Legal Definitions - natural gas

Natural gas refers to a naturally occurring fossil fuel, primarily composed of methane, found deep beneath the Earth's surface. It forms over millions of years from the decomposition of organic matter and is extracted for various purposes, including heating, electricity generation, and as a raw material in industrial processes.

• Example 1: During a cold winter, a homeowner relies on a furnace connected to a utility pipeline to heat their house. The furnace burns natural gas to produce warmth, demonstrating its common use as a residential heating fuel.

  Explanation: This example illustrates natural gas being delivered directly to a consumer's home via a distribution network and combusted to provide heating, a primary application for this fossil fuel.

• Example 2: A large power generation facility operates by burning vast quantities of natural gas to heat water, creating steam that spins turbines to produce electricity for an entire metropolitan area.

  Explanation: Here, natural gas serves as a significant fuel source for large-scale electricity production, highlighting its role in public utilities and energy infrastructure.

• Example 3: A chemical manufacturing plant uses natural gas not just for energy, but also as a fundamental raw material (feedstock) in the production of plastics and fertilizers.

  Explanation: This scenario demonstrates that natural gas has industrial applications beyond simple combustion for heat or power; its chemical components can be transformed into other valuable products.