Among the many problems confronting the oceans and seas such as climate change, global warming and sea level rise, a major issue of concern is the rapidly decreasing levels of oxygen present in the waters. The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has cautioned that oxygen levels in the oceans, from the surface to the greatest depths, are worsening. This is due to indiscriminate discharge of pollutants, sewage, and industrial waste into the seas.
The shift in the global energy matrix in favour of hydrocarbons has posed many serious issues, including environmental concerns. It is precisely because of these adverse consequences that Natural gas has been accepted as the preferred fuel for the present century. Unlike other fossil fuels, it is one of the cleanest, safest, and most useful energy sources.