Spanish distribution and transmission company Gas Natural SDG is the most dynamic natural gas firm in the world, based on its increase in customers, throughput, and revenues in 1997. This is the finding of Sheffield Energy & Resources Information Services (Seris), Sheffield, U.K., which ranked 170 gas companies from 49 countries according to production, reserves, throughput, and financial performance in 1997.
In terms of gas production, Russia's RAO Gazprom was the largest, with 18.851 tcf produced. Second was Royal Dutch/Shell with 2.826 tcf, followed by Sonatrach with 2.474 tcf, Pertamina with 2.374 tcf, and Exxon Corp. with 2.314 tcf.
In terms of reserves, Gazprom was also way ahead, with a total of 1,180 tcf. Second was National Iranian Oil Co. with 812 tcf, followed by Qatar General Petroleum Corp. with 300 tcf, Saudi Aramco with 204 tcf, and Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. with 196 tcf.
Only three private-sector companies numbered among the top 20, in terms of reserves: Shell at 13th with 56 tcf, Exxon at 17th with 42 tcf, and Amoco Corp. at 20th with 21 tcf.
Gas Natural's showing as the liveliest gas company was attributed partly to an increase in distribution throughput of 165 trillion BTU during 1997, because of a 32.7% growth in domestic gas sales, and to substantial acquisitions in Latin America.
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