The remains of once living animals and plants were converted into gas and oil which often occurs together. The fact that natural gas is frequently found with oil has contributed to the growth of the natural gas industry. But to get rid of this gas, it has to be flared as in the case of the Niger Delta regions of Nigeria. Countries like the United States discovered the use of natural gas since the 1820’s exactly two hundred years ago, with the first natural gas well drilled in the country which was opened up at Fredonia, New York in 1821. Prior to that time, manufactured gas from coal, coke and from oil was the main stream. This is still in use in various communities today. The Chinese however, made use of this property as early as 140BC! They piped the gas through hollow bamboo rods from the sites where it was channeled to the sea shore and there they burned it to evaporate the brine and produce salt. Such commercial use of natural gas was not common and for thousands of years, the