Reducing atmosphere Reducing atmosphere A reducing atmosphere is an atmospheric condition in which oxidation is prevented by removal of oxygen and other oxidizing gases or vapours, and which may contain actively reducing gases such as hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and gases such as hydrogen sulphide that would be oxidized by any present oxygen. In metal processing, a reducing atmosphere is used in annealing ovens for relaxation of metal stresses without corroding the metal. A non oxidizing gas, usually nitrogen, is used, or for more extreme conditions, hydrogen gas. A reducing atmosphere is also used to produce specific effects on ceramic wares being fired.
Shale gas in the United States a Haynesville Shale gas well. Haynesville shale wells have also been drilled in northeast Texas, where it is also known as the Bossier Shale. From 2008 through 2010 Encana accumulated a "large land position" (250,000 net acres) at an "average $150/acre" in the Collingwood Utica shale gas play in Michigan's Middle Ordovician Collingwood formation. Natural gas is produced from the Collingwood shale and the overlying Utica shale. The Michigan public land auction took place in early May 2010 in one of "America's most promising oil and gas plays". The Devonian-Mississippian New Albany Shale produces gas in the southeast Illinois Basin