Natural-gas processing at ambient conditions (i.e., pentane and heavier) are called "natural-gas condensate" (sometimes also called "natural gasoline" or simply "condensate"). Natural gas is called "sweet gas" when relatively free of hydrogen sulfide; gas that does contain hydrogen sulfide is called "sour gas". Natural gas, or any other gas mixture, containing significant quantities of hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide or similar acidic gases, is called "acid gas." Raw natural gas can also come from methane deposits in the pores of coal seams, and especially in a more concentrated state of adsorption onto the surface of the coal itself. Such gas is referred to
Liquefied natural gas Twomey received patents for a process for large scale liquefaction of natural gas. The intention was to store natural gas as a liquid so it could be used for shaving peak energy loads during cold snaps. Because of large volumes it is not practical to store natural gas, as a gas, near atmospheric pressure. However, if it can be liquefied it can be stored in a volume 600 times smaller. This is a practical way to store it but the gas must be stored at −260 °F (−162 °C). There are two processes for liquefying natural gas in large quantities.