Energy Production from Gas Hydrates

Abstract

Gas hydrates are a type of natural formation that contains large amounts of mostly methane, which is also known as natural gas, and water, in the form of ice. Methane hydrates are cages of water molecules that surround and trap methane molecules. Gas hydrate is geophysical, geologically and economically important for several reasons: Gas hydrates are good cap rocks for oil and natural gas. The methane hydrate itself is an important energy source. A volume of gas hydrate can store up to 164 times per volume of gas as zipped gas, and the fact that gas hydrate occurs almost all around the world. Methane seepage may indicate the existence of a deeper hydrocarbon reservoir, and the methane production and migration in the slope sediments may cause massive slope failure. Last but not least Methane gas has a minimum 22 times more global warm absorption capacity compared to carbon dioxide if it is released into the atmosphere. In other words, greenhouse gas is due to its contribution to climate change. Gas hydrates have drawn significant interest as a potential near future energy resource. Research in the production field of gas hydrates has focused on several key areas, including the feasibility of commercial production, the environmental impacts, and the technological improvements associated with the safe recovery of gas. © 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.