Natural gas trading

Natural Gas is bought and sold based on its heating value and the accuracy of a natural gas calibration standard can mean the difference between paying true market value, or overpayment for received product. Inaccurately measured BTU content can add up to tens of thousands of dollars in additional cost or lost revenue when applied to millions of cubic feet of natural gas.

HiQ Accredited Natural Gas Standards are supplied with an individual certificate of analysis. This documents components and certified concentrations, offers complete traceability and a calculated Specific Gravity and BTU value to meet ISO 6976 calculation guidelines. 

Further down the natural gas trading and distribution supply chain, in urban gas pipeline distribution networks, the stenching of natural gas becomes important. This is done so that gas leaks can potentially be detected quickly by the human nose at low gas concentrations before the gas leak builds up to an explosive level in the surrounding air. The stenchant gas must have a strong odour at very low concentrations and sulphur compounds are perfect for this. Methyl mercaptan is a highly favoured chemical for this application and is often added to the natural gas at part-per-million levels.