(Gas hydrate in hand; photo: Dan McConnell)
Gas hydrates are clathrate compounds in which water forms the host molecule lattice with methane gas (usually) as the guest molecule. Gas hydrate resembles ice, will burn, and at 184,000 btu per cubic foot, is a dense energy source. With sufficient feed of gas saturated fluids, gas hydrates form at cold temperatures and/or high pressures. In the natural marine environment gas hydrates form where the temperatures are low, such as the arctic and antarctic polar regions, or where pressures are high such as the deepwater marine environment.
Gas hydrates are the most elusive of hydrocarbon deposits to find. AOA has an unrivaled worldwide reputation for being able to predict and find seafloor and buried gas hydrate deposits. Seafloor and buried gas hydrate deposits need to be identified prior to exploration and field development because buried gas hydrates could cause poor cementing of casing, and melting of gas hydrate within the field development over time could adversely affect engineering properties of soils as well as cause subsidence or heave.
There also is a growing interest in gas hydrates as a resource. The key to gas hydrate energy resources is to find concentrated gas hydrate deposits in porous, permeable sands that could be exploited with minor modifications of existing conventional oil and gas production techniques. AOA is at the vanguard of this effort using our expertise in deepwater seismic interpretation, gas migration systems, and controlled source electromagnetic (CSEM) methods.
contact Dan McConnell +1 713 532-2624
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In 2009, AOA was one of several scientific contributors to the US Department of Energy’s landmark Gulf of Mexico Gas Hydrate Joint Industry Project Leg II Expedition. Initial scientific reports from that expedition can be found at:
http://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/oil-gas/FutureSupply/MethaneHydrates/JIPLegII-IR/
(photo credits: Ann Cook, left, and Helix, right)
Shown above are expedition scientists Ann Cook (LDEO), Dan McConnell (AOA Geophysics), Matt Frye (BOEM), and Ray Boswell (NETL)
Helix Q4000 used for GoM Gas Hydrate JIP Leg II LWD Expedition