Natural gas refers to all gases that occur naturally in nature, including those formed by various natural processes in the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere (including oilfield gas, gas field gas, mud volcanic gas, coalbed methane, biogenic gas, etc).
The long-used definition of “natural gas” is narrowly defined from an energy perspective and refers to a mixture of hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon gases that are naturally contained in the ground. In petroleum geology, it is usually referred to as oilfield gas and gas field gas. Its composition is dominated by hydrocarbons and contains non-hydrocarbon gases.
Natural gas is one of the safer gases, it does not contain carbon monoxide and is also lighter than air. Once leaked, it immediately spreads upward and is less likely to accumulate to form explosive gases, making it relatively safer than other combustion bodies.
The use of natural gas as an energy source can reduce the use of coal and oil, thus greatly improving the environmental pollution problem; as a clean energy source, natural gas can reduce sulfur dioxide and dust emissions by nearly 100%, reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 60% and nitrogen oxide emissions by 50%, and help reduce acid rain formation, slow down the earth’s greenhouse effect, and fundamentally improve environmental quality.
Natural gas as an automotive fuel has the advantages of high calorific value per unit, low exhaust pollution, reliable supply, low price, etc. It has become the development direction of clean fuel for vehicles in the world, and natural gas vehicles have become the fastest growing and most used new energy vehicles.