Natural Gas Pipelines
There are more than 2.6 million miles of pipeline in the United States, and there is a constant stream of new construction within the pipeline industry. Sawyer Manufacturing is proud to be at the heart of every phase in that construction process.
When a pipeline is built, pipe is bent, beveled, welded, tested, and finally lifted into place, but what about the stuff transported in the completed pipeline? This post will serve as a brief primer on one of the major products transported within the pipeline system: natural gas.
What is Natural Gas?
What is typically referred to as “natural gas” can actually be a varying mixture of hydrocarbon gases. Methane typically comprises 70-90 percent of natural gas composition, but it can also include ethane, propane, butane and pentane. When it’s nearly pure methane, which is what the final product delivered to your home typically is, natural gas is referred to as “dry.” When other hydrocarbons are present, it is “wet” gas.
What’s with the smell?
We often associate a particular odor of rotten eggs with natural gas. However, natural gas is actually colorless and odorless in its pure form. That distinctive smell everyone recognizes is actually an additive called mercaptan that helps in leak detection.
How much Natural Gas exists?
According to the U.S Energy Information Administration, there are more than 390 trillion cubic feet of proved natural gas reserves in North America. When taking into account the reserves found throughout the rest of the world, that figure balloons to an astounding 6,972.518 trillion cubic feet. It’s clear that natural gas will be an integral part of providing for the world’s energy needs for many years to come, and Sawyer will be there all along the way with the pipeline equipment and accessories to get the job done.