The single biggest contributor to the transition of energy away from coal is natural gas. Gas is far cleaner, just as abundant and with the advent of liquified natural gas (LNG), able to be exported globally and involve even developing countries still heavily reliant on coal.
Gas is discovered in exactly the same fashion as oil, to this end Robert FE Jones has a long a proven track record of gas and oil discovery during a long career predominantly with UK independents, including Clyde Petroleum, Tullow Oil and Cairn Energy.