Natural Gas a Brief History

Naturally occurring natural gas was discovered and identified in America as early as 1626, when French explorers discovered natives igniting gases that were seeping into and around Lake Erie. The American natural gas industry got its beginnings in this area. In 1859, Colonel Edwin Drake (a former railroad conductor who adopted the title 'Colonel' to impress the townspeople) dug the first well. Drake hit oil and natural gas at 69 feet below the surface of the earth. Most in the industry characterizes this well as the beginning of the natural gas industry in America. A two-inch diameter pipeline was built, running 5 and ½ miles from the well to the village of Titusville, Pennsylvania. The construction of this pipeline proved that natural gas could be brought safely and relatively easily from its underground source to be used for practical purposes. In 1821, the first well specifically intended to obtain natural gas was dug in Fredonia, New York, by William Hart. After noticing gas bubbles rising to the surface of a creek, Hart dug a 27 foot well to try and obtain a larger flow of gas to the surface. Hart is regarded by many as the 'father of natural gas' in America. Expanding on Hart's work, the Fredonia Gas Light Company was eventually formed, becoming the first American natural gas company.
During most of the 19th century, natural gas was used almost exclusively as a source of light. Without a pipeline infrastructure, it was difficult to transport the gas very far, or into homes to be used for heating or cooking. Most of the natural gas produced in this era was manufactured from coal, as opposed to transported from a well. Near the end of the 19th century, with the rise of electricity, natural gas lights were converted to electric lights. This led producers of natural gas to look for new uses for their product.
In 1885, Robert Bunsen invented what is now known as the Bunsen burner. He managed to create a device that mixed natural gas with air in the right proportions, creating a flame that could be safely used for cooking and heating. The invention of the Bunsen burner opened up new opportunities for the use of natural gas in America, and throughout the world. This is clipped from the 1959 film, These Are My People, produced by the Columbia Gas System and available at the Internet Archive

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[AMARADIserdar]

We think that ethane has no effect on climate. Methane absorbs the same photons that are already totally absorbed by water vapor. Natural gas escapes naturally everywhere. If we do not use the gas it will escape anyway. We should monitor oxygen instead of CO2 since oxygen also absorbs infrared photons.In the title of our organization there are words like renewable,sources and energy and we always try to follow and stay at that path. CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (CCRES).

[AMARADIserdar]

People are today much more receptive to the potential of natural gas as a climate-friendly and cheap energy source.When all emissions are counted, gas may be as little as 25 percent cleaner than coal, or perhaps even less.Even accounting for the new analysis, natural gas—which also emits less toxic and particulate pollution—offers a significant environmental advantage.

[witecracker2]

Bullsheet. Poison and land spoiler..just as bad as oil. We breath death and decay...sad

[junkdeal]

This video mentioned natural gas for lighting. Illuminating gas was used more often. It had a higher carbon content that added luminosity. Water gas, producer gas, Coker gas are examples. Acetylene is a fine example. Home sifter plants generated it with calcium carbide fore home lighting. Outlawed as one of the first UL rulings, if I'm right, for it's inherent dangers. Nat-gas needed a thorium or Wellsbach mantle to work. It lit like a 100-watt bulb!

[boobtuber06]

around what year did natural gas start being used as cooking fuel?

[brajdl]

WATCH THIS VIDEO for the TRUTH

GASLAND — ReThink Review

[carsanookdotcom]

Thx SpectraEnergy1

A well produced and informative video.

Dr John

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