Millions of years ago, even before the dinosaurs roamed the earth, plants and animals died and settled to the ground where over time they were buried under rock and soil. Over many hundreds of years, the tremendous heat and pressure created by the layers of earth turned the animal and plants into natural gas. That's why natural gas is called a 'fossil fuel'.
Scientist and engineers explore a chosen area by studying rock samples from the earth and taking measurements. Natural gas companies drill deep wells thousands of feet into the ground or under the ocean to find natural gas trapped in holes in the layers of rock. The rock holds the gas like a sponge. They use big pumps to bring the gas to the surface. Then they send the gas through a million-mile network of pipelines thoughout the United States. The gas companies collect it in huge storage tanks or in underground wells until people need it.
When the gas gets to our community, the gas is measured as it flows into smaller pipelines
 called mains. Very small lines, called services, connect to the mains and go directly to our homes and business. WG&L has 395 miles of mains and over 19,000 service lines pumping gas to all our community. The service line is connected to the meter outside your house, which measures how much gas your family uses. More pipes connect the meter to the gas appliances you use at your home, like the furnace, water heater, clothes dryer or stove.
We measure and sell natural gas in cubic feet (volume) or in BTU (British Thermal Units) which is the measure of heat content. One burning match releases one BTU. Heating one cup of water to boiling requires 60 BTU's.
Natural gas is lighter than air and is mostly made up of a chemical called methane. Methane is a simple chemical compound that has a carbon atom surrounded by four hydrogen atoms. Methane is highly flammable.
 Do be very careful around a gas stove. Only grown-ups should turn on a gas burner or oven, and be sure to keep towels and clothing away from the flame.
Keep flammable materials away from gas appliances.
Natural gas is a colorless, odorless fuel that burns cleaner than other fuels. There is no ash and very little air pollution. When burnt completely, it produces heat, water, vapor and carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide and water vapor are the same substances emitted when people breathe.
The flame of natural gas is blue. If it is not that color, tell and adult.
Sometimes there is no flame, but you can hear a hissing sound. If you hear that sound, tell an adult.
The blue flame when you burn natural gas means that less unburned materials are being given off. Unburned materials, like carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide and other particles, cause air pollution. Carbon monoxide is a dangerous gas that you can't see or smell. It is very important to keep natural gas appliances working right. A yellow flame is a clue there is a problem.
Carbon monoxide can make you very sick, so it's important to have a carbon monoxide detector in your house. Do ask an adult to install a carbon monoxide detector. It works like a smoke detector to keep your family safe.
Because natural gas is odorless, it is mixed with a chemical called mercaptan to give it an odor to help detect possible leaks. Mercaptan has an odor a little like rotten eggs. This odor makes it easy to smell if there is a gas leak in your house.
Your nose is your best gas detector. If you smell an odor like rotten eggs:
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Tell an adult that you smell gas.
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Don't light any matches or turn light switches on or off or use electric appliances. Don't use the telephone.
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Ask the adult to open the windows and doors to let air in.
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Leave the house and ask a neighbor to call WG&L.
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Don't go back into the house until WG&L says it's safe.
 Energy is the ability to do work, and as an energy source, natural gas can help us do various types of work. Approximately 23 percent of the energy consumption of the United States comes from natural gas. Over one-half of the homes in the U.S. use natural gas as their main heating fuel.
In some homes, natural gas is used for cooking, heating water and heating the house with a furnace.
Keep toys away from gas appliances.
Never play near gas equipment.
Cars and trucks can also use natural gas as a transportation fuel, but they must carry special tanks to hold the fuel. Many people feel natural gas would be a good fuel for cars because it burns cleanly. Natural gas powered cars are up to 90 percent cleaner than a gasoline powered car.
Utility companies use natural gas to help make electricity. Industry depends on it. Natural gas has thousands of uses. It's used to produce steel, glass, paper clothing, brick, electricity and much more.
Fossil fuels take millions of years to make. We are using up the fuels that were made more than 300 million years ago. Once they are gone they are gone. We can save fossil fuels by conserving energy.
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