Les propriétés du gaz naturel
Déboulonnons les mythes sur le gaz naturel
It is not toxic
It does not mix with soil or water
It does not catch fire
It is making its way
Breathe through your nose: natural gas is not toxic
Let's bust the myth: Natural gas may smell like rotten eggs, but it is not toxic.
Natural gas is colourless, odourless and tasteless. It is a non-toxic, non-corrosive gas that poses no health risk if breathed. It has been shown that it is the lack of oxygen in the air and not the natural gas that can cause discomfort.
When a leak occurs inside a building, it is important to open doors and windows to ventilate the room. In a closed environment, the concentration of natural gas can become too high and replace the oxygen in the air you breathe. It can then become asphyxiating through oxygen deprivation.
This situation is very rare, as natural gas is lighter than air. In the open air, natural gas dissipates quickly into the atmosphere. This is why it is important to open doors and windows if you suspect a leak.
Why does it smell like rotten eggs?
Natural gas is odourless, but for safety reasons an odourant, mercaptan, is added to natural gas to give it a strong rotten egg smell. This odour makes it possible to quickly detect the presence of natural gas, even at a concentration as low as less than 1% in the air.
Natural gas does not mix with soil or water
Let's dispel the myth: Natural gas does not mix with soil or water. In the open air or in water, it dissipates quickly.
Natural gas is the simplest hydrocarbon in its composition, having been produced by the decomposition of organic matter over millions of years.
Air - So, unlike propane, natural gas is lighter than air. In the open air, it rises rapidly through the atmosphere.
Water - If it comes into contact with water, it does not mix or contaminate it. It bubbles, rises to the surface and dissipates quickly into the atmosphere.
Soil - When natural gas leaks underground, it seeks to come to the surface through cracks and dissipates into the air, unlike propane and petroleum products.
Natural gas does not ignite easily. Even if you burn your lunch.
Let's dispel the myth: For natural gas to catch fire, its concentration in the air must be between 5 and 15%. Outside this flammable range, natural gas will not ignite.
Certain specific criteria must be met: it must reach a concentration in air of 5% to 15% and an ignition source must be present for it to ignite. Outside this flammable range, natural gas will not ignite.
This means that at least 5% of natural gas in the air is required for it to ignite, which is much higher than gasoline or propane, which ignite more quickly.
Natural gas is making its way
Let's dispel the myth: Today, there is no economically viable technology to run medium and heavy trucks on electricity. However, these trucks can turn to liquefied or compressed natural gas to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Natural gas is part of the solution to contribute to the transition to a lower-carbon economy, particularly to replace more emissive energies in the heavy goods and marine transportation sectors.
The transportation sector is the largest emitter of greenhouse gases in Quebec, accounting for 43% of the province's total emissions. Road freight transport accounts for more than a third of these emissions.
Reducing GHGs in the transport sector
Natural gas and electricity: allies
The transport sector alone accounts for 43% of total GHG emissions. Heavy transport represents less than 4% of vehicles on the road, but more than 30% of GHG emissions. It is, to date, inaccessible to electric solutions. More economical and cleaner than diesel and gasoline, natural gas, in its liquefied or compressed form, is an ally in reducing GHGs in this sector.
- Up to 30% more economical
- Up to 25% lower GHG emissions
It is not toxic
Breathe through your nose: natural gas is not toxic
Let's bust the myth: Natural gas may smell like rotten eggs, but it is not toxic.
Natural gas is colourless, odourless and tasteless. It is a non-toxic, non-corrosive gas that poses no health risk if breathed. It has been shown that it is the lack of oxygen in the air and not the natural gas that can cause discomfort.
When a leak occurs inside a building, it is important to open doors and windows to ventilate the room. In a closed environment, the concentration of natural gas can become too high and replace the oxygen in the air you breathe. It can then become asphyxiating through oxygen deprivation.
This situation is very rare, as natural gas is lighter than air. In the open air, natural gas dissipates quickly into the atmosphere. This is why it is important to open doors and windows if you suspect a leak.
Why does it smell like rotten eggs?
Natural gas is odourless, but for safety reasons an odourant, mercaptan, is added to natural gas to give it a strong rotten egg smell. This odour makes it possible to quickly detect the presence of natural gas, even at a concentration as low as less than 1% in the air.
It does not mix with soil or water
Natural gas does not mix with soil or water
Let's dispel the myth: Natural gas does not mix with soil or water. In the open air or in water, it dissipates quickly.
Natural gas is the simplest hydrocarbon in its composition, having been produced by the decomposition of organic matter over millions of years.
Air - So, unlike propane, natural gas is lighter than air. In the open air, it rises rapidly through the atmosphere.
Water - If it comes into contact with water, it does not mix or contaminate it. It bubbles, rises to the surface and dissipates quickly into the atmosphere.
Soil - When natural gas leaks underground, it seeks to come to the surface through cracks and dissipates into the air, unlike propane and petroleum products.
It does not catch fire
Natural gas does not ignite easily. Even if you burn your lunch.
Let's dispel the myth: For natural gas to catch fire, its concentration in the air must be between 5 and 15%. Outside this flammable range, natural gas will not ignite.
Certain specific criteria must be met: it must reach a concentration in air of 5% to 15% and an ignition source must be present for it to ignite. Outside this flammable range, natural gas will not ignite.
This means that at least 5% of natural gas in the air is required for it to ignite, which is much higher than gasoline or propane, which ignite more quickly.
It is making its way
Natural gas is making its way
Let's dispel the myth: Today, there is no economically viable technology to run medium and heavy trucks on electricity. However, these trucks can turn to liquefied or compressed natural gas to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Natural gas is part of the solution to contribute to the transition to a lower-carbon economy, particularly to replace more emissive energies in the heavy goods and marine transportation sectors.
The transportation sector is the largest emitter of greenhouse gases in Quebec, accounting for 43% of the province's total emissions. Road freight transport accounts for more than a third of these emissions.
Reducing GHGs in the transport sector
Natural gas and electricity: allies
The transport sector alone accounts for 43% of total GHG emissions. Heavy transport represents less than 4% of vehicles on the road, but more than 30% of GHG emissions. It is, to date, inaccessible to electric solutions. More economical and cleaner than diesel and gasoline, natural gas, in its liquefied or compressed form, is an ally in reducing GHGs in this sector.
- Up to 30% more economical
- Up to 25% lower GHG emissions