Methane is the main constituent of natural gas and accounting for about 95% of the total volume. Other components are ethane, propane, butane, pentane, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and traces of other gases. Very small amounts of sulphur compounds are also present. Since methane is the largest component of natural gas, generally properties of methane are used when comparing the properties of natural gas to other fuels.
Natural gas is a high calorific value fuel requiring no storage facilities. It mixes with air readily and does not produce smoke or soot. It has no sulphur content. It is lighter than air and disperses into air easily in case of leak. CNG is made by compressing natural gas [which is mainly composed of methane (CH4)] to less than 1% of the volume it occupies at standard atmospheric pressure. It is stored and distributed in hard containers at a pressure of 200–248 bar usually in cylindrical or spherical shapes.
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