fact that natural gas burns cleaner than coal and liquid petroleum, it nevertheless releases a significant quantity of carbon into the atmosphere in the form of CO2 and methane.
  • During the combustion process, which is utilized to generate power, CO2 is released.
  • During the extraction and transportation of natural gas, huge amounts of methane are released. Methane is a greenhouse gas that is 87 times more potent than CO2 over the course of a 20-year span (1).
  • Global methane emissions have risen considerably since 2002, according to studies. This is largely attributable to an increase in natural gas extraction in the United States. Leaked methane cancels out any CO2 reductions achieved by switching from coal to natural gas (1,2).

Air pollution

Another consequence of fossil fuel consumption is air pollution. Air pollution has a more regional influence than carbon dioxide and can have disastrous consequences for local communities and ecosystems.

  • Pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are released into the atmosphere when natural gas leaks at extraction sites. Ground-level ozone, often known as smog, is formed when VOCs such as trimethylbenzenes, xylenes, and aliphatic hydrocarbons combine. Smog can have a variety of respiratory and cardiovascular effects, and it is especially hazardous to the elderly, children, and asthmatics (3,4).
  • Workers and adjacent residents are exposed to diesel fumes from the operation of vehicles and machinery, as well as gas leaks on drill sites. People who reside in places where there is a lot of oil and gas production are more likely to get chronic illnesses and cancer (5).

Water pollution

Water contamination, like air pollution, is a more localized consequence of fossil fuel consumption. Water is generally contaminated during the extraction process or when waste materials are handled. Water contamination can have serious consequences for both human health and the environment.

  • Fracking, commonly known as hydraulic fracturing, is a method of extracting natural gas from wells. Fracking is a risky procedure for several reasons:
  • Fracking can utilize between 1.5 and 15.8 million gallons of water per well, depending on location and well type (6).
  • These wells’ wastewater is frequently disposed of by injecting it far down into Class II injection wells. These wells have the potential to create earthquakes in the surrounding area, according to evidence. This not only endangers people and structures, but it also raises the risk of wastewater poisoning of groundwater (7,8)
  • Additives in fracking fluid can contaminate groundwater due to accidents or poorly constructed wells (9). These additives may contain toxic substances like benzene and lead that are harmful to humans (9,10).
  • The components of fracking fluid are not needed to be disclosed by extraction businesses. Many components are classified as “trade secrets” and are never disclosed to regulatory authorities (10).
  • Natural radioactive elements frequently rise to the surface, where they might clog wastewater systems. Maintenance employees may be exposed to greater than typical quantities of radiation as a result of this (11).

(1) EPA. Environmental Protection Agency. Web. 23 Aug. 2016. “Overview of Greenhouse Gases.” EPA. Environmental Protection Agency. Web. 23 Aug. 2016.

(2) A. J. Turner, D. J. Jacob, J. Benmergui, S. C. Wofsy, J. D. Maasakkers, A. Butz, O. Hasekamp, and S. C. Biraud, A. J. Turner, D. J. Jacob, J. Benmergui, S. C. Wofsy, J. D. Maasakkers, A. Butz, O. Hasekamp, and S. C. “Satellite Data and Surface Observations Show a Significant Increase in US Methane Emissions Over the Last Decade.” 2218-224 in Geophysical Research Letters 43.5 (2016).

(3) If you’re looking for a “EPA.gov. Environmental Protection Agency. Web. 23 Aug. 2016. Health Effects of Ozone Pollution. EPA.gov. Environmental Protection Agency. Web. 23 Aug. 2016.

(4) “Air Pollution’s Health Effects.” CalEPA.gov. Air Resources Board, California Environmental Protection Agency. Web. 23 Aug. 2016.

Lisa Mckenzie, Roxana Z. Witter, Lee S. Newman, and John L. Adgate. (5) Mckenzie, Lisa M., Roxana Z. Witter, Lee S. Newman, and John L. Adgate. “Assessment of the danger of air pollution from the development of unconventional natural gas resources to human health.” Environmental Science is the study of the entire environment (2012)

“Methodology for analyzing volumes of water and proppant injection, as well as water generation linked with the development of continuous petroleum accumulations,” by S.S. Haines. 1117-18, USGS, U.S. Geological Survey, 2015.

W. L. Ellsworth, W. L. Ellsworth, W. L. Ellsworth, W. L. Ellsworth, W. L. Ellsworth, W. L. Ellsworth, W. L. Ellsworth, W. L. Ellsworth, W. L. Ellsworth

(nine) “U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Minimizing and Managing Potential Impacts of Injection-Induced Seismicity from Class II Disposal Wells: Practical Approaches, EPA.gov (2015)

EPA.gov has a report titled “Assessment of the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil and Gas on Drinking Water Resources.” Environmental Protection Agency of the United States (2015)

“Chemicals Used in Hydraulic Fracturing,” no. ten. Committee on Energy and Commerce, United States House of Representatives (2011)

(11) “TENORM: Wastes from Oil and Gas Production.” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA.gov, 23 August 2016.

Is natural gas a source of CO2?

In relation to the energy they create when burned, different fuels emit varied amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2). Compare the quantity of CO2 emitted per unit of energy output or heat content to compare emissions across fuels. CO2 emissions coefficients per unit of volume or mass and per million British thermal units are published by the US Energy Information Administration.

When a fuel is burned, the amount of CO2 created is a function of the carbon content of the fuel. The carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) content of a fuel determine its heat content, or the quantity of energy released when it is burned. When carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) combine with oxygen (O) during combustion, heat is created. Natural gas is mostly composed of methane (CH4), which has a larger energy content than other fuels and consequently a lower CO2-to-energy ratio. Water and different components in some fuels, such as sulfur and noncombustible elements, lower their heating values and raise their CO2-to-heat content.

For further information, go to:

What are the emissions factors for greenhouse gases and air pollutants for fuels and electricity?

Other FAQs about Environment

  • What is the difference between short and metric tons?
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