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to explore the potential 2001 Consortium (also value of gas hydrates to known as MH21), to the US energy mix appear evaluate the resource to have been sapped more potential of deepwater gas than anything by the large hydrates in the Nankai scale exploitation of the Trough area, much like

North American shale gas the goals of the previous

Perspectives plays in the last few years, Nankai Trough project. likely to be replicated in The project is intended other parts of the world. to go much further and

This unpredicted turn of promote the technical events has transformed development and recovery thinking about the US of gas hydrate, and to energy balance over the provide a long term stable next few decades leaving energy supply to Japan. gas hydrates somewhat On behalf of METI, the out of the calculations. Japan Oil Gas & Metals

National Corporation

Hydrates excitement (JOGMEC) and the Agency

However, there are some of Industrial Science countries in the world, & Technology (AIST) not just Japan, where any have developed a highly advance in understanding integrated gas hydrate of gas hydrates is likely to research and development cause at least a ficker of program including both excitement. China, Korea, basic research and feld and India, for example, studies. This program is all face major challenges now built around an to meet energy demand 18-year plan to be from indigenous sources, completed in 2018 driven by rapid economic (initially planned as a growth and increasing 16-year program but the borehole recovery of areas. It is the pressure- home consumption. They goals of this effort were sediment containing gas temperature conditions are all hanging some revised in 2008). hydrates – pressure cores that keep the gas hydrates of their hopes on gas In fact, US scientists – delivered with new stable, ie intact with the hydrates, and have been have got a fnger on technology designed to gases contained in a solid accelerating their efforts the pulse of this most allow scientist to better form.

in this department. So, the advanced gas hydrate study the gas hydrates The pressure sampling implications of the latest program in the world, in lab conditions, in the Eastern Nankai results from Japan will be thanks to ongoing preserved as they were Trough is part of a closely watched in some collaboration on methane in their natural state in reservoir characterization quarters. hydrate research through the subsurface where project, ahead of a frst The project in question the US Department of they occur. Gas hydrates, production test planned is an ongoing program Energy (DOE) and the Gulf for those unfamiliar, for this year. The test in the deepwater Nankai of Mexico Gas Hydrate are defned as ice-like site is in 1000m water

Trough, offshore Japan. Joint Industry Project substances formed when depth, where the frst

After an initial success (JIP). In this particular methane, and sometimes exploratory campaign, with the 1999/2000 segment of the Japanese other gases, combine begun nearly 10 years

Nankai Trough Project, project, the US Gas with water at specifc ago, identifed turbiditic in 2001, the Ministry Hydrate Project (part of intermediate temperatures sediments, several tens of of Economy, Trade & USGS) and the School of and low temperature. meters thick, containing

Industry (METI) launched Civil & Environmental They are found in the concentrated methane a new major project Engineering at Georgia marine sediments beneath hydrate some 300m below entitled ‘Japan’s Methane Tech have played a key the ocean foor on the edge the seabed. As reported

Hydrate Exploitation role. of continental shelves by JOGMEC and AIST,

Program,’ operated by The latest achievement and in sediments within a dedicated borehole the Methane Hydrate has been the successful and beneath permafrost was drilled, in 2012,

OE | March 2013 24 oedigital.com oe_analysis_rev3.indd 24 27/02/2013 11:22