OCEANIC METHANE HYDRATES: A “FRONTIER” GAS RESOURCE
Methane hydrates are ice‐like compounds consisting of natural gas (mainly methane) and water, whose crystal structure effectively compresses the methane: each cubic metre of hydrate can yield over 150 cu.m of methane. Hydrates “cement” sediments and impart considerable mechanical strength; they fill...
Published in: | Journal of Petroleum Geology |
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crwiley:10.1111/j.1747-5457.1996.tb00512.x 2024-09-15T18:11:41+00:00 OCEANIC METHANE HYDRATES: A “FRONTIER” GAS RESOURCE Max, M. D. Lowrie, A. 1996 http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-5457.1996.tb00512.x https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1747-5457.1996.tb00512.x https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1747-5457.1996.tb00512.x en eng Wiley http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor Journal of Petroleum Geology volume 19, issue 1, page 41-56 ISSN 0141-6421 1747-5457 journal-article 1996 crwiley https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-5457.1996.tb00512.x 2024-07-25T04:20:54Z Methane hydrates are ice‐like compounds consisting of natural gas (mainly methane) and water, whose crystal structure effectively compresses the methane: each cubic metre of hydrate can yield over 150 cu.m of methane. Hydrates “cement” sediments and impart considerable mechanical strength; they fill porosity and restrict permeability. Both biogenic and thermogenic methane have been recovered from hydrates. Hydrates occur in permafrost regions (including continental shelves), and are stable in ocean‐floor sediments below water depths of about 400 m in the “Hydrate Stability Zone” (HSZ). This is a surface‐parallel zone of thermodynamic equilibrium that extends down from the sediment surface to a depth determined by temperature, pressure and local heat flow. Methane and water are stable below the HSZ. Although the economic recovery of hydrates has taken place in Arctic regions, oceanic hydrates offer far greater potential as an energy resource. A variety of traps for methane gas can be formed by oceanic hydrates. In addition to the gas within the hydrates themselves, simple gas traps in closures beneath the HSZ in the vicinity of bathymetric highs, and complex traps involving both hydrate and structural/stratigraphic components, have been observed. It has been estimated that at least twice as much combustible carbon occurs associated with methane hydrates as in all other fossil fuels on Earth. The evaluation of methane in, and associated with, oceanic hydrates therefore constitutes a major energy exploration frontier. Article in Journal/Newspaper Ice permafrost Wiley Online Library Journal of Petroleum Geology 19 1 41 56 |
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English |
description |
Methane hydrates are ice‐like compounds consisting of natural gas (mainly methane) and water, whose crystal structure effectively compresses the methane: each cubic metre of hydrate can yield over 150 cu.m of methane. Hydrates “cement” sediments and impart considerable mechanical strength; they fill porosity and restrict permeability. Both biogenic and thermogenic methane have been recovered from hydrates. Hydrates occur in permafrost regions (including continental shelves), and are stable in ocean‐floor sediments below water depths of about 400 m in the “Hydrate Stability Zone” (HSZ). This is a surface‐parallel zone of thermodynamic equilibrium that extends down from the sediment surface to a depth determined by temperature, pressure and local heat flow. Methane and water are stable below the HSZ. Although the economic recovery of hydrates has taken place in Arctic regions, oceanic hydrates offer far greater potential as an energy resource. A variety of traps for methane gas can be formed by oceanic hydrates. In addition to the gas within the hydrates themselves, simple gas traps in closures beneath the HSZ in the vicinity of bathymetric highs, and complex traps involving both hydrate and structural/stratigraphic components, have been observed. It has been estimated that at least twice as much combustible carbon occurs associated with methane hydrates as in all other fossil fuels on Earth. The evaluation of methane in, and associated with, oceanic hydrates therefore constitutes a major energy exploration frontier. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Max, M. D. Lowrie, A. |
spellingShingle |
Max, M. D. Lowrie, A. OCEANIC METHANE HYDRATES: A “FRONTIER” GAS RESOURCE |
author_facet |
Max, M. D. Lowrie, A. |
author_sort |
Max, M. D. |
title |
OCEANIC METHANE HYDRATES: A “FRONTIER” GAS RESOURCE |
title_short |
OCEANIC METHANE HYDRATES: A “FRONTIER” GAS RESOURCE |
title_full |
OCEANIC METHANE HYDRATES: A “FRONTIER” GAS RESOURCE |
title_fullStr |
OCEANIC METHANE HYDRATES: A “FRONTIER” GAS RESOURCE |
title_full_unstemmed |
OCEANIC METHANE HYDRATES: A “FRONTIER” GAS RESOURCE |
title_sort |
oceanic methane hydrates: a “frontier” gas resource |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
1996 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-5457.1996.tb00512.x https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1747-5457.1996.tb00512.x https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1747-5457.1996.tb00512.x |
genre |
Ice permafrost |
genre_facet |
Ice permafrost |
op_source |
Journal of Petroleum Geology volume 19, issue 1, page 41-56 ISSN 0141-6421 1747-5457 |
op_rights |
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-5457.1996.tb00512.x |
container_title |
Journal of Petroleum Geology |
container_volume |
19 |
container_issue |
1 |
container_start_page |
41 |
op_container_end_page |
56 |
_version_ |
1810449267741949952 |