NATGAS - Commodities

Abundance and Availability: Natural gas is abundant worldwide and is a major energy source. It is derived from the remains of animals and plants that existed millions of years ago, converted into gas deep beneath the earth's surface through compressional forces. The United States alone has over a trillion barrels of natural gas reserves.

Cleaner and Less Polluting: Natural gas is considered a cleaner alternative to other fossil fuels like coal and oil. When burned, it releases 45% less carbon dioxide than coal and 30% less than oil, making it a more environmentally friendly option. Advances in technology have also reduced nitrogen oxide emissions from natural gas combustion.

Unique Characteristics: Natural gas is a blend of hydrocarbons, with methane being the chief component. It is colourless and odourless, but a blend of hydrocarbons like butane, ethane, and propane is also present. Prior to delivery, impurities like oil, carbon dioxide, sulphur, water, and nitrogen are typically removed.

Versatile Applications: Natural gas is highly versatile and widely used for power generation and heating. It can be utilised in the form of compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Additionally, it serves as a feedstock in the production of various products, including fabrics, plastics, fertilisers, and medicines.

Price and Market: Natural gas prices, like other commodities, are driven by supply and demand fundamentals. Historically, natural gas prices followed oil prices, but in recent years, they have decoupled and are somewhat trending with coal prices. Natural gas prices are often expressed in currency units per volume or per energy content.

Futures Market: The natural gas market is split between the financial (futures) market and the physical market. The NYMEX futures contract is a standardised contract for the delivery of energy at Henry Hub. Most financial transactions occur off-exchange in the over-the-counter (OTC) markets using contracts that match the general terms.

Physical Market: Physical natural gas prices at specific delivery locations are based on the final settled forward financial price for a given delivery period and the settled "basis" value for that location. Daily "day ahead" markets determine prices for specific days based on localised supply and demand conditions, especially weather forecasts.

Energy Efficiency: Natural gas vehicles and engines powered by natural gas are more energy-efficient, making them cheaper to run. It is commonly used in homes for heating and cooking purposes. Moreover, embracing natural gas reduces the risk of soil contamination and oil spills, as it does not require underground storage tanks.

Infrastructure: The technology to produce natural gas is well-established, as it is similar to harnessing other fossil fuels. The existing infrastructure for harnessing natural gas makes it a viable and widely used source of energy for power generation and heat.

Clean Burning and Environmental Impact: Natural gas is recognised for its clean burning properties, producing fewer byproducts and pollutants compared to other fossil fuels. This attribute, along with its abundance and versatility, makes natural gas a significant player in the global energy landscape.