Overview on Hydrate Coring, Handling and Analysis

• Main Authors: Burger, Jon, Gupta, Deepak, Jacobs, Patrick, Shillinglaw, John
• Other Authors: United States. Department of Energy.
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: Westport Technology Center 2003
• Subjects: Thermodynamics; Sediments; Gas Hydrates; Hydrates; 29 Energy Planning; Policy And Economy; Preservation; Methane; Drilling; Carbon; 03 Natural Gas; Fossil Fuels; Distribution; Permafrost; Transport; Arctic; Westport; Ice; permafrost; Alaska
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.2172/908303; https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc889083/

Gas hydrates are crystalline, ice-like compounds of gas and water molecules that are formed under certain thermodynamic conditions. Hydrate deposits occur naturally within ocean sediments just below the sea floor at temperatures and pressures existing below about 500 meters water depth. Gas hydrate is also stable in conjunction with the permafrost in the Arctic. Most marine gas hydrate is formed of microbially generated gas. It binds huge amounts of methane into the sediments. Worldwide, gas hydrate is estimated to hold about 1016 kg of organic carbon in the form of methane (Kvenvolden et al., 1993). Gas hydrate is one of the fossil fuel resources that is yet untapped, but may play a major role in meeting the energy challenge of this century. In June 2002, Westport Technology Center was requested by the Department of Energy (DOE) to prepare a ''Best Practices Manual on Gas Hydrate Coring, Handling and Analysis'' under Award No. DE-FC26-02NT41327. The scope of the task was specifically targeted for coring sediments with hydrates in Alaska, the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) and from the present Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) drillship. The specific subjects under this scope were defined in 3 stages as follows: Stage 1: Collect information on coring sediments with hydrates, core handling, core preservation, sample transportation, analysis of the core, and long term preservation. Stage 2: Provide copies of the first draft to a list of experts and stakeholders designated by DOE. Stage 3: Produce a second draft of the manual with benefit of input from external review for delivery. The manual provides an overview of existing information available in the published literature and reports on coring, analysis, preservation and transport of gas hydrates for laboratory analysis as of June 2003. The manual was delivered as draft version 3 to the DOE Project Manager for distribution in July 2003. This Final Report is provided for records purposes.