Natural gases are flammable gases that consist mostly of methane and other hydrocarbons. There are two basic types of natural gases, dry and wet. They occur naturally underground through processes like decomposition, erosion, and etc. In the world there are many different types of natural gases. For example, petroleum, propane, and hydrogen are common natural gases. Natural gas is one of the most plentiful nonrenewable resources on Earth and is a great alternative energy source.
The US is the world’s largest natural gas producer. The US obtains its natural gas from onshore and offshore natural gas and oil wells. However, natural gas can also be produced from coal beds. Energy from natural gases are produced by burning the natural gases. One
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For example, natural gas usage does not contaminate the underground or groundwater since its byproducts are in gas form. In fact, the burning of natural gas does not lead to the release of sulfur dioxide or soot of any kind. Also, natural gas emits forty-five percent less carbon dioxide when compared to coal and other fossil fuels. Not only that but natural gas can be used in anything and is seen as a multi-purpose fuel (“Advantages and Disadvantages of Natural Gas,” 2014, May 08). However, natural gas can be toxic and is flammable because it is made up of methane gas (“Advantages and Disadvantages of Natural Gas,” 2014, May 08). Many leaks are common in natural gas production and have been known to cause explosions and start fires. Also, inhaling the byproducts and smoke from natural gas can cause many health problems in people and sometimes cause death. Since natural gas is odorless, the risk of inhaling without knowing is increased unless an odorant is combined in the gas mixture. Also, when natural gas is burned monoxide, carbon dioxide, and other compounds are emitted in the atmosphere and contribute to the greenhouse effect which results in climate change (“Advantages and Disadvantages of Natural Gas,” 2014, May 08). However, with possible extensions on the use of natural gas, these byproducts could be collected and used so that no damage is done to the earth's atmosphere. For example, methane could be used to manufacture organic chemicals. The byproduct mercury could be collected and used in batteries, fluorescent lights and sulfur used for gunpowder and fireworks. Another possible extension would be natural gas vehicles. Natural gas vehicles are vehicles that run on natural gas and are more efficient then vehicles that run on gasoline. Natural gas vehicles are good for high-mileage drivers and travelers ( “Natural Gas Fueling Infrastructure Development,”
Natural gas is very dangerous, especially when the health of people is the main problem. The side effects of natural gas, according to Tox Town the article points out “oxygen can be reduced, causing dizziness, fatigue, nausea, headache, and irregular breathing” and even “death”. Pennsylvania is suffering in a tremendous way people are not consuming water like they used to. In fact, the video from Fracking Hell: The Untold Story” have people explaining how their rivers and have yellow colors, and how strong the water smell. They cannot wash dishes,
In today's global economy, energy is one of the most crucial and sought after commodities. Who supplies it and how much they supply determines how much influence they have over other countries as well as the global economy. This is why hydraulic fracturing is currently such an important and controversial topic in the United States. Hydraulic fracturing, more commonly known as "fracking" or hydrofracturing, is the process of using pressurized liquids to fracture rocks and release hydrocarbons such as shale gas, which burns more efficiently than coal. This booming process of energy production provides a much needed economic boost, creating jobs and providing gas energy for Americans. The efficiently burning shale gas reduces carbon emission from electricity production plants, reducing carbon footprints on the environment. However, the process of hydraulic fracturing uses millions of gallons of pressurized liquid, which contains toxic chemicals, and some of this water is left over undealt with. The air near fracking sites is often also polluted and unsafe for nearby community residents. Injecting millions of gallons of water laced with toxic chemicals into the rock thousands of feet deep can cause earthquakes, causing a safety hazards for all nearby areas. Hydraulic Fracturing makes rare natural gases easily attainable, boosting the economy and reducing carbon emissions. However, the negative side effects such as contaminated water and air, make hydraulic fracturing a process that may not be worth the benefits.
The U.S federal government should significantly increase fracking because oil and gas fracking is big business in America, with more than two million hydraulically fractured wells across the country producing 43 and 67 percent of our national oil and gas outputs, respectively. But in my opinion these wells also nearly played a secondary role as nuclear waste storage sites and had the Atomic Energy Commission had its way with Project Plowshare. And fracking is the process of pumping water deep into the Earth, specifically into underground oil and gas reserves, at tremendous pressures in order to break apart the surrounding rock and free the energy product, which can then be pumped out and used. However in the mid 1950s, scientists from the Atomic Energy Commission and officials from the U.S. Bureau of Mines did begin experimenting with an alternative method of fracking, one that employed nuclear bombs more powerful than anything we dropped on the Japanese.
Methane is also released while drilling & coal mining or due to accidents that lead to leaking gas pipelines
use across all sectors. Natural gas is the second most used energy source in industry, trailing
Fracking is killing this earth. Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a form of drilling into the earth to obtain oil. There are many ways that fracking kills this earth. If fracking continues, Earth as we know it will not be the same. The world will be a healthier place to live if fracking was banned.
The United States relies on imports for about forty percent of its crude oil, which is the lowest rate of dependency since 1991 according to the U.S Energy Information Administration. Today our country is trying to keep on track in becoming less and less dependent. When it comes to the topic of the future ways the United States will get its fuel, most of us readily agree that the United States should become more independent by using natural gas that is already here on our land. Where this argument usually ends, however, is on the question of the consequences drilling for natural gas brings. Whereas some are convinced drilling is safe, others maintain that it is actually in fact dangerous. Hydraulic fracturing or "fracking", the terms for drilling for natural gas, is dangerous to our public health and to the environment because of the water contamination it causes. Therefore, it is not something that should become a project for alternative fuel used by the United States.
There are many types of energy sources in Louisiana that produce natural gas, coal, solar, and biomass. Out of these, petroleum and natural gas are the largest producers of electricity in Louisiana. Together, coal and natural gas make up 78%% of Louisiana’s energy. Actually, coal makes up 21% and natural gas 57% of this states energy. So this means that natural gas and coal are very important to Louisiana’s energy production and consumption. The four types of energy consumers are industrial, residential, commercial, and agricultural.
In 2010, roughly 25 percent of the nation’s energy came from natural gas, a “fossil fuel” which American consumers and businesses heavily depend on for transport, light, and heat (Squire 6). As the U.S. population increases, so do the country’s energy needs. Political debate over how the U.S. can meet those needs has slowly simmered for several decades, escalating exponentially when the energy supply grows short. Disputes over just how clean natural gas is, as opposed to coal, dominate headlines and presidential campaigns alike. During the presidency of George W. Bush, a bill exempting oil and gas companies from federal environmental restrictions was passed, thus paving the way for natural gas companies to expand production across the nation utilizing a new drilling technology, enabling easier extraction of shale gas. The drilling process of hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” has become synonymous with controversy. Why? Fracking involves injecting dangerously toxic chemicals, mixed with large quantities of water and sand, into wells at extremely high pressure, to release natural gas. Promoted by the natural gas industry as a cleaner, safer alternative to coal, the process of fracking has made shale gas plentiful, which sounds to some Americans as the best answer to their energy prayers. However, the negative consequences associated with the extraction of natural gas through fracking, including environmental hazards and threats to public health, far outweigh the benefits.
Drilling for natural gas has been going on since the early nineteenth century and our energy consumption has increased dramatically since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. In the last few years fracking has been making headlines in the news, however not for particularly good reasons. This method has been around since the 1940’s but has gained popularity as a way of tapping natural gas in recent years due in part by the oil crisis and tensions in the Middle East. Since the U.S. has an abundance of natural gas trapped beneath its soil (Daniel 2) one may think that this is a great direction that we are headed in order to sustain our energy needs and not be dependent on foreign oil.
United States is known for their innovation towards alternative energy like solar power, wind power and nuclear power. However , these alternative energies are not completely beneficial towards the United States. For example, Hydrofracking; What is hydrofracking? Gas industries use hydrofracking to extract natural gases from shale ground in order to power Americans homes. When gas industries hydrofrack, they dig ten-thousand feet into the mantle of the earth and turn perpendicular to the t into shale layers with cement and steel casing to prevent leaks.
Gasoline fueled cars produce a number of pollutants. The most damaging pollutants that come from gasoline fueled cars are particulate matter. Particulate matter is a sequence of organic materials and inorganic substances. It includes ingredients such as lint and minerals. Nitrogen dioxide, produced when fuel is burned at high temperatures, can cause damage to the lungs and cause chest pains. One might ask, “Why are Americans still driving gasoline cars?” knowing the damage that they are subject to cause. I personally maintain that the government should push people to p...
Gas has many effects in our society, and some of these effects have a negative impact in our life. Our daily lives depend on gas, when we go to work, school and going out. We use gas for electricity, cars and many other things. The effects of gas are direct and very affecting in our lives because of the many forms it can be used in. There are many negative effects of rising gas cutting back in vacation time, prices of everything is going up “inflation”, car companies making more efficient cars.
Many hazardous pollutants escape from the internal combustion of the engine. Conventional gas powered vehicles use irreplaceable fossil fuels to run. When burned, these fossil fuels create numerous toxins like carbon dioxide (Larminie 246). Carbon dioxide is considered the main greenhouse gas that creates the foundation for global warming (hybridcars.com, pollutants). This harmful pollutant may not have a serious effect on people at first, but it does have consequential effects on the environment that in turn put people in danger (Nutramed.com). The major consequence caused by global warming is the rise in average temperature. This results in a domino...
These fuels include coal, oil products such as gasoline, and natural gas. Use of these fuels has a number of harmful health and environmental effects. According to the World Health Organization, outdoor air pollution, most of it from burning fossil fuels, especially coal kills at least 800,000 people each year and causes health problems for tens of millions of others. Technology is available to reduce such air pollution, but using it is costly and results in higher fuel