What is natural gas?

Natural gas Is a pure natural product

Natural gas is colourless, non-toxic and almost half as light as air. Like oil, natural gas is obtained by drilling into the earth and is piped in its naturally gaseous state from gas fields to users via transmission and supply pipelines, compressor and pressure reduction stations.

The composition of natural gas varies slightly depending on where it originates. The natural gas imported into Finland is extremely pure and of extremely consistent quality. It consists of about 98 per cent methane and 2 per cent ethane and nitrogen, with minor traces of propane, hydrocarbon and oxygen. Natural gas from Western Siberia contains virtually no sulphur.

Natural gas has an effective thermal value of 36 MJ per cubic metre.

The thermal value of one cubic metre of natural gas is equivalent to that of one litre of light fuel oil.