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XTO Energy: Natural Gas Can Expect Over 100% Further Upside

Although the use of high storage pressures might appear dangerous, compression, storage and fueling of natural gas vehicles meet stringent industry and government safety standards. Remember that high-pressure gases are used safely every day in idustrial and medical applications.

Natural gas powered vehicles are designed and built to be safe both in normal operation and in crashes. New natural gas vehicles are subjected to the same federal government crash tests as other vehicles.

Natural gas vehicle fuel systems must meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 303 and 304.

Natural gas cylinders are much thicker and
stronger than gasoline or diesel tanks. Cylinders are designed not to rupture when fully fueled over six times a day, 365 days a year, far beyond what they will see in service.

Industry standards test them far beyond normal environmental and service damage risks.

Cylinders must even withstand a bonfire test and penetration by a 30-caliber bullet without
rupture!

No matter what the fuel, fueling stations, indoor parking structures and repair garages must
be built to ensure high levels of safety. Requirements for facilities handling natural gas
and natural gas vehicles may differ from those for gasoline or diesel vehicles.

For example, leaking diesel and gasoline form puddles on the floor. Natural gas normally rises
toward the ceiling and disperses. Therefore the danger of fire would be greatest near the floor for liquid fuels and near the ceiling for natural gas.
Time has proven natural gas vehicles to be safe in actual operation.

Based on a survey of 8,331 natural gas utility, school, municipal and business fleet vehicles (NGVs) that traveled 178.3 million miles:

• The NGV fleet vehicle injury rate was 37% lower than the gasoline fleet vehicle rate.

• There were no fatalities compared with 1.28 deaths per 100 million miles for gasoline
fleet vehicles