Is Natural Gas Heavier than Air? (Sources, Weights, Properties)

Natural gas is one of the most flammable gasses in the world (source), comprised of 90% (or more) of methane. It is odorless and widely used across the planet, making up almost a fifth of the world’s natural energy sources. Surprisingly, many people do not know a lot about natural gas, despite its everyday usage.

Is natural gas heavier than air? No, natural gas is not heavier than air, Its molecular weight ranges between 16-18. It is a hydrocarbon mixture composed primarily of methane but includes other components like ethane and propane and small amounts of nitrogen and carbon dioxide. The molecular weight of dry air is estimated to be just under 29.

You walk into your apartment and stop. You sniff the air, and you smell it: gas. Someone probably left the stove on, and your apartment now smells of gas. Not a big deal, as long as you can air out the place quickly. This situation is something that many people may have gone through. 

It also begs the question: What is there to know about natural gas?

What is Air Composed of?

Air is the general term used for the atmosphere around us. Air is composed primarily of nitrogen and oxygen (at 99%), along with argon, carbon dioxide, neon, helium, krypton, hydrogen, and xenon that make up the remaining 1% (source). 

These gases also make up five of the six inert gases on the periodic table. To find out more about these gases, you can read, “What is the difference between Inert and Active Gas?”. 

The phrase “lighter than air” is commonly used, but exactly how heavy is air? The heaviness of air is usually measured by looking at the density of air in an object. For example, an inflated balloon will be heavier than a non-inflated balloon. Due to the pressure of the air inside the balloon, the density of the air has increased (source). 

Sources of Natural Gas

Natural gas is found in coal beds and within the natural gas and oil wells. Within the United States, Texas and Pennsylvania are the top two natural gas-producing states in the country. Because of the high extraction of natural gas within the U.S, almost all gas used within the country originates within American borders (source).

A lot of natural gasses and oils originate from shale mining. Shale is a sedimentary rock that contains organic material that generates oil and natural gas. These accumulate over time, and processing can occur to obtain gas and oil. 

Another type of natural gas is known as tight natural gas and originates from within the ground. However, this gas comes from sandstone and carbonate reservoirs. The bulk of natural gas produced in the U.S comes from shale. 

Natural Gas Produced From The Earth

Natural gas is generally found deep within the earth. Gas reservoirs are always located adjacent to oil wells, and the deeper the well, the higher the percentage of it will be gas (source). 

Natural gas is non-renewable energy that has been growing in the earth’s crust for millions of years, and only in the last few centuries have humans been able to use it safely. As organic remains decomposed and buried under layers of rock and dirt, the pressure on them created a process that changed the remains into hydrocarbon. 

A protective layer of rock usually surrounds the reservoirs of natural gas, especially a “cap rock” on the top that keeps the gas pressurized and safe (source). 

Other natural gas sources

Gases found in the intestines of animals and humans, and low-oxygen areas of the planet, are examples of other natural gas sources. Due to its lighter density, gas can be pulled from the ground or can slowly leak into the environment naturally.

One of the first recorded examples of natural gas usage was found by French explorers who discovered native Americans igniting gases that were seeping out of the area around Lake Erie in 1626 (source). 

However, gas did not become commercialized until the 1800s when William Hart dug the first successful gas well in New York to form the Fredonia Gas Light Company in 1821.

The Formation of Natural Gas

There are many different theories about the origin of fossil fuels. As mentioned before, they can originate from the pressure to organic matter that has been buried underground for thousands of years. 

This process takes place through pressure placed on the organic matter by gathering layers of sediment and mud, along with increased temperatures closer to the earth’s core (source). 

Another method for the formation of natural gas is through tiny microorganisms. Biogenic methane is produced through this method. Methanogens, which are tiny methane-producing microorganisms, break down organic matter. Methanogens occur near the surface of the earth’s atmosphere, where there is no oxygen.

These organisms also live in the intestines of animals. And unfortunately, a lot of the methane produced through this process escapes directly into the atmosphere. However, new technologies are being developed to harvest the gases and decrease the environmental impact of methane release.

Abiogenic processes are another method of natural gas production. This process involves the movement of hydrogen-based gases and carbon molecules. They interact with other minerals which are found underground and, eventually, move towards the surface of the planet, similarly creating methane deposits to thermogenic methane. 

The Natural Gas we Use

Natural gas works in many homes across the U.S, and almost 50% of the homes in America use natural gas for heating. Since there is an abundant supply of gas across the world, the perception of natural gas is a more positive, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly method of energy production compared to other fossil fuels like coal and oil (source). 

Gas is also a significant part of industries as it is used in the production of plastics, medicines, and antifreeze (source). Gas is also used to produce electricity and is seen as a cleaner method compared to coal-powered plants. 

New technologies have also allowed gas to produce heat and electricity at the same time, using gas at optimum levels and lessening the environmental impact.

With growing populations across the world, more vehicles enter the roads every day. Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is another method of powering vehicles, especially heavy trucks, and transportation vehicles. 

CNG releases far fewer carbon emissions compared to gasoline, and the primary disadvantage is that it does not produce the same level of energy compared to gas.

Across the world, the usage of gas is increasing, and predictions state that due to growth in China and Brazil, worldwide gas consumption will increase by 50% in the next 25 years (source). 

However, the United States is still the number one consumer of natural gas, followed closely by Russia and China (source). Therefore, safely producing gas and lessening its environmental impact is vital for the sustainable growth of the gas industry.

How Much Does Natural Gas Weigh Compared to Air?

Natural gas has a lower density than air. It is primarily composed of methane, which is lighter than air (source). A natural gas density calculator shows that natural gas weighs 0.712 kg/m³ (0.04457 lb/ft³) vs. 1.204 kg/m³ (0.07516 lb/ft³) of air. 

Natural gas can be cooled to about -260 degrees Fahrenheit and turned into liquified natural gas (LNG). LNG only takes up 1/600 of the volume in its gaseous state. This allows it to be stored and transported (source).

Natural Gas vs. Methane

Some people may try to speak about natural gas and methane as synonyms, but they are different gases. On the other hand, natural gas is primarily composed of methane, so the differences are minuscule.

What is methane, and how does it differ from “natural gas”?

Methane (CH₄) makes up most of the composition of natural gas. Methane is released when organic matter decomposes (source). It is the most abundant organic compound found on earth, and the consideration is that it is non-toxic. 

This fact might be surprising considering the fatalities that occur due to gas inhalation. However, these are actually due to the lack of oxygen rather than toxicity in the methane itself.

Methane occurs in two forms: organic and thermogenic. Organic methane originates from sources such as landfills and marshes. Human and animal waste products that ferment also release organic methane.

Thermogenic methane is formed in the deeper subsurface and produces natural gas through heat and pressure. Smaller deposits of methane are found closer to the surface alongside oil, while deeper pure methane reservoirs occur at greater depths (source).

It is also known as a greenhouse gas, as it warms the earth’s atmosphere. If it is released directly into the atmosphere, and not burnt, it is far more harmful to the environment compared to carbon dioxide (source). 

While methane makes up a significant portion of natural gas, as mentioned before, natural gas also includes other components in its make up. Natural gas also undergoes a process to remove harmful alkanes before it goes to work in households and businesses. The methane in natural gas also gives it its buoyant quality. 

Sources of Methane

Methane enters the atmosphere from a variety of sources.

Electricity and heat production

Methane may not be the significant greenhouse gas emission in the creation of electricity, but a significant amount of methane releases into the atmosphere from this process. It can also leak through faulty factories and damaged pipelines. These leaks, especially when not found and stopped quickly, can be extremely harmful to the environment. 

Generally, the processed natural gas delivered to homes is almost entirely methane without other toxic chemicals.

Arctic landscape

Permafrost, soil frozen for more than two years, has started to defrost in the Arctic due to increasing temperatures. When permafrost defrosts, organic material releases carbon dioxide and methane into the earth’s atmosphere (source).

Livestock

Methane occurs and releases via livestock. As the earth’s population grows, the desire for meat products is continually increasing. Farmers meet these demands by bringing up larger and larger herds of animals. 

These animals release methane into the atmosphere through their fecal matter. While the idea of cow flatulence sounds pretty comical, ignoring the environmental effects cannot occur. 

In the United States alone, domestic livestock such as cattle, swine, sheep, and goats are the largest producers of methane emissions (source). 

Humans

Our desire for meat is not the only contributor to methane emissions into the environment. Human bodily functions also release methane into the atmosphere. Organic waste sent to landfills, along with wastewater treatment plants, is both responsible for the CH₄ emissions (source).

Humans also cause the bulk of emissions through our actions, while other methane emissions come from natural sources. There has been a massive spike in methane emissions since the year 1800, and we have caused more than a doubling of atmospheric methane levels since then (source).

Properties of Natural Gas

Characteristics

Natural gas is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and shapeless. It is gaseous at any temperature over -161 degrees. It is also a fossil fuel.

Natural gas is measured with British thermal units or Btu. One Btu is the amount of heat needed to increase the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. A cubic foot of gas is equal to about 1032 Btu (source).

Weight

Usually measured by volume, cubic feet is the unit of measure commonly used for natural gas. Natural gas is equivalent to 8.003 pounds per cubic feet.

Flammability

It is highly flammable, but it has a low flammability range, indicating that it is safe for household usage. The autoignition temperature of natural gas is 1003 degrees Fahrenheit (source). 

Smell

As mentioned before, natural gas is odorless. It can prove to be dangerous since gas can be fatal. In 1937, a gas leak caused an explosion at a school in New London, Texas. The blast killed almost 300 students and teachers. It proved to be the catalyst for changing the functioning of the gas industry (source). 

The natural gas has sulfur added, causing it to smell a little like rotten eggs. The chemical mercaptan is used to odorize gas. 

If you smell gas in an area, remove yourself and others from the space as quickly as possible, without turning on any appliances or lights, or anything that may create a spark. A call to 911 should immediately occur, once you are out of range of the gas (source). 

Effect on the Environment

Through this article and many articles about natural gas, it has often been called the clean fossil fuel due to minimal emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2). However, this title is unfair because of the damage that methane can do to the environment. 

Methane is also a greenhouse gas and, even though it has a shorter lifetime in the atmosphere compared to carbon dioxide, it can cause more damage to the environment over 20 years compared to CO2 (source). 

The gases’ lack of density exacerbates it. The gas can rise and trap heat in the upper atmosphere. Methane is 86 times more potent than carbon dioxide in its effect on the environment for over 20 years. It can trap heat that speeds up global warming at an exponential rate (source). 

While it is easy to say that gas is primarily burned, leaks, unfortunately, are part of the process of processing and distributing gas across countries and continents (source). 

Studies have shown that the estimated amount of methane emissions has been miscalculated and is 60% higher than initially thought. These emissions are almost equal to the damage that carbon dioxide has on the environment in the short term (source). 

Leaks can take place at any point through the process of natural gas extraction, from leaks within the ground to leaks in pipes and storage containers. Holes, such as the one in a Houston company in Louisiana, has steel tankers leaking massive amounts of LNG into the air, sparking fears that uncontrolled fires could be started (source). 

In the United States, there are approximately 500,000 natural gas wells, along with 3 million kilometers of pipes. These leave an almost infinite amount of possibilities of leaking natural gas into the environment (source). 

Final Thoughts

The future of gas in the United States has been changing. Gas has always been a significant part of the energy framework in the country and will continue to be part of it for the foreseeable future. Some effort has occurred to minimize the environmental impact, but natural gas is far from the “clean” fossil fuel as the media depicts it.

As for the question about gas being lighter than air: If you ever wake up in a room full of gas, get on the floor, cover your mouth with a wet cloth and crawl your way out of the area. Gas will always be concentrated higher up in the room, and hopefully, that bit of knowledge might be able to save your life.

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