Where is odorant typically added to natural gas?

Odorant is typically added to natural gas at the city gate station. This is a critical point in the natural gas distribution system where the gas is introduced into the local distribution system, transitioning the gas from high-pressure transmission lines to lower-pressure distribution lines. By adding an odorant—most commonly mercaptan—at this stage, the natural gas becomes detectable to the human nose, which is vital for safety purposes. Since natural gas is odorless when it is in its natural state, the addition of this distinctive smell allows for the quick identification of leaks, thereby minimizing the risk of accidents or hazardous situations.

Adding odorant at the appliance or at the end-user's location would not be practical or effective in ensuring safety for the broader gas delivery network, and adding it during processing would not provide the same level of safety once it reaches consumers. Hence, the city gate station is the appropriate and safety-oriented location for odorant addition.