Natural gas is a fossil fuel that is found in rock formations beneath the earth’s surface. It is made up mostly of methane, but also contains small amounts of other hydrocarbons, such as ethane, propane, and butane. Natural gas is an important source of energy, used for heating homes and buildings, generating electricity, and fueling vehicles.
One of the advantages of natural gas is that it is relatively clean-burning compared to other fossil fuels, such as coal and oil. When burned, natural gas produces primarily carbon dioxide and water vapor, and emits lower levels of harmful pollutants, such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. This makes natural gas a popular choice for electricity generation, as it produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions than other fossil fuels.
Another advantage of natural gas is its abundance. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), natural gas makes up 22% of the world’s total energy supply. The largest reserves of natural gas are found in Russia, Iran, and Qatar, but it is also produced in significant quantities in the United States, Canada, and other countries around the world.
Natural gas is typically extracted through drilling wells into rock formations, and then transported through pipelines to processing plants, where impurities are removed and the gas is compressed for storage and transportation. In some cases, natural gas is also transported in liquefied form, known as liquefied natural gas (LNG), which is easier to transport over long distances by ship.
While natural gas is considered a relatively clean-burning fuel, there are some environmental concerns associated with its extraction and use. The process of drilling for natural gas can lead to groundwater contamination and other environmental damage, and leaks of natural gas during production and transportation can contribute to air pollution and climate change. However, there are technologies and regulations in place to mitigate these risks and ensure the safe and responsible extraction and use of natural gas.
In conclusion, natural gas is an important source of energy for many countries around the world. It is relatively clean-burning and abundant, making it a popular choice for electricity generation, heating, and transportation. While there are some environmental concerns associated with its use, there are also technologies and regulations in place to ensure its safe and responsible extraction and use.
| # | Country | Gas Reserves (MMcf) | World Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Russia | 1,688,228,000 | 24.30% |
| 2 | Iran | 1,201,382,000 | 17.30% |
| 3 | Qatar | 871,585,000 | 12.50% |
| 4 | United States | 368,704,000 | 5.30% |
| 5 | Saudi Arabia | 294,205,000 | 4.20% |
| 6 | Turkmenistan | 265,000,000 | 3.80% |
| 7 | United Arab Emirates | 215,098,000 | 3.10% |
| 8 | Venezuela | 197,087,000 | 2.80% |
| 9 | Nigeria | 180,490,000 | 2.60% |
| 10 | China | 163,959,000 | 2.40% |
| 11 | Algeria | 159,054,000 | 2.30% |
| 12 | Iraq | 111,522,000 | 1.60% |
| 13 | Indonesia | 103,350,000 | 1.50% |
| 14 | Mozambique | 100,000,000 | 1.40% |
| 15 | Kazakhstan | 85,000,000 | 1.20% |
| 16 | Egypt | 77,200,000 | 1.10% |
| 17 | Norway | 72,358,000 | 1.00% |
| 18 | Canada | 71,794,000 | 1.00% |
| 19 | Uzbekistan | 65,000,000 | 0.90% |
| 20 | Kuwait | 63,500,000 | 0.90% |
| 21 | Libya | 53,183,000 | 0.80% |
| 22 | India | 50,398,000 | 0.70% |
| 23 | Ukraine | 39,000,000 | 0.60% |
| 24 | Malaysia | 38,284,000 | 0.60% |
| 25 | Azerbaijan | 35,000,000 | 0.50% |
| 26 | Netherlands | 31,702,000 | 0.50% |
| 27 | Australia | 30,400,000 | 0.40% |
| 28 | Oman | 24,910,000 | 0.40% |
| 29 | Vietnam | 24,700,000 | 0.40% |
| 30 | Pakistan | 24,700,000 | 0.40% |
| 31 | Yemen | 16,900,000 | 0.20% |
| 32 | Mexico | 16,549,000 | 0.20% |
| 33 | Brazil | 16,172,000 | 0.20% |
| 34 | Peru | 15,047,000 | 0.20% |
| 35 | Brunei | 13,800,000 | 0.20% |
| 36 | Trinidad and Tobago | 12,240,000 | 0.20% |
| 37 | Argentina | 11,142,000 | 0.20% |
| 38 | Bolivia | 10,450,000 | 0.20% |
| 39 | Myanmar | 10,000,000 | 0.14% |
| 40 | Angola | 9,711,000 | 0.14% |
| 41 | United Kingdom | 8,502,000 | 0.12% |
| 42 | Syria | 8,500,000 | 0.12% |
| 43 | Bangladesh | 8,500,000 | 0.12% |
| 44 | Thailand | 8,415,000 | 0.12% |
| 45 | Israel | 7,027,000 | 0.10% |
| 46 | Colombia | 5,508,000 | 0.08% |
| 47 | Papua New Guinea | 5,467,000 | 0.08% |
| 48 | Cameroon | 4,770,000 | 0.07% |
| 49 | Romania | 3,725,000 | 0.05% |
| 50 | Philippines | 3,480,000 | 0.05% |
| 51 | Chile | 3,460,000 | 0.05% |
| 52 | Bahrain | 3,250,000 | 0.05% |
| 53 | Congo | 3,200,000 | 0.05% |
| 54 | Poland | 3,015,000 | 0.04% |
| 55 | Sudan | 3,000,000 | 0.04% |
| 56 | Cuba | 2,500,000 | 0.04% |
| 57 | Tunisia | 2,300,000 | 0.03% |
| 58 | Namibia | 2,200,000 | 0.03% |
| 59 | Germany | 2,048,000 | 0.03% |
| 60 | Rwanda | 2,000,000 | 0.03% |
| 61 | Italy | 1,985,000 | 0.03% |
| 62 | Afghanistan | 1,750,000 | 0.03% |
| 63 | Serbia | 1,700,000 | 0.02% |
| 64 | New Zealand | 1,361,000 | 0.02% |
| 65 | Equatorial Guinea | 1,300,000 | 0.02% |
| 66 | Denmark | 1,210,000 | 0.02% |
| 67 | Gabon | 1,000,000 | 0.01% |
| 68 | Mauritania | 1,000,000 | 0.01% |
| 69 | Côte d'Ivoire | 1,000,000 | 0.01% |
| 70 | Croatia | 880,000 | 0.01% |
| 71 | Ethiopia | 880,000 | 0.01% |
| 72 | Ghana | 800,000 | 0.01% |
| 73 | Japan | 738,000 | 0.01% |
| 74 | Slovakia | 500,000 | 0.01% |
| 75 | Uganda | 500,000 | 0.01% |
| 76 | Ireland | 350,000 | 0.01% |
| 77 | France | 314,000 | 0.01% |
| 78 | Hungary | 304,000 | 0.00% |
| 79 | Austria | 301,000 | 0.00% |
| 80 | Georgia | 300,000 | 0.00% |
| 81 | South Korea | 250,000 | 0.00% |
| 82 | Tanzania | 230,000 | 0.00% |
| 83 | Taiwan | 220,000 | 0.00% |
| 84 | Turkey | 218,000 | 0.00% |
| 85 | Jordan | 213,000 | 0.00% |
| 86 | Ecuador | 212,000 | 0.00% |
| 87 | Kyrgyzstan | 200,000 | 0.00% |
| 88 | Bulgaria | 200,000 | 0.00% |
| 89 | Tajikistan | 200,000 | 0.00% |
| 90 | Somalia | 200,000 | 0.00% |
| 91 | Czech Republic (Czechia) | 140,000 | 0.00% |
| 92 | Belarus | 100,000 | 0.00% |
| 93 | Spain | 90,000 | 0.00% |
| 94 | Morocco | 51,000 | 0.00% |
| 95 | Benin | 40,000 | 0.00% |
| 96 | Greece | 35,000 | 0.00% |
| 97 | DR Congo | 35,000 | 0.00% |
| 98 | Albania | 29,000 | 0.00% |
| 99 | Barbados | 5,000 | 0.00% |