Natural Gas Systems Flashcards
6 cards from real Energy and Utilities practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Natural Gas Systems flashcards as text
What odorant is added to natural gas to make leaks detectable?
Answer: Mercaptan (thiols)
Mercaptans (organosulfur compounds) give natural gas its distinctive rotten-egg odor since pure methane is odorless.
What is the primary component of natural gas?
Answer: Methane
Natural gas is composed predominantly of methane (CH4), typically making up 70–90% of its volume.
What is LNG?
Answer: Liquefied Natural Gas
LNG is natural gas cooled to approximately -260°F (-162°C) to become a liquid for efficient storage and transport.
Which federal agency in the US regulates interstate natural gas pipelines?
Answer: Both FERC and PHMSA
FERC regulates the economic and business aspects of interstate gas pipelines, while PHMSA regulates their safety.
What does a natural gas compressor station do?
Answer: Boosts gas pressure to maintain flow through pipelines
Compressor stations re-pressurize natural gas periodically along pipelines to overcome friction and maintain flow.
What is the Btu content of natural gas used to measure?
Answer: Energy content (heat value)
A British Thermal Unit (Btu) measures the heat energy in natural gas; one standard cubic foot of pipeline gas contains about 1,020 Btu.