Global Warming Is Real |
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Methane Production from Methane Hydrates
Gas hydrates occur in Arctic and marine subsurface regions. Gas hydrate is a crystalline solid consisting of gas molecules, usually methane, each surrounded by a cage of water molecules. The gas is held in this state by a combination of low temperature and high pressure. If the gas could be effectively, safely and controllably tapped, gas hydrates offer the potential for making major contributions to meeting DOE primary objectives regarding energy needs and energy independence while substantially expanding available world energy reserves. Heating offers a high production option for doing this as the heat released from oxidation of a single methane molecule is enough to liberate over ten methane molecules from their hydrate state. (Emphasis added)
The technology also may provide a global warming benefit through CO2 sequestration. CO2 hydrate is thermodynamically more stable than methane hydrate, it will exist at a higher temperature than methane hydrate, and the CO2 hydrate heat of formation (exothermic) is slightly greater than the heat of dissociation (endothermic) for methane hydrate. This means the possibility exists for economic sequestration of CO2 into the methane hydrate bed, advantageously stabilizing the bed, and further reducing required heat from combustion. |
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Precision Combustion, Inc. (PCI) is developing its downhole catalytic combustor for the purposes of generating downhole heat for efficient production of methane from its hydrate, with potential for CO2 sequestration. We are developing this as an enabling technology for the long term goal of increasing U.S. and world energy production and available reserves at low cost while potentially reducing global warming. 
"Extraction of methane from hydrates could provide an enormous energy and petroleum feedstock resource. Additionally, conventional gas resources appear to be trapped beneath methane hydrate layers in ocean sediments." [U.S. Geological Service]