Gas
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Natural gas is a fossil fuel consisting primarily of methane. Both oil and gas are produced by the anaerobic decay of organic material under the surface of the earth. They are therefore often found together. In general, gas is generated at higher temperatures and deeper under the surface than oil. Both oil and gas can be extracted by drilling, they are lighter than water and they tend to rise from their sources when released from their underground pockets. Petroleum is mostly used for producing fuel, oil and petrol. Methane is a green house gas that contributes to the green house effect. The world’s largest gas fields are situated in Iran, Russia and Kazakhstan.
Photo: Anna Kireeva/Bellona
Photo: Ruth Astrid Saeter
Photo: Anne Karin Saether/Bellona
Scottish and Southern Energy plc (SSE) announced its decision to go forward with a CCS project at its gas-fired power station at Peterhead, Aberdeenshire. This announcement comes right after recent advice issued by the UK Committee on Climate Change (CCC) to the UK Government for CCS equipment fitting to all new gas-fired power stations.
A roundtable discussion organised by the German Marshall Fund of the US (GMF) was held in Brussels last week. The roundtable discussed Russian coal production in the context of Dmitry Medvedev’s, President of the Russian Federation, announcement in November 2009 that Russia was looking to expand its coal-fired energy production by 26% in time for 2030 to meet rising domestic energy demands. A recent paper commissioned by the GMF finds that such demands could be met more cost-effectively through increased energy efficiency measures.
Saying the country is under pressure from the global financial troubles and wary of another gas crisis, Bulgaria's parliament ordered Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev's cabinet on January 23d, to explore the possibilities for the restart of dormant nuclear reactors.
