Natural gas is typically recovered from what source?

Natural gas is primarily recovered from underground pockets during the drilling for crude petroleum. This process occurs in formations of rock where natural gas is trapped, often alongside oil deposits. These underground reservoirs can contain large quantities of natural gas, which is extracted through various drilling techniques.

The extraction process is part of the petroleum industry, where the exploration and production of hydrocarbons take place simultaneously. Natural gas, consisting mainly of methane, can be found in formations that are saturated with oil or in separate gas fields. This source is significant as it provides a substantial and efficient energy resource.

Other sources mentioned, such as atmospheric air, coal mines, and bio-degradable waste, do not primarily yield natural gas in the same way that underground reservoirs do. For instance, while methane can be produced through anaerobic decomposition of organic matter in landfills and from other biological processes, this is distinct from the extraction of natural gas from geological formations.