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Home > About > Natural Gas > About Natural Gas > Where Does Natural Gas Come From?
Natural gas is a combustible, gaseous mixture of simple hydrocarbon compounds, usually found deep in underground reservoirs formed by porous rock. It can be found by itself or with crude oil and hydrocarbon condensates — gases that liquefy at normal atmospheric pressure and closely resemble kerosene.
Slowly, over the course of millions of years, the pressure and heat from the earth turned the remains of plants and tiny sea animals buried by sand and rock into petroleum and natural gas. The main ingredient in natural gas is methane (CH4). Minor amounts of other gases, including ethane, propane, butane and pentane may also be found.
Natural gas is a clean burning fuel, producing primarily carbon dioxide, water vapor and small amounts of nitrogen oxides when combusted.
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