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Potential impact on climate of the exploitation of methane hydrate deposits offshore

DRS at CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography

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Title Potential impact on climate of the exploitation of methane hydrate deposits offshore
 
Creator Glasby, G.P.
 
Subject methane
gas hydrates
potential energy
oil and gas production
environmental impact
climatology
 
Description Considerable attention has focussed on methane hydrates as a potential energy resource but much less on the potential environmental problems of exploiting these deposits. In fact, methane hydrate deposits represent a dynamic system formed as a result of the continuous migration of methane gas along fracture systems. Any exploitation of methane hydrates offshore will perforce take place in these unstable systems and could lead to the large-scale release of CH sub(4) under unfavourable circumstances. However, most of this CH sub(4) would be oxidized to CO sub(2) within the water column under steady-state conditions. Only under exceptional circumstances would large-scale release of CH sub(4) into the atmosphere take place. The impact of exploiting these deposits offshore on global climate may therefore be limited provided serious efforts are made to minimize environmental impacts. At present, prospects for the commercial exploitation of methane hydrates are in their infancy. Considerable ingenuity will be required to satisfy the requirements of safe operating conditions, mitigation of environmental hazards and commercial viability. The need to exercise caution before attempting to exploit these deposits is emphasized
 
Date 2008-07-18T05:45:19Z
2008-07-18T05:45:19Z
2003
 
Type Journal Article
 
Identifier Marine and Petroleum Geology, Vol.20; 163-175p.
http://drs.nio.org/drs/handle/2264/1260
 
Language en
 
Rights Copyright [2003]. It is tried to respect the rights of the copyright holders to the best of the knowledge. If it is brought to our notice that the rights are violated then the item would be withdrawn.
 
Publisher Elsevier