What is natural gas?
Gas Chain
It is a fuel that in its natural state is colorless (invisible), tasteless, odorless (has no smell) and is non-toxic. A chemical odorant is added to natural gas so that a leak can be detected in the event of a leak.
Natural gas is lighter than air, at the time of a leak it will rise and dissipate in the environment, a characteristic that makes it safer.
The hydrocarbons that make up natural gas are especially methane (CH4), and to a lesser extent ethane (C2H6), propane (C3H8) and butane (C4H10). The other elements are carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, nitrogen, and in lesser amounts water, helium, argon, and hydrogen.
In June 1973, the most important discovery of free gas deposits was made in Colombia by Texas, which found abundant free gas in the department of La Guajira in the fields of Ballenas (668 G.P.C.), Chuchupa (2,819 G.P.C.) and Riohacha (119 G.P.C.) The magnitude of this discovery definitely introduced the country to the process of developing and using its gas resources on a large scale.
Uses of Natural Gas
Natural gas is the cheapest fuel for domestic use. It is important to note that the price of electricity is approximately six times higher than natural gas.
The value of the monthly invoice is only paid after having used the service. Natural gas can be used in the home in many ways, such as:
- Cooking Food
- Heating Water
- Drying Clothes
- Gas powered central air conditioning
Non-Residential Use
- Cooking in restaurants, bakeries, etc.
- Motors for irrigation systems (Agribusiness).
- Laboratories, colleges and universities.
- Ironing systems in textile industries.
- Power generation and cogeneration systems.
- Fuel heating.
- Sterilization of hospital equipment.
- Central air conditioning systems
Distribution network
From the regulation and measurement stations, the gas is transported through medium-density polyethylene pipe with sizes according to the need for fuel consumption. These pipes come to border all the blocks of the neighborhoods covered by the urban gas pipeline. For the connection of a user, a pipe is installed that starts from the ring to the entrance of the house, where it is connected with a pressure regulator and a meter and from there it is connected to a pipe (internal installation) that leads the gas to the consumption points in the building.
Urban gas pipelines are very safe, since all the pipes are installed at an average depth of 80 centimeters and the gas flow is controlled by means of valves that allow it to be suspended in the event of any leak.
Additionally, a preventive plastic tape is placed on the route of the pipes about 40 centimeters below the surface, which prevents users and other public services from damaging the pipe.
¿How does the pipeline work?
Natural gas is extracted from the ground of a deposit located in La Guajira by producers such as Chevron-Texaco and Ecopetrol; it is transported by the companies Promigas and Transportadora de Gas del Interior (TGI) to the cities through pipelines. These pipes must be supported in such a way that movements between the pipe and its supports that could affect it, such as scratches, abrasions, cuts or punctures, are avoided.
Once the gas has been transported, it is received at the entrance of each city in a station. Gases del Caribe has three main types of stations: reception stations, district stations and industrial stations. The first two are installed to receive natural gas destined for a distribution network, while the industrial ones supply customers with higher consumption.
