Natural gas is a fossil fuel called a “hydrocarbon”, consisting solely of carbon (C) and hydrogen (H).
The main component of natural gas is methane, for which the chemical formula is CH4. Natural gas may also have other molecules such as ethane, propane, butane, and hydrogen dioxide, among others.
Natural gas exists in deposits under the earth’s surface or is produced through anaerobic digestion of organic waste, such as that found in garbage dumps.
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is natural gas that has been cooled until it condenses into a liquid, which occurs at an approximate temperature of -161° Celsius at atmospheric pressure. It is stored in liquid form, its volume being thus reduced 600 times in comparison with its gaseous state, making it cheaper to transport safely between continents in special sea-going vessels without losing its essential characteristics. The liquefaction process requires the extraction of some of the non-methane components to prevent it from solidifying when the gas is cooled, obtaining a methane concentration of 99%in the LNG.