Natural Gas

New technologies creating new energy. Technological innovation has opened the door to abundant new energy resources in the U.S.

Natural gas is made up of just two elements - carbon and hydrogen. It is part of a family of chemicals known as hydrocarbons, which also includes oil and gasoline. As its name suggests, natural gas comes out of the ground as a gas; oil, gasoline and other hydrocarbons are recovered mixed together in a liquid called crude oil.

Improved technology has contributed to a 9 percent increase in U.S. natural gas production between 2007 and 2008. A trend toward horizontal drilling, in which the well bore turns from vertical to horizontal underground, allows access to natural gas deposits that cannot be reached vertically from the surface.

Horizontal drilling starts with a vertical well that turns horizontal within the reservoir rock in order to expose more open hole to the oil.

Natural gas is an attractive fuel because it is clean-burning and efficient.

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) can play an important role in diversifying and expanding natural gas supplies and should be a part of a comprehensive, market-based energy policy that also encourages the development of domestic natural gas resources.

A new process for unloading and storing Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) could augment the nation’s energy supply and increase worldwide trade of the valuable fuel.

Energy, including clean-burning natural gas, keeps America going.

Conservation and efficient natural gas use must be part of our national strategy to use natural gas wisely and control the pace of increases in natural gas demand.

Gas hydrates – natural gas and water frozen together into a solid substance – are common in arctic permafrost regions and in sediments in the ocean's deep waters.