Article Preview
Top2. Problem Fourmulation
Currently, fossil fuels (oil, gas, and coal) are the most important resources in the world. In 2012, about 86.5% of all supplied energy related to fossil fuels. According to IEA, total energy production and imports were 18609 million tons in 2012. Thus, 6497, 1137, 3712, 4746 million tons related to crude oil, oil products, natural gas, and coal respectively. Also, 14% of total supplied energy related to hydro, biomass, waste, and renewable energies (IEA, 2014).
Natural gas is kind of fossil fuel formed over millions of years. Methane is also called to this material composed of one carbon and four hydrogens. Today, natural gas has many uses in domestic, commercial, industrial and transportation. Natural gas industry in the United States began to boom in early 1900 and is progressing up to now (Kidney et al., 2011). Energy policy in today's world is introduced in three general principles including supply security, social sustainability of supply, and the environment. While natural gas as an alternative energy source is cleaner, safer and cheaper than other fossil fuels, could well meet these goals (Frota, et al. 2010).
According to British Petroleum (2013), Iran has the largest proven gas reserves in the world. Proven reserves are said kind of reserves that have been discovered and are technically exploitable (British Petroleum, 2014). This amount was increased about 200 milliard m3 in comparison to the last year and comprised 18.2% of world’s gas reserves. While unconventional gas reserves have not yet been estimated exactly. After Iran, Russia has proven reserves of 31.3 trillion cubic meters, ranked second, equal to 16.8% of total proven reserves in the world. Figure 1 is shown 10 countries regarding natural gas reserves (British Petroleum, 2014).
Figure 1. Natural gas reserves in 10 countries (2013) (British Petroleum, 2014)