Natural Gas

Natural gas is used in over 60 million homes. In addition, natural gas is used in 78 percent of restaurants, 73 percent of lodging facilities, 51 percent of hospitals, 59 percent of offices, and 58 percent of retail buildings. Natural gas is vital to America's manufacturers, not only to power their operations, but also as an essential feedstock for many of the products we use daily -- clothing, carpets, sports equipment, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment, computers, and auto parts. It is also a primary feedstock for chemicals, plastics and fertilizers. Natural gas fuels our economy. It is a clean burning domestic energy source that powers our economy. It cools and warms our homes and businesses, is used to generate electricity, and helps maintain our quality of life.

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

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. Visit the Center for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to learn more about how LNG can help meet growing U.S. demand for natural gas.

Please see the new Flash animation entitled: “A Closer Look at LNG,” designed to give viewers a better understanding of liquefied natural gas, what it is, why America needs it and how it is used. The animation includes illustrations of how LNG is converted to a liquid and then back to a gas, where LNG comes from, and how LNG is safely shipped to our shores and delivered to homes and businesses.

In this episode of EnergyTomorrow Radio, API's Jane Van Ryan and Sara Banaxzak, with Bill Cooper of the Center for Liquefied Natural Gas, discuss the value and use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as an energy source.

 LNG Podcast

Read the show notes

EnergyTomorrow Radio is a podcast series that features energy industry experts speaking on hot button energy issues. 

Understanding Natural Gas Markets
Natural gas is an attractive fuel because it is clean-burning and efficient. The importance of natural gas as an energy source for the United States has grown since the mid-1990. For the last five to seven years, the price of natural gas has been trending upward in response to the interaction of supply and increased demand. In a project commissioned by API, Lexecon. a unit of business consultancy FTI, has put together a primer called "Understanding Natural Gas Markets" that explains this interaction of market forces.

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Size: 1.8 MB | Date: January 2007 | License: Free

Life is Better with Natural Gas

 Life is Better with Natural Gas 

This interactive uses Flash technology. If you do not have the Flash plug-in installed, click here.

What can you do to help reduce your natural gas bills?
With just a  few steps you can take to make your home more energy-efficient, thereby helping to reduce both your heating and cooling bills. Check your doors and windows for leaks and drafts and add weather stripping as needed. Tune up existing furnaces. Clean filters on forced-air furnaces.  Conduct an "energy audit" of your home to evaluate your heating system's efficiency and determine where heat loss may be occurring. Many fuel dealers and utility providers offer these audits as a free service.  You can also perform your own home energy audit on the Internet, and find other useful tips, by visiting the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Savers Tips web site and following the instructions found there.

Natural Gas
Natural gas costs have increased because of increased summer cooling demand. Relatively high crude oil prices increased demand for natural gas which has also helped push prices upward.

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File Size: 60 KB | Date: July 2006 | License: Free

What Consumers Should Know About Natural Gas
The U.S. Department of Energy publishes a consumer guide on residential gas prices. 

The Wonders of Natural Gas
Natural gas was formed millions of years ago when most of the earth was covered by water. Plant and tiny animal remains were mixed and layered with sand and mud. Today, natural gas gives us clean energy to heat our homes, cook our favorite recipes, dry our clothes and light the great outdoors. Download this PDF to learn why more people choose natural gas for their energy.

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Size: 112 KB | Date: 2002 | License: Free

Liquefied Natural Gas Storage in Underground Salt Caverns Could Increase U.S. Energy Supply
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. The “Bishop Process” is a unique method of unloading and re-gasifying liquefied natural gas (LNG) directly from tankers for storage in underground salt caverns. Salt cavern-based LNG terminals can be built for approximately half the cost and with twice the capacity of conventional liquid tank terminals. This technology potentially could increase the efficiency of extracting natural gas from underground storage sites, making more gas available to consumers during the winter heating season.

Natural Gas Hydrates May Help Fuel the Future
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. Research is now underway to better understand this vast, untapped resource: how natural gas hydrates form, where they are located and how they could be used as a future source of natural gas.

Sound Waves Help Recover Natural Gas
Clogged natural gas storage reservoirs may soon be a thing of the past, due to a low-cost cleaning system developed by a Department of Energy-sponsored team of companies.  The 10-pound device is lowered into the gas storage well and then uses sonic waves to remove any debris.  This technology potentially could increase the efficiency of extracting natural gas from underground storage sites, making more gas available to consumers during the winter heating season.