FROZEN HEAT | Volume 2

cipal issues are likely to include hazard mitigation, disrup- tion of sensitive ecosystems, and the cumulative impacts of development. Development will likely occur both in areas with established energy production infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, and public acceptance, as well as in areas with- out these advantages. Careful attention to safety standards and regulation will be critical, as will efforts to minimize any negative societal and environmental impacts of development. It is noteworthy that gas hydrates are generally located at shallower depths than most currently producing gas reser- voirs. In marine setting this shallow depth and the associat- ed lack of consolidation of the host strata mean a heightened potential for seafloor subsidence. As a result, this potential impact is being considered closely in initial field research and development programs (Rutqvist and Moridis, 2009; Arata et al. 2011). Finally, while the rates and economic costs of gas hydrate production can be studied, environmental implications may be harder to estimate. Science has yet to understand fully the socio-ecological impacts of extracting gas hydrates. However, the advantages and consequences of these actions

must be understood and considered before moving for- ward. Assessment of the net social cost or benefit of these consequences must supplement purely economic analyses of gas hydrate feasibility. 1.5.4 SOCIETAL IMPLICATIONS As science and industry work to find new sources of energy, it is important to understand the societal implications of de- veloping potential resources. The size of the resource, its eco- nomic viability, and its environmental impacts all play roles in determining the true value of gas hydrates to society. The potential positive social impacts of gas hydrate exploita- tion include improved living standards and enhanced safety and security in both developed and developing countries. In developing countries especially, increased local natural gas exploitation has the potential to improve infrastructure for electrification and all domestic needs. The potential bene- fits of responsibly-managed gas hydrate operations include increased local employment, the transfer of technical and commercial skills, the development of local capacity, and a share in fiscal revenues at the local level.

A GLOBAL OUTLOOK ON METHANE GAS HYDRATES 23