The proportion of LNG in the hands of such middlemen will rise from 12% to 25% when all the plants now under construction start running, says Michael Stoppard of Cambridge Energy Research Associates, a consultancy.

ECONOMIST: Liquefied natural gas

His former co-worker, Dirk Aguilar of San Francisco who is now running an energy management start-up, says the email went over well because it suited Google's casual culture.

WSJ: To Colleagues: I'm Outta Here

But for now, you can get a running start on the topic: Please tell me why you started you business, by clicking the comment button.

FORBES: We Asked: What's The Best Marketing Idea You Ever Had? Here's What You Told Us

Indeed, running a big American firm or a Silicon Valley start-up is now riskier than being grand vizier in the court of the Ottoman sultan.

ECONOMIST: Firing the boss

It was initially thought the services would be up and running by the end of this year, but the company has now said they should start by about February 2013.

BBC: STV sees profits rise and debt cut