Geology, geography and global energy

Scientific and Technical Journal

GEOLOGICAL PROSPECTS OF GAS HYDRATES IN ARCTIC REGIONS

2020. №4, pp. 39-42

Sergeev Andrey O. - Astrakhan State University, sergo777899@mail.ru

This paper examines the geological prospects for detecting gas hydrates in the Arctic regions. Methane hydrate is a crystalline solid that consists of a methane molecule surrounded by a cage of interlocking water molecules. It has become a global energy «game changer». Methane hydrate deposits are believed to be a larger hydrocarbon resource than all of the world’s oil, natural gas and coal resources combined. They have been found beneath Arctic permafrost, Antarctic ice and along continental shores. Nowadays commercial production has been realized in a joint project between the United States and Japan. Technical features of methane hydrate production cause submarine slumping, landslides, or subsidence that can damage production equipment and pipelines. Another potential danger is global warming, because methane is a powerful greenhouse gas.

Key words: Methane, hydrate, oil, rock, landslide, permeability, concentration

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