brought to you by the Barnett Shale Energy Education Council (BSEEC)

Natural gas is a cleaner burning energy source than other fossil fuels, and is becoming increasingly popular as an alternative fuel. Natural gas is used for heating, generating electricity and as a transportation fuel. It is also a raw material used in things such as plastics, medicines, fertilizers and dyes. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 22 percent of energy consumption in America comes from natural gas. Because natural gas is plentiful in the U.S., using natural gas over oil may help reduce the nation's dependence on foreign energy sources.

When natural gas comes out of the ground, it is a mixture of gases and other substances. Composed primarily of methane, the main products of the combustion of natural gas are carbon dioxide and water vapor, the same compounds we exhale when we breathe. Coal and oil, in comparison, are composed of much more complex molecules, with a higher carbon ratio and higher nitrogen and sulfur contents.

To learn more about natural gas, the drilling process to retrieve it from the Barnett Shale and benefits for using it, visit the BSEEC's dedicated page.