Geoscience Integrations

Geodata Analysis, Peer Review, and Economic Risk Modeling

Methane Gas Hydrate

Exploration and production research in gas hydrate has expanded significantly in the past few years with the help of grant programs from the US Department of Energy (DOE) and similar agencies in many other countries. The DOE's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) hosts an excellent website with information from its recently sponsored projects. Many other web sites can be found with all sorts of information on gas hydrate research.

Gas hydrate is known to exist in areas of petroleum industry infrastructure in the Arctic, under the North Slope and the Mackenzie Delta, and under the Gulf of Mexico as well as under the Atlantic and Pacific oceans along the coasts of North America. Many other areas around the world, some of which are active hydrocarbon production areas, are also known to be underlain with gas hydrate-bearing sediment. Exploring for gas hydrate makes use of an integration of geoscience methods, the specialty of Geoscience Integrations. Production of gas from dissociated gas hydrate is generally believed to be possible with existing gas production technologies. Production of gas through exchange of CO₂ with CH₄ in the clathrate structure is being tested by ConocoPhillips on the North Slope in winter of 2012.

Gas hydrate is rapidly entering the realm of unconventional gas resources, and occurrences of hydrate should be thoroughly evaluated for their economic potential. If you are interested in evaluating your existing leases, or properties you might wish to acquire, for gas hydrate potential, Geoscience Integrations is available to assist your staff with training in gas hydrate exploration methods, evaluation of prospects, and modeling the economics for possible hydrate development.

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