The global trend to replace fossil fuels with clean-burning natural gas has been spurred by environmental concerns, and international obligations to comply with noxious emission limits. Deregulation of utility markets and gas technology breakthroughs offer unprecedented opportunities for the growth of the natural gas industry, leaving it poised to become the growth fuel of the 21st century. This study assesses the prospects for natural gas in the global energy market, examining topics ranging from the commercial opportunites and constraints relating to natural gas exploitation to newly emerging gas technologies. The impacts of government regulation and liberalization are assessed from international perspectives to present a broad vision of trends in the natural gas industry.