Gas Hydrate Recovery Optimisation by CO2 Injection and Methanogenesis

Abstract

Gas Hydrates comprise the largest source of hydrocarbons known to man. It is a solid compound in which methane is trapped within a crystal lattice of water under high pressure and low temperature conditions. These hydrates are stable under a minimum depth of 300m and temperature below 20C. Around 6.4 trillion (6.4×1012) tonnes of methane is trapped in deposits of methane clathrate on the deep ocean floor The main problem in extraction is uncontrolled liberation of methane gas, thus many technologies proposed have failed to optimise the process. The paper presents an innovative, promising and sustainable source of energy for the future via the injection of Carbon-dioxide (CO₂) in hydrate reservoirs to produce Methane (CH4) and then microbial action on CO₂ in reservoir to convert it to CH4 via methanogenesis and reformation of a methane gas hydrate. The Anaerobic Archaebacteria used in this process converts CO₂ and water into CH4, liberating heat due to the exothermic nature of the reaction. This heat further increases the temperature of water above boiling point thus liberating methane from hydrates, forming a complete cycle and providing an ever-lasting source of energy. This method not only will shift focus of extracting resources from conventional to unconventional but will also lead to sustainable development and reduce the hazard of global warming to a larger extent by utilising a form of carbon capture and sequestration process.

AAPG Datapages/Search and Discovery Article #90217 © 2015 International Conference & Exhibition, Melbourne, Australia, September 13-16, 2015