The main use of propane is in fuel applications such as home heating in places that are not served by natural gas pipelines and fuel for outdoor cooking. Natural gas is used in a number of markets as illustrated in the pie chart on the right. Industrial uses of natural gas represented the largest market with fuel and raw material applications. Natural gas is used to dry potato chips and automobile paint finishes. Natural gas is converted into fertilizer, methanol, and gasoline blending compounds.
Natural gas is used in the residential and commercial sector for home heating and cooking.
A growing market for natural gas is a fuel to produce electricity. Natural gas is moved to market through a network of gathering systems and pipelines. Natural gas from producing wells is collected in a field gathering system. The gas is processed in a natural gas processing plant where the heavier hydrocarbon liquids are removed and the gas is compressed. The natural gas is sent to interstate transmission pipelines that transport the gas to consumers.