Natural Gas

Natural Gas is a colorless, odorless mixture of hydrocarbon gases, primarily methane (CH4). The content of natural gas depends on the specific geology and composition of the site from which the gas was extracted.

The path of raw natural gas begins at the producing well. Before entering the U.S. natural gas mainline transmission system, made up of about 1.5 million miles of distribution pipelines that link production areas and natural gas markets, it must first be purified at a natural gas processing plant or “fractionator.” The U.S. natural gas transportation network delivered more than 23 trillion cubic feet of natural gas during 2008 to about 70 million customers.

Energy from natural gas accounts for 24% of the U.S. total energy consumption, compared to 39% from petroleum products, 23% from Coal, 8% from Nuclear and a mere 6% from all renewable energy sources combined.

Hydraulic Fracturing

What is referred to as High Volume, slick-water, multi-stage Hydraulic Fracturing and horizontal drilling (HVHF) was introduced in 2002, and is the most important process in the current discourse about gas and oil extraction.

  • Founded by inventor, industrialist and philanthropist Peter Cooper in 1859, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art offers education in art, architecture and engineering, as well as courses in the humanities and social sciences.

  • “My feelings, my desires, my hopes, embrace humanity throughout the world,” Peter Cooper proclaimed in a speech in 1853. He looked forward to a time when, “knowledge shall cover the earth as waters cover the great deep.”

  • From its beginnings, Cooper Union was a unique institution, dedicated to founder Peter Cooper's proposition that education is the key not only to personal prosperity but to civic virtue and harmony.

  • Peter Cooper wanted his graduates to acquire the technical mastery and entrepreneurial skills, enrich their intellects and spark their creativity, and develop a sense of social justice that would translate into action.