EXPLOITATION OF GAS

HYDRATES AS AN ENERGY
RESOURCE
K. Muralidhar
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
Kanpur 208016 India
Organization of the talk

Energy scenario
What are gas hydrates
Resource availability
Exploitation of gas hydrates
Environmental aspect
Assessing energy sources

1. Demand
2. Availability
3. Technology
4. Efficiency
5. Environmental impact
6. Cost
The 21
st
century imbalance

Annual population increases at 2%.
Energy use per capita increases at 2%
per year.
As a result, energy consumption
increases at 4% per year.
Doubles every 36 years!
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
4000
1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 34 37 40 43 46 49 52
World fossil consumption (1950-2003)
Source: World Watch Institute, 2003
Coal
Oil
Natural
Gas
Projected world energy supply
H
y
d
r
o
G
a
s
-
C
o
m
b
i
n
e
d

c
y
c
l
e
C
o
a
l
G
a
s

T
u
r
b
i
n
e

c
y
c
l
e
N
u
c
l
e
a
r
W
i
n
d

S
o
l
a
r

T
h
e
r
m
a
l
S
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l
a
r
-
P
V
G
e
o
t
h
e
r
m
a
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B
i
o
m
a
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s

0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
E
l
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c
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r
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c
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l

E
f
f
i
c
i
e
n
c
y

(
%
)



.
1 8
10
15
25
33
38
43
58
80
80
Efficiencies of power technologies
W
i
n
d

N
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c
l
e
a
r
S
o
l
a
r
-
P
V
B
i
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a
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/

S
t
e
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G
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o
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G
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m
a
l
H
y
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o
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
1.4
C
O
2

E
m
i
s
s
i
o
n
s

(
k
g

C
O
2
/
k
W
h
)
0.025
0.47
0.004
0.06
0.025
0.38
1.18
0.02
0.1
0.79
0.58
1.04
CO
2
emissions [includes Construction/Operation/Fuel
Preparation]
50-75
12
5
3
2 2
5
6
2
19
14
4 4
10
8
7
17
S
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P
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N
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H
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B
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G
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a
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S
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T
h
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0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
C
o
s
t

o
f

E
l
e
c
t
r
i
c
i
t
y

(
c
e
n
t
s
/
k
W
h
)
Cost of electricity (global average, 1998)
Equipment cost in IRs/kWh for electricity
generation
Solar Thermal 6 - 8
Nuclear 5 - 9
Natural Gas 5 - 9
Hydro 5 - 18.5
Wind 4.5 - 7
Coal 3.5 - 7
Geothermal 4.25 - 7
Biomass 4.15 - 8
Operations and maintenance costs IRs/kWh
Wind 1.3
Coal 2
Nuclear 2.2
Geothermal 2.7
Gas 3.1
Wood 3.1
Oil 4.1
Waste 4.5
Hydrogen substitution
Summary

Using every yardstick: availability,
efficiency, environment, and cost,
the 21
st
century will see an
irrevocable shift towards gas-based
energy generation
Large scale power production from gas
Energy production from gas relies on the following
technologies:

Gas turbines
Fuel cells (futuristic)

Gas hydrates are a source of methane and can be
integrated with these technologies.
Indian scenario

With no major findings of gas reserves it is essential to
look for other alternative resources such as gas
hydrates.

Vast continental margins with substantial sediment
thickness and organic content, provide favorable
conditions for occurrence of gas hydrates in the deep
waters adjoining the Indian continent.
Indian scenario (continued)

Caution: Gas hydrates hold the danger of natural
hazards associated with sea floor stability, release of
methane to ocean and atmosphere, and gas hydrates
disturbed during drilling pose a safety problem.

Research: Development of a field model is quite
necessary before the installation of a full scale setup in
the sea bed.

What are gas hydrates
A gas hydrate consists of a water lattice in which light
hydrocarbon molecules are embedded resembling dirty
ice.
What are gas hydrates (continued)
Naturally occurring gas hydrates are a form of water
ice which contains a large amount of methane within
its crystal structure.

They are restricted to the shallow lithosphere (2000-
4000 m depth)

With pressurization, they remain stable at
temperatures up to 18C.
What are gas hydrates (continued)

The average hydrate composition is 1 mole of methane
for every 5.75 moles of water.

The observed density is around 0.9 g/cm
3
.

One liter of methane clathrate solid would contain 168
liters of methane gas (at STP).


It is present in oceanic sediments along continental margins and in polar
continental settings.
Where are gas hydrates located?
The ocean scenario
Various issues related to extraction of gas hydrates
Recovery of Methane Gas from Gas Hydrates
Modifying the equilibrium conditions by

1. Depressurization
2. Inhibitor injection
3. Thermal stimulation
Phase equilibrium diagram
stable
unstable
Decomposition of hydrates by depressurization,
thermal, and chemical techniques
Exploitation schemes
1. DEPRESSURISATION: At fixed temperature,
operating at pressures below hydrate formation
pressure.
2. INHIBITION: Inhibition of the hydrate formation
conditions by using chemicals such as methanol and
salts.
3. HEAT SUPPLY: At fixed pressure, operating at
temperatures above the hydrate formation
temperature. This can be achieved by insulation or
heating of the equipment.
Schematic representation of production from a
hydrate reservoir with underlying free gas

Hydrate dissociation and formation
Molecular structure
Phase equilibrium diagram
Flow, transport, and chemical reactions in a complex
pore network

Research aspects
Schematic drawing of gas exchanges
Mass transfer at constant pressure and
temperature
Mathematical Model
u u u u
u
K
f
K
p
dt
d
c

c

V + V =
2
u
u u u
V +
c
c
= .
c t dt
d
Fluid flow
c is the porosity and K, the
permeability.
Mathematical Model
( ) | |
s f f eff
f
p
Q T k T
t
T
C

+ V V =
|
.
|

\
|
V +
c
c
,
. .
c
c
u
( )( ) | |
s f s eff
s
p
Q T k
t
T
C

+ V V =
c
c

,
. 1 c
Heat transfer

Solid
Fluid
Species transport equation

Mathematical Model
( )
g
j i
n
j
g
ij i i
i
M
t
g
9 + V = V +
c
c

=1
. . v e
e
J u

List of undetermined parameters
Dispersion coefficient
Permeability tensor
Inter-phase transport coefficient
Unanswered questions
Stability boundary
Destabilization dynamics
Flow and transport in a hierarchical pore
network
System development
Disaster management
Cost considerations
Environmental impact
Carbon
sequestration
Carbon capture
and storage
Carbon trap
technologies
Conclusions

1. Irreversible shift towards gaseous fuels.
2. Gas hydrates are secondary gas sources
(internationally) but are primary, in the
national context.
3. Safe exploitation of methane from hydrate
reservoirs calls for a massive research
program.


Thank you!