A fossil fuel in the gaseous state; used for cooking and heating homes; SYN. gas.
Mixture of flammable gases found in the Earth’s crust (often in association with petroleum). It is one of the world’s three main fossil fuels (with coal and oil). Natural gas is a mixture of hydrocarbons, chiefly methane, with ethane, butane, and propane. Natural gas is usually transported from its source by pipeline, although it may be liquefied for transport and storage and is, therefore, often used in remote areas where other fuels are scarce and expensive. Prior to transportation, butane and propane are removed and liquefied to form “bottled gas”.
Test flights of the first aircraft powered by liquefied natural gas began 1989. The Soviet-produced craft will save 9 metric tons/8.9 tons of kerosene on a journey of 2,000 km/1,250 mi.