9781422285596

is a mix of gaseous substances found naturally deep in the ground. The North American continent has huge amounts, or reserves, of natural gas. The United States ranks 5th in the list of nations with most natural gas reserves, and Canada is also in the top 20. Natural gas, petroleum oil (usually just called oil), and coal make up the “Big Three” fossil fuels. They were formed from the preserved remains, or fossils, of living things that thrived and died millions of years ago. The processes that made natural gas are similar to those that formed petroleum oil, and these two resources are often found together. Their drilling, extraction, transport, and processing (or refining) also have many similarities. So the natural gas and petroleum oil industries are closely linked, and many big companies deal in both. Natural gas burns in a “cleaner” way—that is, with less pollution— than coal or oil fuels such as gasoline, diesel, and kerosene. In addition, its world stores, or reserves, are expected to last more than 250 years, which is longer than coal or petroleum oil. About one-quarter of North America’s energy needs are filled by natural gas and its products, and more than 19/20ths of this is produced on the North American continent itself. So the natural gas business in North America is less at risk from problems with world energy supplies, which can be affected by many events, such as wars or terrorist attacks. Even though natural gas has some advantages over other fossil fuels, it still contributes greatly to climate change. Drilling, extraction, transport, and storage cause various forms of pollution and bring safety hazards like fires and explosions. Fracking, a process of extracting oil or gas from rock formations deep in the ground, has many of its own concerns. Also, gas is not renewable. It is a precious resource, and its use is growing, but it is probably not a long-term solution to future energy needs.

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