E-Book Overview
This is the first book that attempts to broadly integrate the most recent knowledge in the fields of hydrate nucleation and growth in permafrost regions and marine sediments. Gas hydrate reactant supply, growth models, and implications for pore fill by natural gas hydrate are discussed for both seawater precursors in marine sediments and for permafrost hydrate. These models for forming hydrate concentrations that will constitute targets for exploration are discussed, along with exploration methods. Thermodynamic models for the controlled conversion of hydrate to natural gas, which can be recovered using conventional industry practices, suggest that a number of different types of hydrate occurrence are likely to be practical sources of hydrate natural gas. Current progress in the various aspects of commercial development of hydrate gas deposits are discussed, along with the principal extractive issues that have yet to be resolved. Audience The book will be of interest to petroleum geologists, earth scientists (marine geology and geophysics), government departments and institutions concerned with energy resources.
E-Book Content
ECONOMIC GEOLOGY OF NATURAL GAS HYDRATE
Coastal Systems and Continental Margins VOLUME 9 Series Editor Bilal U. Haq
Editorial Advisory Board M. Collins, Dept. of Oceanography, University of Southampton, U.K. D. Eisma, Emeritus Professor, Utrecht University and Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Texel, The Netherlands K.E. Louden, Dept. of Oceanography, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada J.D. Milliman, School of Marine Science, The College of William & Mary, Gloucester Point, VA, U.S.A. H.W. Posamentier, Anadarko Canada Corporation, Calgary, AB, Canada A. Watts, Dept. of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, U.K.
The titles published in this series are listed at the end of this volume.
Economic Geology of Natural Gas Hydrate
By
Michael D. Max MDS Research & Hydrate Energy International, St. Petersburg, FL, U.S.A.
Arthur H. Johnson Hydrate Energy International, Kenner, LA, U.S.A. and
William P. Dillon Geological Survey Emeritus and Hydrate Energy International, Woods Hole, MA, U.S.A. With contributions of
Sarah Holman, Michael Kowalski, George Moridis, John Osegovic, Shelli Tatro and George Taft
A C.I.P. Catalogue record for this book is available from the Library of Congress.
ISBN-10 ISBN-13 ISBN-10 ISBN-13
1-4020-3971-9 (HB) 978-1-4020-3971-3 (HB) 1-4020-3972-7 (e-book) 978-1-4020-3972-0 (e-book)
Published by Springer, P.O. Box 17, 3300 AA Dordrecht, The Netherlands. www.springer.com
Cover Illustration Flare image shown by Satoh, et al. (2003). Picture taken and supplied by T. Collett. Image enhancement by Rachel Max.
Printed on acid-free paper
All Rights Reserved © 2006 Springer No part of this work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, microfilming, recording or otherwise, without written permission from the Publisher, with the exception of any material supplied specifically for the purpose of being entered and executed on a computer system, for exclusive use by the purchaser of the work. Printed in the Netherlands.
DEDICATION
This book is dedicated to Dr. Keith A. Kvenvolden, a pioneer in the studies of gas hydrate and the broader issues of petroleum in the natural environment. Keith has been one of the most knowledgeable scientists in the field of gas hydrate geochemistry. Furthermore, he is a true gentleman who has encouraged others and has been a guiding force to his peers and younger scientists. And also to: Dr. Burton G. Hurdle, a well-known facilitator and scientist of the Acoustics Division of the Naval Research Labo