History and utilization of natural gas
There are many theories about the creation of gas. The most frequent is the theory that gas was gradually released by the creation of coal or oil as a result of consistent decomposition of the organic material.
Worship of gas fields in ancient Greece
Before the people knew about natural gas, it was emblazened with different mysteries. Sometimes it happened that gas coming from the earth crust was set on fire by a flash. Fire like this was a mystery for the early civilizations, so it became the object of myths and superstitions.
One of the most famous fires was discovered by goat shepherd about 1000 B.C. in ancient Greece on the mountain Parnas. Greeks believed that the flame has a divine origin and they built a temple over it. The temple was occupied by a soothsayer, who prophesied over the flame. These types of flames appeared also in religions of India and Persia.
It was the Chinese who used natural gas for own benefit about 500 B.C. for the first time. When they found places where the gas came to the surface, they made of a simple line from the bamboo shoots. With its help they boiled sea water from which salt separated through boiling and this way they obtained fresh water.
Gas day on New Year's Eve
The first country that started to use natural gas commercially, was Great Britain. Around 1785 gas made of coal was used to light houses and streets.
New Year's Eve of 1813 has been taken for the day of the establishment of gas industry when the lamps of gaslight on the Westminster bridge lit up for the first time.
The Field of the gas industry has gone through two main development streams. The first was the stage of the lighting gas that was made of coal or fluid hydrocarbons. Using of the lighting gas stopped in most countries in the second half of the 20th century. The second stage is represented by natural gas, that is distributed to customers today.