Natural gas is often considered to be the cleanest and safest source of energy. In its pure form, the gas is odorless and without color. It is however highly combustible.

Natural gas is often found together with other hydrocarbon deposits such as crude oil, coal and methane, formed from the natural remains of ancient plants and animals.

Natural gas is primarily used in electricity generation by operating gas and steam turbines. Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is also increasingly being used to power automobiles.

Unlike crude oil, natural gas is in abundance and there is no danger of depletion in the foreseeable future although it is irreplaceable.

In addition, the transportation of natural gas remains difficult and expensive. Overland pipelines in the United States and Western Europe are frequently operating near their capacities.

Natural gas is transported across oceans in the form of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). However, the gas need to be turn into liquid form and returned back to gaseous state again in specialized plants.  

Top natural gas producing countries are the United States, Russia, Iran, Canada, Norway, Algeria, Indonesia, China, Netherlands and Saudi Arabia. The European Union as a collective block would rank as the third largest natural gas producer.