Natural gas is one of the most popular energy sources. Natural gas is a complete energy source that is used for heating, electricity and transport.
Natural gas consists mainly of methane and other longer hydrocarbons as well as various secondary components. Natural gas is differentiated and classified according to its composition:
- Dry gas is natural gas that consists almost exclusively of methane and has only a small proportion of ethane and heavy hydrocarbons.
- In contrast, wet gas contains more than 15% heavy hydrocarbons. In processing plants, this gas is dried after extraction.
- Sour gas: Natural gas with a high proportion of hydrogen sulphide (as well as carbon dioxide) is called sour gas. Before sour gas can be used as a fuel, it is freed of this hydrogen sulphide in gas desulphurisation plants immediately after extraction. The resulting sulphur can then be used to produce dyes, insecticides and artificial fertilisers, among other things.
- Sweet gas: In contrast to sour gas, sweet gas contains very little hydrogen sulphide.