The first experiments in the industrial use of methane gas began about seventy years ago. Further developments took place during the Second World War when natural gas, which is composed largely of methane, was used as a substitute for petrol which was scarce.

The use of methane as a fuel for the internal combustion engine was studied first in France and later in Italy. Today methane is used fairly extensively as a fuel, especially for domestic gas cookers and central heating boilers. The fact that methane can be transported in cylinders, tanks and along pipelines has made it possible to take it to country areas where manufactured gas would be difficult and expensive to obtain.

Methanol and formaldehyde are obtained from methane. Methanol is used as an anti-freeze and formaldehyde as a disinfectant.

There are various ways of locating deposits of methane gas. The most ingenious method is to cause miniature earthquakes through underground explosions. As the sure how long it takes the shock waves to reach the rock layers and travel back again. When these shock waves encounter a zone of liquid and gas deposits, the way they travel changes and special instruments register the change. Once the deposits have been found, the gas is extracted and distributed through pipelines or liquefied and sealed inside metal cylinders.

The geological conditions for oil and natural gas are similar. Exploration for oil in many countries led to the discovery and utilization of vast quantities of gas.