Natural gas forms deep under the ground or under the seabed. It is usually found near oil. Large areas of natural gas are found all over the world, from Nigeria to Russia.
Scientists search for gas in rocks and soil.
Small amounts of natural gas rise up from the ground and escape through tiny holes in rocks and soil. The gas disappears safely into the air. But, when the gas meets rocks without any holes, it becomes trapped. Geologists use a geophone to scan and record movements underground.
Natural gas is invisible. It has no colour, shape or smell. But when gas burns, a flame gives off heat and light. Natural gas is a fossil fuel made from the remains of plants and animals that lived millions of years ago.
Natural gas is an important source of light and heat energy.
Natural gas is made up of different chemicals and gases. The main ingredient is methane, a gas that burns easily. When we burn natural gas, it gives off a lot of energy. This energy is used for cooking and heating. We can even use it to power cars.
There are many gases in the air.
Most of the air that surrounds us is made up of the gases oxygen and nitrogen. We need the gases in the air to breathe. Natural gas is a mixture of different gases and chemicals that form underground.
Natural gas formed millions of years ago from the rotten bodies of dead animals and plants.
Over millions of years, dead plants and animals sank deep into the earth or the seabed. They were pushed down by soil and water. Some remains were squeezed at high temperatures to form rocks. Lower down, oil and natural gas formed.
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