III.

History

Humans have used natural gas for centuries. Historical records show that natural gas was burned as fuel in China as early as ad 250. In the 17th century, natural gas was used for heating and lighting in northern Italy. In the United States, it was first discovered in Fredonia, New York, in 1821.

As its name implies, natural gas emerges from the ground in gas form, which is difficult to transport and store. As a result, natural gas has historically been used in areas close to the gas reservoirs. As the petroleum industry grew in the 19th and 20th centuries, natural gas that was recovered with petroleum from underground reservoirs was typically treated as a waste by-product and was often burned off at the well. Today, natural gas is transported through extensive networks of pipelines or is liquefied and transported by ship.