What is Natural Gas?
Natural Gas is a clear, odorless gas. It is composed of methane, a compound with one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms. Millions of years ago, dead plant and animal remains deposited on the sea floor and built up thick layers. This material is called organic matter. As sand and silt deposited on top of this organic matter, it was trapped beneath the rock. As more and more sediment deposited on top of the organic matter, the resulting pressure and heat changed this matter into fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas. The amount of pressure and heat often determined which fossil fuel was formed.
Click here for information from the US. Energy Information Administration on how natural gas is formed.
Natural Gas is a clear, odorless gas. It is composed of methane, a compound with one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms. Millions of years ago, dead plant and animal remains deposited on the sea floor and built up thick layers. This material is called organic matter. As sand and silt deposited on top of this organic matter, it was trapped beneath the rock. As more and more sediment deposited on top of the organic matter, the resulting pressure and heat changed this matter into fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas. The amount of pressure and heat often determined which fossil fuel was formed.
Click here for information from the US. Energy Information Administration on how natural gas is formed.
Is Natural Gas exploration in Virginia regulated?
Yes. Every well and pipeline in Virginia must be permitted through the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy Division of Gas and Oil.
Some aspects of drilling are regulated by other state and federal agencies such as the US Environmental Protection Agency, the US Army Corps of Engineers, the VA Department of Environmental Quality, the VA Marine Resource Commission, the VA Department of Conservation and Recreation, the VA Department of Labor and Industry, just to name a few.
Yes. Every well and pipeline in Virginia must be permitted through the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy Division of Gas and Oil.
Some aspects of drilling are regulated by other state and federal agencies such as the US Environmental Protection Agency, the US Army Corps of Engineers, the VA Department of Environmental Quality, the VA Marine Resource Commission, the VA Department of Conservation and Recreation, the VA Department of Labor and Industry, just to name a few.
How is groundwater protected?
Virginia's water is protected by several levels of regulatory oversight. The Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy has numerous laws and regulations protecting our water. Also, water quality standards for every aspect of drilling have been set by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the Virginia Water Control Board.
Water used during drilling must meet or exceed the groundwater quality within 500 feet of the gas well until the groundwater protection casing is set and cemented. This requires companies to test all groundwater sources surrounding the gas well and to also test the water they use during drilling.
Most fresh water zones are less than 300 feet deep. With this in mind, there are several casing strings that protect groundwater. The groundwater protection casing must be set at least 300 feet deep or 50 feet below the deepest groundwater. This casing string is cemented to surface, meaning the space between the well bore and the steel casing is cemented so any groundwater is isolated from the well bore. Next, the coal protection casing is set through all known coal seams and is also cemented to surface. The production casing is cemented across gas bearing zones, which further isolates natural gas from any fresh water bearing zones.
Water used during drilling must meet or exceed the groundwater quality within 500 feet of the gas well until the groundwater protection casing is set and cemented. This requires companies to test all groundwater sources surrounding the gas well and to also test the water they use during drilling.
Most fresh water zones are less than 300 feet deep. With this in mind, there are several casing strings that protect groundwater. The groundwater protection casing must be set at least 300 feet deep or 50 feet below the deepest groundwater. This casing string is cemented to surface, meaning the space between the well bore and the steel casing is cemented so any groundwater is isolated from the well bore. Next, the coal protection casing is set through all known coal seams and is also cemented to surface. The production casing is cemented across gas bearing zones, which further isolates natural gas from any fresh water bearing zones.
What is Hydraulic Fracturing?
View the attached document for information regarding hydraulic fracturing in Virginia
View the attached document for information regarding hydraulic fracturing in Virginia
| hydraulic_fracturing_in_virginia.pdf |
Additional information on hydraulic fracturing:
US Environmental Protection Agency Report on Hydraulic Fracturing
Carol Browner, Former EPA Administrator and currently President Obama's top energy and environmental policy advisor, issued a 1995 letter of support for hydraulic fracturing. After a complaint in Alabama claimed fracture fluids contaminated a drinking water well, the EPA repeatedly tested the well water quality between May 1989 and March of 1993 and determined that the results "failed to show any chemiclas that would indicate the presence of fracturing fluids."
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How is Natural Gas measured?
Natural gas is measured by volume and stated in cubic feet. The standard unit of measurement is an Mcf, which is 1,000 cubic feet. Below are some common abbrevations.
ccf = hundred cubic feet
Mcf = thousand cubic feet
Mmcf = million cubic feet
Bcf = billion cubic feet
Tcf = trillion cubic feet
To put these measurements into context: 1,000 cubic feet, or 1 Mcf, will meet the natural gas needs of an average home (heating, cooking, etc.) for 4 days.
To compare fuels, we often use the energy content in terms of "Britsh Thermal Units" (BTU's). A BTU is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Farhenheit. On average, 1 cubic foot of natural gas equals 1,000 BTU. This number varies depending on the chemical make-up of the natural gas.
ccf = hundred cubic feet
Mcf = thousand cubic feet
Mmcf = million cubic feet
Bcf = billion cubic feet
Tcf = trillion cubic feet
To put these measurements into context: 1,000 cubic feet, or 1 Mcf, will meet the natural gas needs of an average home (heating, cooking, etc.) for 4 days.
To compare fuels, we often use the energy content in terms of "Britsh Thermal Units" (BTU's). A BTU is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Farhenheit. On average, 1 cubic foot of natural gas equals 1,000 BTU. This number varies depending on the chemical make-up of the natural gas.
Additional FAQ's?
If you have additional topics you would like to see added to this section, please let us know: factmaster@vanatgasfacts.org
If you have additional topics you would like to see added to this section, please let us know: factmaster@vanatgasfacts.org