FROZEN HEAT | Volume 2

ventional hydrocarbon resources (supply), internal demand, and market forces (profitability). In those nations with abun- dant or secure energy resources, development of gas hydrate resources might occur more slowly or not at all, depending on the relative economics of gas hydrates versus convention- al resource development and other factors. In nations with fewer and less secure conventional energy options but with significant gas hydrate prospects, a full and aggressive evalu- ation of gas hydrate resource potential might be more likely. 4.3.2 NATIONAL POLICY AND INTERNATIONAL ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE Decisions associated with potential gas hydrate development would be influenced by more than economics and technol- ogy. Political forces and indirect economic considerations are likely to play an important role. For example, international aid, diplomatic concerns, or other socio-political factors could ultimately sway the decision as to whether a country should choose to proceed with development. The choice to exploit or not to exploit might not, in fact, be a matter of national determination at all. The causes and im- pacts of climate change are global and require broad-based international action. The United Nations Framework Con- vention on Climate Change (UNFCC), now ratified by 195 countries, is the tool through which the nations of the world are attempting to prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system. Any development of new sources of carbon-based energy supplies might well fall under future international agreements reached through the UNFCC.

of the deposit, identify production technology, and quan- tify the reservoir productivity expected during the life of the producing field. Environmental assessments would also be required in order to consider surface and subsurface issues over both short and long terms. Potential subsurface issues to be considered might include possible leakage and migra- tion of produced gas, strategies for subsurface disposal of wastewater, and disruption of subsurface resources, such as groundwater aquifers or conventional oil and gas depos- its. Possible surface issues might include ground surface subsidence, a potentially significant challenge in oceanic accumulations (Moridis and Reagan 2007a, b; Rutqvist and Moridis 2012), as well as ecosystem impact and the cumula- tive effects of development. In an offshore setting, jurisdictional issues could arise, leading to a need for special policy considerations. Although no poten- tially accessible gas hydrate occurrences have been found to date in areas beyond national jurisdiction, our ever-expanding knowledge of the oceans could lead to such discoveries. In these situations, global instruments like the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea could serve as mechanisms to address trans-boundary issues that might range from regu- lation and environmental management to the overall protec- tion and equitable use of the global commons. Other policy issues could go well beyond regulation. In a market economy, the primary drivers influencing gas hydrate research and development would vary from nation to nation and from company to company according to conventional economic factors, including national endowments of con-

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