FROZEN HEAT | Volume 1

source of greenhouse gas for a world with ever-increasing energy demands and rising carbon emissions. Even if no more than a small subset of the global resource is accessible through existing technologies, that portion still represents a very large quantity of gas. The accessible subset could in- clude highly concentrated gas hydrate accumulations in loca- tions where conventional hydrocarbon production is already planned or underway, and more diffuse deposits in areas with strong societal motivations for developing domestic en- ergy resources. To date, a few short-term, pilot-scale methane production tests have been conducted in research wells. The results suggest that larger-scale exploitation may be feasible, but no commercial gas hydrate production has yet occurred. Several nations, however, are currently researching the en- ergy potential of gas hydrates (Fig. I.3). Recent detailed as- sessments of the energy potential of methane-gas hydrates

concluded that there are no anticipated technical roadblocks to producing gas from hydrate deposits (Expert Panel on Gas Hydrates 2008; Committee on Assessment of the Depart- ment of Energy’s Methane Hydrate Research and Develop- ment Program 2010). Ultimately, a combination of technological advances and fa- vourable global/regional market conditions could make gas hydrate production economically viable. Therefore, Volume 2 provides a summary of gas-hydrate-based, energy-related information useful in evaluating future energy resource op- tions. Topics addressed in Volume 2 include a review of likely future trends in energy supply, a characterization of prospec- tive gas hydrate resources, technologies for exploration and development, and the potential environmental, economic, and social implications of gas hydrate production.

A GLOBAL OUTLOOK ON METHANE GAS HYDRATES 9

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