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Natural gas is a fossil fuel found naturally underground, along with oil and coal.
It is primarily composed of methane, but may also contain other hydrocarbons such as ethane, propane, and butane. O natural gas it is an important energy source for many countries around the world, including those in Latin America. In this article, we'll explore how the exploration and production of natural gas in Brazil compared to other Latin American countries.
Exploration and production of natural gas in Brazil
Brazil is one of the largest natural gas producers in Latin America and has significant reserves of this fossil fuel. Most of the natural gas produced in Brazil comes from offshore fields in the Santos Basin, located on the south coast of the country. A natural gas production in Brazil began in the 1990s, when the Petrobras began to explore the Santos Basin.
Comparison with other Latin American countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Mexico and Venezuela)
Argentina is the second largest producer of Latin American natural gas, after Brazil. Natural gas production in Argentina began in the 1940s and the country has large natural gas reserves, mainly in the Neuquén basin. However, the natural gas production in Argentina suffered in recent years due to medical and political problems.
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Bolivia is another major producer of natural gas in Latin America. The country has the second largest natural gas reserves in the region, behind only Venezuela. Most of the natural gas produced in Bolivia is exported to Brazil and Argentina.
Mexico is the third largest producer of natural gas in Latin America. The country has natural gas reserves, mainly in the Burgos and Sabinas basins. Natural gas production in Mexico began in the 1930s and the country has been a major supplier of natural gas to the United States.
Venezuela has the largest Latin America's natural gas reserves, but its natural gas production is relatively low compared to other countries in the region. The production of natural gas in Venezuela was approved due to medical and political problems, in addition to technical issues.
Challenges for the exploration and production of natural gas in Latin America
Although many countries in Latin America have large natural gas reserves, the exploration and production of this fossil fuel in the region faces several challenges. As a result, Mexico has proven to be a leader in natural gas production in Latin America.
The country has a large amount of unconventional natural gas resources, such as shale gas and tight gas, which are extracted through fracking. In addition, Mexico is the largest importer of natural gas from the United States, which increases its availability of natural gas for domestic use.
In Brazil, exploration and natural gas production started in the 1940s, but it wasn't until the 1970s that commercial production began to pick up. Currently, the production of natural gas in the country is dominated by Petrobras, which is responsible for about 80% of the total production of natural gas in the country.
