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Name Two Regions rich in Natural Gas Resources

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Natural gas is a naturally occurring mixture of various hydrocarbons, mainly methane with small quantities of higher alkanes. Natural Gas consists of low quantities of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and helium. It is also known as fossil gas. It is a colorless, odorless gas. Natural gas comes under fossil fuels and is a nonrenewable source of energy. It is formed by the decomposition of organic matter under high pressure and heat over a span of million years. Natural gas is mainly used for heating, cooking, and the generation of electricity. Natural gas is found along with other fossil fuels like petroleum and coal.

When natural gas is burnt it releases less carbon dioxide and other pollutants when compared to other fuels but during the extraction of natural gas a lot of pollutants are released mainly carbon dioxide. To avoid any accidents due to leakage some odorizers are added to the gas which smells like sulfur or raw eggs. Natural gas can be easily found and is available in large quantities but is highly flammable due to its high level of methane. 

What is Natural Gas?

Natural gas is a combustible fossil fuel that is composed of methane and other hydrocarbons. It is found in underground reservoirs and is extracted through the process of fracking. Natural gas is used to generate electricity, to heat homes and businesses, and as a transportation fuel. The United States has abundant natural gas resources. The majority of these resources are located in the Appalachian Basin, the Gulf Coast region, and the shale formations of the Rocky Mountains. These three regions contain more than half of the country’s natural gas reserves. Other countries with large reserves of natural gas include Russia, Iran, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.

How is Natural Gas Used?

Natural gas is most commonly used in the residential and commercial sectors for heating purposes. In the United States, nearly 50% of natural gas is used in the residential sector, while commercial buildings account for almost 30%. Industrial users account for the remaining natural gas consumption. In addition to heating, natural gas is also used as a fuel for power generation. Natural gas-fired power plants are cleaner and more efficient than those that burn coal or oil, making them an increasingly popular choice for electricity production. In 2015, natural gas accounted for about 34% of all electricity generated in the United States.

Regions Rich in Natural Gas Resources

According to a survey conducted by various organizations, they are approximately 7,257 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves in the world by the year 2021. According to the average rate of consumption of natural gas, there are only 53 times the gas left. That means if the consumption of Natural gas continues at the same rate the gas reserves will be over in the next 52 years. Among all the countries in the world, Russia has the largest natural gas accumulation followed by Iran, Qatar, and United States.  

Currently, Russia is the Largest Producer of Natural Gas in the world with the largest gas reserves. The production of natural gas by Russia in a year is 762 billion cubic meters. Russia is the largest exporter of natural Gas in the world. Russia alone contributes 25 percent of the total Natural gas need of the European Union. 80 percent of the total gas exported is with the help of pipelines laid across Ukraine. The majority of the natural gas reserves in Russia are located in Siberia, especially in Yamburg and Urengoy. 

Iran has the second-largest Natural gas reserves in the world. Iran has natural gas reserves of 1,183 trillion cubic feet. According to the Iran Petroleum Ministry, the proven Natural gas reserve in Iran is 256.7 trillion cubic feet which accounts for 6.4 percent of the total world’s reserves. Iran is one of the most hydrocarbon-rich areas in the world with rich coal and petroleum reserves. There are a total of 102 oil fields and 43 gas fields in Iran out of which 78 percent are active. There are 92 natural gas reserves in Iran. Iran has a huge chance of new gas reserves being discovered like the areas of the Caspian sea, and the North East. Iran and Qatar are the home to the largest gasfield in the world. It is located in South Pars or the North Dome.  

India in total has 48.76 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves. It has the 22nd highest natural gas reserves in the world. Among all the states and places in India Assam has the highest natural gas reserves and the highest production of natural gas. According to the new reports of the Union Minister of State Assam alone has 198 billion cubic meters of natural gas in reserves. During the drilling for petroleum new natural gas reserves were discovered in Assam recently. Tripura produces the second-highest natural gas reserves in India. 

Middle East

The Middle East is home to some of the world’s largest reserves of natural gas, making it a critical region for the global energy market. Qatar, Iran, and Saudi Arabia are just a few of the countries in the region with large natural gas deposits. Natural gas is an important energy source for many countries in the Middle East. Not only does it provide a domestic energy source, but it also generates export revenue for these countries. Qatar is the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG), and Saudi Arabia is also a major exporter of natural gas.

The vast majority of the natural gas in the Middle East is located in offshore reservoirs. This presents both opportunities and challenges for production and transportation. While offshore production can be more expensive, it often results in higher-quality natural gas. The deep waters of the Arabian Gulf are particularly challenging for offshore production, but companies are continuously developing new technologies to tap into these resources. Transporting natural gas from these offshore fields to markets around the world is also a complex undertaking. LNG tankers are specially designed to carry liquefied natural gas, and they must follow specific routes to avoid areas where piracy is prevalent. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most important shipping lanes for LNG tankers, as it connects the Persian Gulf with the Arabian Sea.

Russia

Russia has the world’s largest reserves of natural gas. The country is estimated to hold over 1,688 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of recoverable natural gas reserves, more than 17% of the world’s total. Russia is also the world’s largest producer of natural gas, accounting for about one-fifth of global production in 2017. Most of Russia’s natural gas production comes from Western Siberia, where there are large deposits of shale gas. The vast majority of Russia’s natural gas exports go to Europe, making the continent heavily reliant on Russian supplies. In fact, Europe receives about two-thirds of its imported natural gas from Russia. This dependence has led to concerns that Russia could use its energy resources as a political tool, though most experts believe that is unlikely.

FAQs on Natural Gas

Question 1: What are the various properties of Natural Gas?

Answer:

When natural gas is burnt it releases less carbon dioxide and other pollutants when compared to other fuels but during the extraction of natural gas a lot of pollutants are released mainly carbon dioxide. To avoid any accidents due to leakage some odorizers are added to the gas which smells like sulfur or raw eggs. Natural gas is mainly used for heating, cooking, and the generation of electricity. Natural gas is found along with other fossil fuels like petroleum and coal.

Question 2: Which place in the world has the highest Natural Gas reserves?

Answer:

Currently, Russia is the Largest Producer of Natural Gas in the world with the largest gas reserves. The production of natural gas by Russia in a year is 762 billion cubic meters. Russia is the largest exporter of natural Gas in the world. Russia alone contributes 25 percent of the total Natural gas need of the European Union. 

Question 3: Does Iran have any natural gas reserves?

Answer:

Iran has the second largest Natural gas reserves in the world. According to the Iran Petroleum Ministry, the proven Natural gas reserve in Iran is 1,183 trillion cubic feet which accounts for 6.4 percent of the total world’s reserves. Iran is one of the most hydrocarbon-rich areas in the world with rich coal and petroleum reserves. Iran has a huge chance of new gas reserves discovered like the areas of the Caspian sea, and the North East. Iran and Qatar are the home to the largest gasfield in the world. It is located in South Pars or the North Dome. 

Question 4: Explain the production of Natural Gas in India.

Answer:

India in total has 48.76 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves. It has the 22nd highest natural gas reserves in the world. Among all the states and places in India Assam has the highest natural gas reserves and the highest production of natural gas. According to the new reports of the Union Minister of State Assam alone has 198 billion cubic meters of natural gas in reserves. 

Question 5: Is there sufficient Natural gas in the world for the coming generations?

Answer: 

According to a survey conducted by various organizations, there are approximately  7,257 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves in the world by the year 2021. According to the average rate of consumption of natural gas, there are only 53 times the gas left. That means if the consumption of Natural gas continues at the same rate the gas reserves will be over in the next 52 years. 



Last Updated : 13 Dec, 2022
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