Meghan Hodges
Natural gas is a fossil fuel composed primarily of methane. It is an important source of energy and is used for heating, cooking, electricity generation, and manufacturing. While natural gas combustion emits fewer harmful pollutants than other fossil fuels like coal and oil, it is not entirely pollution-free. The combustion of natural gas releases carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and small amounts of sulfur, mercury, and particulates. Additionally, the production and transportation of natural gas can result in air pollution, water pollution, and land pollution. Well drilling and fracking activities can disturb vegetation, soil, and water resources, and the release of methane and other gases during extraction, storage, and transportation can contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Natural gas is a fossil fuel | Yes |
| Natural gas is pollution-free | No, but it emits fewer harmful pollutants than other fossil fuels |
| Natural gas is a major contributor to climate change | Yes |
| Natural gas contributes to air pollution | Yes |
| Natural gas contributes to water pollution | Yes |
| Natural gas is a major source of carbon pollution | Yes |
| Natural gas emits nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds | Yes |
| Natural gas leaks can cause explosions | Yes |
| Natural gas drilling affects vegetation, soil, and water resources | Yes |
| Natural gas drilling produces contaminated water | Yes |
| Natural gas drilling affects local air quality | Yes |
| Natural gas drilling causes erosion and sedimentation | Yes |
| Natural gas drilling contaminates groundwater | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
Natural gas is a fossil fuel
Natural gas is found in underground geological formations, often alongside other fossil fuels like coal and oil (petroleum). The search for natural gas deposits begins with geologists who study the structure and processes of the earth. They often use seismic surveys on land and in the ocean to find the right places to drill natural gas and oil wells. Seismic surveys create and measure seismic waves in the earth to gather information on the geology of rock formations.
Once a natural gas deposit is located, a well is drilled to extract the gas. Natural gas wells can be drilled vertically or horizontally into natural gas-bearing formations. In conventional natural gas deposits, the gas flows easily up through wells to the surface. However, in unconventional natural gas deposits, such as shale gas or tight gas, hydraulic fracturing (fracking) is used to release the gas from the rock. This process involves pumping liquids under high pressure into a well to fracture the rock, allowing the natural gas to escape.
The production and use of natural gas have significant environmental impacts. Well drilling activities produce air pollution and can disturb vegetation, soil, water resources, and local wildlife. The construction process can also cause erosion and the contamination of nearby water sources with chemicals and wastewater. Additionally, natural gas leaks can occur during the extraction, storage, transportation, and distribution of the fuel, releasing methane and other harmful gases into the atmosphere.
When burned for heat, electricity, or cooking, natural gas emits fewer toxic air pollutants and less carbon dioxide compared to other fossil fuels like coal or petroleum. However, gas venting and unintended fugitive emissions can result in natural gas having a similar carbon footprint to other fossil fuels. The combustion of natural gas also produces nitrogen oxides (NOx), which contribute to smog formation and have adverse health effects, including respiratory issues and increased susceptibility to respiratory infections.
Overall, natural gas, as a fossil fuel, has environmental and health impacts throughout its lifecycle, from extraction to combustion. While it may have cleaner-burning properties compared to some other fossil fuels, it still contributes to air pollution, water pollution, and climate change.
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Natural gas is a major contributor to climate change
Natural gas is a fossil fuel, and a major contributor to climate change. It is a source of air and water pollution and produces carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions when burned for energy. While it is relatively clean-burning compared to coal or petroleum, natural gas is still a significant emitter of greenhouse gases, particularly methane.
The combustion of natural gas releases nitrogen oxides (NOx), which contribute to smog formation, as well as small amounts of sulfur, mercury, and particulates. The production and use of natural gas also have environmental implications. Well drilling and pipeline construction can disturb vegetation, soil, and water resources, leading to air and water pollution. Unconventional gas development has been linked to increased concentrations of hazardous air pollutants, including particulate matter and ozone, which have adverse effects on human health and the environment.
The extraction and transportation of natural gas can further contribute to climate change. Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, a common method for extracting natural gas, requires large amounts of water, impacting aquatic habitats and water availability. The energy-intensive process of liquefying and transporting natural gas can also negate any potential climate advantages it may have over other fossil fuels.
Additionally, natural gas leaks contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimated that in 2021, methane emissions from natural gas systems and abandoned wells accounted for about 33% of total US methane emissions and 4% of total US greenhouse gas emissions. Improperly constructed or failing wells can also allow gas to leak into groundwater, leading to contamination.
The combustion of natural gas for energy has a high carbon footprint. In 2020, the total carbon footprint of gas in the United States was almost double that of coal, accounting for over 36% of energy-related CO2 emissions in the country. The gas industry also emits nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds, contributing to ground-level ozone and various health risks.
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Natural gas leaks can cause explosions
Natural gas is a fossil fuel and a major contributor to air pollution, water pollution, and climate change. It emits pollution when burned for energy, although the amount of pollution emitted is less than that of coal or petroleum products.
In some cases, gas explosions have caused injuries, property damage, and even death. For instance, a gas explosion in an apartment building in Arkhangelsk, Russia, in 2004 killed 58 people. Another gas explosion in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in 2011 killed five people and destroyed a city block.
To mitigate the risk of explosions, strict government regulations and industry standards are in place to ensure the safe transportation, storage, distribution, and consumption of natural gas. Additionally, natural gas companies add a substance called mercaptan to natural gas to give it a distinctive odour so that people can quickly detect leaks. If you suspect a gas leak, it is important to treat it as an emergency, move to an area with clean air, and contact your local service for leak detection and repair.
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Natural gas emits fewer pollutants than other fossil fuels
Natural gas is a fossil fuel and a major source of energy in the US. It is considered cleaner than other fossil fuels like coal and oil because burning it produces fewer conventional air pollutants, such as sulfur dioxide and particulates. It also produces fewer carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per unit of energy—about half that of coal. As a result, natural gas has become an increasingly popular fuel choice for electricity generation and fleet vehicle fuel in the United States.
However, natural gas is not entirely pollution-free. The combustion of natural gas produces nitrogen oxides (NOx), which are precursors to smog, and small amounts of sulfur, mercury, and particulates. It also emits volatile organic compounds, which contribute to the creation of ground-level ozone and increase the risk of respiratory infections and other adverse health effects.
The production and extraction of natural gas can also have negative environmental consequences. Well drilling activities can disturb vegetation, soil, and water resources. Additionally, natural gas wells and pipelines often have engines that produce air pollutants and noise. Unconventional gas development can also impact local and regional air quality, with residents living near gas well sites experiencing adverse health outcomes from air pollution.
While natural gas may be a cleaner alternative to other fossil fuels, it is not a perfect solution. Leaks of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, from natural gas facilities and pipelines can contribute significantly to climate change. The environmental impact of natural gas is a complex issue that requires further research and regulation to ensure a responsible transition to renewable energy sources.
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Natural gas production can contaminate water supplies
Natural gas is a fossil fuel and a major contributor to air pollution, water pollution, and climate change. Natural gas production and use have several environmental and safety considerations. For instance, when geologists explore for natural gas deposits on land, they may disturb vegetation and soil with their vehicles. Drilling a natural gas well on land may require clearing and levelling an area around the well site. Well drilling activities produce air pollution and may disturb people, wildlife, and water resources. Laying pipelines that transport natural gas from wells usually requires clearing land to bury the pipe.
Natural gas production can also produce large volumes of contaminated water. This contaminated water requires proper handling, storage, and treatment so that it does not pollute land and other waters. Natural gas wells and pipelines often have engines to run equipment and compressors, which produce air pollutants and noise. In some areas, natural gas produced at oil wells is not economical to transport for sale or contains high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide (a toxic gas), so it is burned (flared) at well sites.
Hydraulic fracturing (commonly called hydrofracking, fracking, or fracing) of shale, sandstone, and carbonate rock formations is opening up large reserves of natural gas that were previously too expensive to develop. However, fracking involves pumping liquids under high pressure into a well to fracture the rock, which allows natural gas to escape from the rock. Fracturing wells requires large amounts of water. In some areas, high water consumption for fracking may affect aquatic habitats and the availability of water for other uses. If mismanaged, hydraulic fracturing fluid—which may contain potentially hazardous chemicals—could be released through spills, leaks, faulty well construction, or other exposure pathways. These releases could contaminate surrounding areas. Hydraulic fracturing produces large amounts of wastewater at the surface, which may contain dissolved chemicals and other contaminants that require treatment before disposal or reuse. Because of the quantity of water produced and the complexities inherent in treating some of the wastewater components, proper wastewater treatment and disposal is important.
There have been documented cases of groundwater near oil and gas wells being contaminated with fracking fluids as well as with gases, including methane and volatile organic compounds. One major cause of gas contamination is improperly constructed or failing wells that allow gas to leak from the well into groundwater. Cases of contamination have been documented in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Another potential avenue for groundwater contamination is natural or man-made fractures in the subsurface, which could allow stray gas to move directly between an oil and gas formation and groundwater supplies. In addition to gases, groundwater can become contaminated with hydraulic fracturing fluid. In several cases, groundwater was contaminated from surface leaks and spills of fracturing fluid. Fracturing fluid may also migrate along abandoned wells, around improperly sealed and constructed wells, through induced fractures, or through failed wastewater pit liners.
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Frequently asked questions
No, natural gas combustion is not entirely pollution-free. While natural gas is the cleanest of all fossil fuels and emits fewer harmful pollutants than other fossil fuels, it still releases some pollutants such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and small amounts of sulfur, mercury, and particulates.
Natural gas combustion produces fewer emissions of almost all types of air pollutants and carbon dioxide compared to burning coal or petroleum products. For example, coal and oil release higher levels of nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and ash particles, which contribute to pollution. However, it is important to consider the entire life cycle of natural gas, as production and transportation can result in similar overall carbon footprints to other fossil fuels.
The extraction and production of natural gas can have significant environmental impacts, including air pollution, water pollution, and habitat disruption. Well drilling and pipeline construction can disturb vegetation, soil, and water resources, and produce contaminated water that requires proper treatment to prevent pollution. Additionally, natural gas leaks during extraction, storage, transportation, and distribution can contribute to methane emissions and increase the risk of explosions.
