Methane Hydrate - The Gas Resource of the Future Development of alternative sources of natural gas, such as methane hydrate, can help to guard against potential supply interruptions or shortages and improve energy security. Methane hydrate is a cage-like lattice of ice inside of which are trapped molecules of methane, the chief constituent of natural gas. If methane hydrate is either warmed or depressurized, it will revert back to water and natural gas. When brought to the earth's surface, one cubic meterof gas hydrate releases 164 cubic metersof natural gas. Hydrate deposits may be several hundred meters thick and generally occur in two types of settings: under Arctic permafrost, and beneath the ocean floor. Methane that forms hydrate can be both biogenic, created by biological activity in sediments, and thermogenic, created by geological processes deeper within the earth. MORE INFO Methane Hydrate Primer Methane Hydrate RD: Today and Tomorrow DOE FY2009 Methane Hydrate Program Report to Congress DOE FY2008 Methane Hydrate Program Report to Congress Overview of Methane Hydrate: Future Energy Within Our Grasp An Interagency Roadmap for Methane Hydrate RD 03.30.10 Techline Gulf of Mexico Expedition Confirms Reservoir-Quality Hydrate Deposits While global estimates vary considerably, the energy content of methane occurring in hydrate form is immense, possibly exceeding the combined energy content of all other known fossil fuels. However, future production volumes are speculative because methane production from hydrate has not been documented beyond small-scale field experiments. The U.S. RD program is focused on the two major technical constraints to production: 1) the need to detect and quantify methane hydrate deposits prior to drilling, and 2) the demonstration of methane production from hydrate at commercial volumes. Recent and planned research and field trials should answer these two issues. In recent field tests, researchers have demonstrated the capability to predict the location and concentration of methane hydrate deposits. Small-volume production tests in the U.S. and Canadian Arctic suggest that commercial production is possible using depressurization and thermal stimulation from conventional wellbores.Large-scale production tests are plannedin the U.S. Arctic in2012. Demonstration of production from offshore deposits will lag behind Arctic studies because marine deposits are less well documented, and marine sampling and well tests are significantly more expensive. Why We Need Methane From Hydrate Natural gas is an important energy source for the U.S. economy, providing almost 23 percent of all energy used in our Nation's diverse energy portfolio. A reliable and efficient energy source, natural gas is also the least carbon-intensive of the fossil fuels. Production of domestic conventional and unconventional natural gas cannot keep pace with demand growth. The development of new, cost-effective resources such as methane hydrate can play a major role in moderating price increases and ensuring adequate future supplies of natural gas for American consumers. International Cooperation in Methane Hydrate RD In April and June 2008, the U.S. Department of Energy signed agreements for cooperative research efforts with representatives from three countries with gas hydrate research programs: India, Korea and Japan. http://www.fossil.energy.gov/programs/oilgas/hydrates/index.html
标签: 天然气水合物
