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Tutorial on Methane Hydrate
• What is it and how is it formed?• Where is it found?• How much may exist?• Multi-National Research
– Marine– Arctic
• Research Needs• International Research Consortium • APEC EWG Participation
What is a Gas Hydrate?
Crystalline solid consisting of gas molecules, usually methane, each surrounded by a cage of water molecules
Where Does the Gas Come from?Biogenic Hydrate
Microbial activity in the upper several hundred meters of deep-sea sediment (about 99%)
Thermogenic HydrateThermal breakdown of organic material at greater depths
Where Does Gas Hydrate Exist?Where gas and water are present at:• Moderately low temperatures• Moderately high pressures
Free GasFree Gas
GEOTHERMAL GRADIENT
Multi-National Research Progress
• Demonstrated the feasibility of methane production from arctic hydrate deposits
• Detailed studies of the geologic setting, methane flow and biologic communities of several subsea hydrate deposits
• Identified methane hydrate deposits throughout the world’s oceans, primarily based on unique seismic reflections
Mackenzie Delta, Mallik Production Experiment 2002
Participants:• Canada
– Geological Survey of Canada– Industry
• Japan– Japan National Oil Corporation– Japan Petroleum Exploration Company
• USA – U.S. Geological Survey – U.S. Department of Energy
• Germany– GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam
• India– Ministry of Petroleum Geology and
Natural Gas, – Gas Authority India. Ltd.
• ICSDP (International Continental Scientific Drilling Program)
– Universities and research institutes in Japan, Canada, USA, Germany, and China
Well tests prove for the first time that gas production from hydrate is technically feasible
By dissociating or melting the gas hydrate by heating and/or depressurizing the reservoir
Marine Methane Hydrate CharacterizationJoint Industry Program in Gulf of Mexico involving: U.S. Department of Energy, Department of Interior, Chevron-Texaco, Schlumberger, Halliburton, ConocoPhillips, TotalFinaElf, and Japan National Oil Corp.
Goals:• Characterize natural gas
hydrates in the Gulf of Mexico; and
• Understand the hazards of drilling through the hydrate stability zone
Status:• High resolution seismic,
laboratory studies and subsea sampling in progress
• Several sites will be cored and logged this summerFugro Explorer mini drillship
Marine Methane Hydrate ExploitationNankai Trough, Japan
• 1995, Japan Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, METI launched gas hydrate exploitation program
• Bottom Simulating Reflectors present in Nankai Trough and aroundmuch of Japan
• 1999 Test well in Nankai Trough, drilled by Japan National Oil Corp. and Japan Petroleum Exploration (JAPEX) -- cored and logged a large accumulation of gas hydrate
– Gas hydrate fills pores in sandstones from 211–270 m below seafloor
• Basic laboratory research, high-resolution seismic and additional coring in progress
• Program aims to develop technology for commercial production of methane from hydrate by 2016
Ocean Drilling Program
• 2002: Hydrate Ridge, Pacific Northwest U.S.
• 1995: Blake Ridge, U.S. Atlantic
• 1982: Deep Sea Drilling Program, Middle-America Trench: first hydrate cores
Hydrated sediment
Water saturated sediment
Free gas zones
HydrMarine RDH GSC-PGC
*Ocean
ODPdrilling &downhole meas.
Seismic studies
Deep-towedhigh res. seismic OBS
Heat flow
Electrical profiling
Sampling& SeafloorMeasurement
PGC
SeafloorSeafloor
Natural Resources Canada
Other Pacific Rim Hydrate ResearchCanada:• Pacific Margin (Cascadia Margin) - studies investigating genesis,
origin, and morphology of regional gas hydrate deposits• Atlantic Margin (continental slope) - geophysical studies to
identify geo-hazards related to gas hydrate in areas of intensive oil/gas production and transport
• Arctic Margin (Beaufort Sea) - investigation of the relations between offshore gas hydrates, local/regional hydrocarbon gas fluxes, and anomalous sub-marine landscape features as well as seismic studies in inter-island channels of the Arctic Archipelago.
Chile:• 2003 expedition offshore central Chile, including scientists from
Chile, Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, andGermany applied different geophysical and geochemical methods to detect and characterize gas hydrate
Other Pacific Rim Hydrate Research (cont.)
Japan:• MH21, Methane Hydrate Research Consortium: integrated
laboratory and field studies to characterize hydrates and develop technology needed for commercial production of natural gas from hydrate by 2016
United States:• Production and safety: field studies and reservoir modeling in
Alaska North Slope and Gulf of Mexico. Coring, logging planned 2004.
• Geophysical detection, geochemistry, ecology and global carbon modeling studies by multiple government agencies, universities and industry
Many Pacific Rim countries have found preliminary evidence of gas hydrates: New Zealand, Korea, China, and Australia
Research Needs
• Refine world hydrate estimates • Develop remote measurement techniques• Determine role of hydrate in global carbon cycle• Improve coring and sampling techniques• Transfer technology to countries with hydrate resources
International Research Consortium Goals and Objectives
• Increase knowledge of the location, geologic character and volume of methane hydrate in the Pacific Rim
• By facilitating multi-national research and coordinating information exchange
• And working with APEC Energy Working Group to communicate research results to government policy makers
• Contributing knowledge needed for future production of methane from hydrate
Proposed Consortium Structure • Focus on seismic, core and sample surveys to locate, quantify
and define geologic setting of methane hydrate deposits • Consortium open to academic, private and governmental
research organizations• Participation in any research project will be optional to
Consortium members • Project expenses will be paid only by participating
organizations • Consortium Secretariat (provided by U.S.)
– Assist project teams to organize expeditions– Maintain and distribute project data – Outreach and communication
APEC Energy Working Group Participation
• APEC Enhanced Energy Security Initiative, October 2003
• Proposal for International Methane Hydrate Research Consortium presented at multi-national workshop in Chile, November 2003
• Ad hoc group formed by APEC EWG, December 2003• Consortium organizing meeting planned in Fall 2004
Encourage participation of research community and energy producers. Contact [email protected] to participate in the meeting