Natural gas as a fossil fuel can be found in fields and coal beds across the globe. It can also be produced by chemically treating coal or from the anaerobic decay of organic materials - biogas - from swamps, marshes, landfills, and sewer. The following map shows global "proved reserves", those which technology suggests are reasonably recoverable and can be substantiated:

**Data Courtesy of EIA

Natural gas use is not confined to modern origins - and from the flame of the Oracle of Delphi to bamboo pipelines built in ancient China, natural gas has proved a source of creative inspiration as well as valuable energy. Britain and the United States used natural gas for lights through the late eighteenth century and the first natural gas-specific well was dug in the early nineteenth century.

Unrefined natural gas is primarily composed of methane - up to 90 percent in some cases - but can also contain ethane, propane, butane, carbon dioxide, oxygen or nitrogen. Nearly pure methane is considered "dry" natural gas while the presence of hydrocarbons, as the name implies, means it is "wet". In processing, mercaptan is added to natural gas to give it the sulfur-like odor for safety in leak detection. Gas is collected in storage tanks and added to pipelines when required.

**Data Courtesy of EIA

Natural gas can also be chilled and stored as a liquid for transport and export. This Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) is turned back into gas and added to pipelines at destination. The following chart displays the three largest natural gas producers in terms of gross production:

**Data Courtesy of EIA

The top five exporters are illustrated as follows:

**Data Courtesy of EIA

British Thermal Unit (BTU) - the amount of energy it takes to increase the temperature of a pint of water by one degree Farenheit.

Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) - natural gas that is converted to liquid for easier transport. It is acheived by cooling the gas to negative 260 degrees Farenheit.

Henry Hub - a site where several interstate and intrastate pipelines intersect in Erath, Louisiana.

As with crude oil, weekly statistics released by the EIA can bring a fair amount of price volatility to natural gas markets. In addition to the weekly reports, the following items can also bring price fluctuations and are events and information worth noting:
Supply and Demand- The level of natural gas supply relative to overall demand can fluctuate and affect prices. Possible seasonal demand and competition on a retail level can also exert pressure on supplies particularly during colder winter months when usage for heating increases. Any event which threatens the supply or refining output - such as weather disruptions (like hurricanes) or pipeline issues - may affect prices.
Geopolitical Tensions- Pipeline or politically motivated supply disruptions from major suppliers like Russia may impact prices, and tensions in the Middle East can also bring price volatility.
Environmental Issues- The drive for cleaner burning fuels may change the supply and demand dynamic of natural gas since it may release fewer sulfur, carbon, and nitrogen emissions than other fossil fuels. It does, however, release carbon dioxide which many people believe may change the global climate.
Available Reserves- Although producers are now working at gathering natural gas from challenging or innovative sources like shale, the same concerns of finite supply which plagues crude oil affects natural gas. The following chart illustrates proved reserves in global regions:

**Data Courtesy of EIA

Natural gas can be used for gas turbines and steam turbines in electricity generation. Supplied to homes, it is used in appliances and central heating. Compressed natural gas may also be used for automobile fuel. The overall usage distribution may be illustrated as follows:

**Data Courtesy of EIA