Unconventional Chemistry for Unconventional Natural Gas

摘要

Making most of our fUels and chemicals from fossil hydrocarbons is unsustainable. However, until cost-effective renewable sources are developed, natural gas could provide a secure economical alternative to petroleum. Proven reserves of natural gas have doubled in the last decade (7), mainly from increases in "unconventional" gas found with shale (shale gas), coal (coal bed methane), and in low-permeability "tight" sandstones (tight gas) (see the first figure).