Energy in the 1980s - Natural gas

Abstract

This paper reviews the world’s existing natural gas reserves and future expectations, together with natural gas consumption in 1972, by main geographic regions. The present and future supply and demand situation in each of the main natural gas markets, namely the U.S.A., the U.S.S.R., Japan and Western Europe, are discussed in the context of rising energy demand. The reasons are examined for the apparent paradox that, although now and for many years to come, the world has a theoretical abundance of natural gas reserves, in practice a number of important markets are already short or will soon be so. The paper will conclude by discussing the problems of meeting the developing future demand for natural gas with available indigenous production combined with supplementary supplies, including imports and manufactured substitutes.