LNG or Liquefied Natural Gas production facilities take natural gas (methane and ethane) and liquefy it a cryogenic temperatures. This allows for the simple transportation of gas from production which is remote from existing or planned infrastructures. The Offshore Energy Database also identifies LNG or Liquefied Natural Gas Regassification plants where the LNG is turned back into gas.

GTL or Gas-To-Liquid plants

Oil has been the most important source of energy for power generation over the last century. It has been the choice of fuel from transportation to industry and to the domestic market. In addition it has been considered to be one of the most important political drivers over the last twenty five years. Natural gas is poised to fill this role over the next century.

The realisation that cleaner fuels are vital for the health of the planet and its occupants will push the cleaner burning natural gas to the forefront of power generation worldwide.

The increasing demand for electricity worldwide has led to an increase in demand for power stations that use natural gas rather than oil. These types of power station have a short lead time and are relatively inexpensive to build.

There are still abundant stocks of natural gas. The world map and pie chart below show where these reserves lie and the table below shows the proven gas reserves (trillion cubic metres) and the ratio of reserves to production (R/P).