Repsol YPF

Natural gas

Natural gas is a fossil fuel found in the subsoil. It is formed by the decomposition of organic material trapped between rock strata. It is a mixture of light hydrocarbons of which the major component is methane (CH4). In the form in which it is brought to the surface, natural gas is colourless and odourless, non-toxic and lighter than air.

Once brought to the surface, the natural gas must be transported to the zones where it is to be consumed, which may be nearby or thousands of kilometres away. Transport from the gas fields to consumption areas is by large-diameter steel tubes known as gas pipelines.

When transport is by sea and it is not possible to build underwater gas pipelines, the gas is carried by methane tankers. In such cases, the gas is licuated to 160 degrees below zero in order to reduce its volume 600-fold. On arrival, the gas is unloaded at storage and regasification plants.

There it is stored in huge tanks at atmospheric pressure and later injected into the gas pipeline network for transport to centres of consumption. All gas transportation facilities are underground, designed so that the environment can be fully restored and to minimise environmental impact.


More information at www.gasnatural.es