Journals Proceedings

Abstract

Natural gas is found in abundance in many regions of the world, in quantities that ensure energy sufficiency for human activities for 250 years or so, based on current estimates. In the global energy industry’s turnover in 2011 natural gas participated in a proportion of about 21% ranking just after oil and coal, as the third largest energy source [1]. In financial figures, that translates to hundreds of billions of U.S. dollars per year [2]. This paper will analyze the elements of that fuel demonstrate its importance as a source of energy and assess the perspective of its contribution to meeting energy needs in the future. The methodology includes the description of natural gas, its origin, probable stocks and their geographical distribution, the procedures of extraction, its use, comparison with other energy sources, prospects of exploitation of new deposits and modes of transport from point production to the place of consumption.