Natural Gas Properties

• Natural gas is a colourless, odourless and tasteless fossil fuel consisting mainly of methane. Other gases that can form part of natural gas include small amounts of ethane (C2H6), propane (C3H8) and butane (C4H10).
• Formed by the decomposition of organic matter trapped in rock formations beneath the surface of the earth.
• Natural gas is lighter than air, so if it leaks from a pipe or appliance; it won’t sink and form dangerous pools of explosive gas but will instead disperse in the air, unlike other fuels diesel, petrol, propane or LPG, which are heavier than air.
• An odorant (Mercaptan) is added for safety as a ready means of leak detection.
• Most people can easily detect the smell of gas at a concentration as low as 1% by volume in air. That concentration is about 5 times lower than the level that will support combustion. (LEL) Lower Explosive level.