Natural Gas

The cleanest of all fossil fuels, natural gas has characteristics that help the devices that run on it last longer and that reduce its environmental impacts.

Natural gas also has extremely low amounts of sulfur dioxide and combustion process residues in its smoke.

Keeping pace with the global trend towards using cleaner fuels, we have invested in expanding the distribution network and in new technologies that drive the supply and consumption of natural gas.

Versatile, natural gas can be used for household, industrial, and automotive applications, substituting for gasoline, ethanol, and diesel fuel, and can be used to generate electricity.

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The path natural gas takes to reach you

Exploration and Production
Until reaching its final destination, natural gas follows a long path that involves a lot of research, planning, and the overcoming of challenges. Get to know the technology we use to supply natural gas to vehicles, households, and industries.
The initial stage is divided into two parts: geological and geophysical studies to recognize an area's potential; and drilling wells to discover fields.
Once the gas has been extracted, water, liquid hydrocarbons and solid particles are removed. Part of the gas is reinjected to recover the reservoir, while the rest is sent to processing units.
Processing
The natural gas is treated in processing units. It is dehydrated, fractioned and its components are separated into specified ready-to-use products such as, for example, cooking gas and gasoline.
Transportation
The gas is transported to the final consumer both in the gaseous form, over gas pipelines, and in the liquid form. When submitted to a temperature of -162oC, it turns into a liquid. This reduces its volume and allows it to be transported in trucks and vessels designed specifically for this purpose.
When arriving at its final destination, the gas is regasified in special equipment, injected into the gas pipeline network or distributed to service stations, ensuring a quality fuel. Opting for natural gas has a great advantage: it reduces pollutant gas emissions by half.
Distribution
In the last stage of the process, the gas reaches households, cars, stores, factories, and thermoelectric plants in compliance with strict specifications. Because it is odorless, natural gas can be odorized in order to be easily detectable in the event of a leak.

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