Numerical models for the formation of marine gas hydrate : constraints on methane supply from a comparison of observations and numerical models ...

• Main Author: Davie, Matthew K.
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: University of British Columbia 2009
• Subjects: Methane hydrate
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.14288/1.0052466; https://doi.library.ubc.ca/10.14288/1.0052466

Methane hydrate is a chemical compound composed of a rigid network of water molecules that enclose methane gas. Although this abundant form of hydrate is stable under pressure and temperature conditions present in seafloor sediments of most of the world's oceans, hydrate occurrences are confined to regions where the concentration of methane is sufficient to exceed the local solubility. Consequently, marine hydrates are generally restricted to continental margins where conversion of high inputs of organic carbon or focusing of methane bearing fluids supply the methane required for hydrate formation. Empirical extrapolation of hydrate volumes from known locations to all continental margins yields a methane abundance which exceeds all other fossil fuel resources combined. Consequently, methane hydrates have generated interest in their potential use as an energy resource and as a mechanism for climate change. However, fundamental questions about marine hydrate remain unresolved. Specifically, the source of the ...