Natural gas is a major component of the energy industry. But many of us don’t realize what it is. Natural gas is a type of fossil fuel that lies beneath the Earth’s surface. In this state, companies can reach into the ground and drill wells to extract it. In other cases, it can be extracted using wells in a process called fracking. Once extracted, it is processed for sale. Consumers can use it to heat homes, cook food, dry clothes, and fuel cars.