Abstract
A gas hydrate is a crystalline solid; its building blocks consist of a gas
molecule surrounded by a cage of water molecules. Thus it is similar to ice,
except that the crystalline structure is stabilized by the guest gas molecule
within the cage of water molecules. Many gases have molecular sizes suitable
to form hydrate, including such naturally occurring gases as carbon dioxide,
hydrogen sulfide, and several low-carbon-number hydrocarbons, but most marine
gas hydrates that have been analyzed are methane hydrates.
Aruvian Research analyzes this highly lucrative industry in its research
report - Analyzing the Potential of Gas Hydrates. The report begins with a
basic analysis of natural gas and goes on to analyze the potential of
hydrocarbons and gas hydrates. The compact structure of a basic hydrate unit,
how to look for hydrates at sea, role of the Hydrate Stability Zone,
environmental impact of gas hydrates, and hazards associated with hydrates are
all explored within this report.
Exploiting the resource of methane hydrates, understanding the rock physics
model, how methane is produced from gas hydrates and many other points are
covered in this report. The current gas hydrate programs and budgets involving
methane hydrate is also discussed in Aruvian' s offering.
With the growing demand for energy, gas hydrates have fast emerged as an
attractive option for this energy-hungry world. Aruvian Research' s report
Analyzing the Potential of Gas Hydrates is a step towards researching this
industry.
Table of Contents
A. Executive Summary
B. Introduction to Natural Gas
- B.1 Introduction
- B.2 Chemical Composition of Natural Gas
- B.3 Natural Gas Prices
- B.4 Natural Gas Processing
- B.5 Storage and Transporting of Natural Gas
- B.6 Sources of Natural Gas
C. What are Hydrocarbons?
- C.1 Introduction to Hydrocarbons
- C.2 Compact Structure of a Basic Hydrate Unit
- C.3 Finding Hydrates at Sea
- C.4 Present-day Hydrate Exploration
- C.5 Novel Methods of Monitoring Hydrate Creation
- C.6 Converting to Hydrates
D. Introduction to Gas Hydrates
- D.1 What are Gas Hydrates?
- D.2 Historical Background
- D.3 Structure of Gas Hydrates
- D.4 Hydrates Found in the Universe
- D.5 Where are Gas Hydrates Found
- D.6 The Hydrate Stability Zone
- D.7 Importance of Gas Hydrates
- D.8 How to Detect Gas Hydrates?
- D.9 Role of Gas Hydrates in Continental Margin Sediment Instability
- D.10 Environmental Impact of Gas Hydrates
- D.11 Energy Source from Gas Hydrates
- D.12 Hazards Associated with Hydrates
- D.13 Hydrate Challenges
- D.14 Research on Natural Gas Hydrates
- D.15 Looking at US Efforts
- D.16 Looking at International Efforts
- D.17 Future of Gas Hydrate Research
E. Methane Hydrates - A Resource
- E.1 Exploiting the Resource of Methane Hydrates
- E.2 Methane Hydrate & Global Warming
- E.3 Role of Natural Gas
F. Understanding the Rock Physics Model
G. How to Produce Methane from Gas Hydrates
H. Production of Natural Gas Hydrates
- H.1 Possible Production Processes
- H.2 Identifying Possible Deposits for Production
- H.3 Looking at Transportation Methods
- H.4 Safety & Environmental Concerns
- H.5 Hazard to Drilling Operations
- H.6 Hazard to Sea Floor Structure
- H.7 Hazard to Vehicles & Other Floating Structures
I. Analyzing the Global Carbon Cycle Role of Natural Gas Hydrates
J. Current Programs & Budgets Involving Methane Hydrate
- J.1 Introduction
- J.2 US Department of Energy
- J.3 US Geological Survey
- J.4 Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)
- J.5 Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
- J.6 JOIDES Ocean Drilling Program (ODP)
- J.7 National Science Foundation (NSF)
- J.8 Colorado School of Mines Hydrate Consortium (CSMHC)
- J.9 Deep Star Consortium
- J.10 International Gas Hydrate Research, Partnerships, and INTERMAR
K. Case Studies
- K.1 The Messoyakha Gas Field
- K.2 Prudhoe Bay
- K.3 Alaska North Slope Gas Hydrate Reservoir
L. Appendix
M. Glossary of Terms
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