| Natural gas being a fossil fuel cannot be replaced and | | | | The Energy Information Administration or EIA |
| the demand for it is increasing. It is quite imperative | | | | provides estimates on the natural gas reserves that |
| to know how much natural gas is left in the earth's | | | | are available. The resources are classified as proved, |
| surface that can be extracted for usage. Without | | | | unproved, unconventional natural gas. Proved |
| knowing the quantity that is left, it is difficult to | | | | reserves are those from which natural gas can be |
| estimate the natural gas supply. Measuring this is not | | | | recovered under prevailing economic and operating |
| an easy task as it involves great deal of inference | | | | conditions. In 2006, the OECD member countries |
| and cost. Based on the modern technology | | | | consumed 52 trillion cubic feet of natural gas whereas |
| approximate estimates can be had with regards to | | | | the non-OECD member countries consumed about 53 |
| the amount of natural gas that exist. Recently it has | | | | trillion cubic feet of natural gas. During the year 2007, |
| been found that natural gas reserves may have | | | | proved natural gas reserves rose by 3 percent and in |
| doubled in the Unites States of America. In 2007 the | | | | the year 2008 the dry natural gas reserves in the |
| country became the world's largest natural gas | | | | United States increased by 6.9 trillion cubic feet (Tcf). |
| consumer as the consumption accounted for 23.1 | | | | In 2009, World natural gas deposits accounted for |
| trillion cubic feet. | | | | 6254 trillion cubic feet.natural gas reserves are found |
| Conventional natural gas deposits that can be easily | | | | in abundance in North America. The deposits are |
| mined are given more importance as they prove to | | | | concentrated mostly in the regions of Texas and Gulf |
| be less expensive. Though there is a threat involved | | | | of Mexico. The top ten countries that qualify as |
| that we will be running out of natural gas in the | | | | proven natural gas reserves are Russia, Iran, Qatar, |
| coming years, with the help of modern technology | | | | Saudi Arabia, United States of America, Nigeria, |
| new natural gas reserves can be explored and | | | | Algeria, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela and Iraq. |
| unconventional gas deposits can be extracted. What | | | | The United States reserves are believed to be |
| is unconventional today might become conventional | | | | recoverable from shale deposits with the help of |
| tomorrow with the advancement in technology and | | | | drilling techniques. Because of low carbon dioxide |
| simplification in mining process, which is cost | | | | intensity and fuel efficiency of natural gas new |
| effective. The industry sector surpasses in natural | | | | electricity generating plants are estimated to increase |
| gas consumption than any other sector and it is | | | | in 2030. It is expected that there would be a 35 |
| expected that this would continue to remain stable till | | | | percent of increase in 2030 from 32 percent during |
| 2030. | | | | 2006. |