Gas Hydrates as a Resource and a Mechanism for Transmission

Abstract

Abstract Gas Hydrates as a Resource During the past century both the world population and energy consumption have increased substantially. The population has grown four-fold in one hundred years, and now exceeds 6 billion. The energy consumption has grown 9.5 times, from 0.9*109 T.O.E. (tons of oil equivalent) to 8.55*109 T.O.E. The information in Fig. 1 reflects the dynamics of consumption of different energy sources in the world. From 1850 to 1950, the main source of energy has been coal. In 1920, the percentage of coal in the world energy balance reached 74 %. In spite of rapid development of the petroleum industry, the percentage of oil has never exceeded 47 % (1972). The proven reserves of oil of 142.1*109 tons [1] is sufficient to last 40 years. At present,, the percentage of oil and gas in the world energy balance is approximately 65 %. The percentage of natural gas in the energy mix is approximately 25%, about the same as coal. Fig. 2 illustrates the producible quantities of coal, oil, natural gas and gas from hydrate deposits, as presented earlier by Makogon.1 The data in Fig. 2 are based upon proven reserves of hydrocarbons.2 Excluding the possible discoveries of new energy sources, natural gas will be the primary fuel for the coming century for two reasons. First, natural gas is abundant in nature. We know where much of it is located. Second, burning natural gas is much cleaner than burning coal or oil. The world's proven reserves of natural gas at 1/1/2001 were 150.2*1012 m3 (135* 109 T.O.E.). Proven reserves of coal were 498*109 T.O.E.2 At the current level of consumption, the world has enough oil to last for at least 40 years. Known natural gas resources should be sufficient for 60 years or more. However, there could be much more natural gas that is trapped in the deep waters of our oceans and in the arctic in the form of gas hydrates. There are possibly enormous reserves of natural gas in the solid, hydrated state, with an estimated volume of gas-inplace of 14* 1012 T.O.E. If only 10% of that gas could be recovered, it would provide the world with gas for 180 years at the current level of energy consumption.