With gas from methane hydrates added to shale and natural gas, ....thousand years ...supply?

The k2p blog ^ | May 3, 2012 at 11:44 am

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Methane hydrates represent the largest source of hydrocarbons in the earth’s crust.

Methane clathrate (CH₄•5.75H₂O), also called methane hydrate, hydromethane, methane ice, fire ice, natural gas hydrate, or gas hydrate is a solid clathrate compound (more specifically, a clathrate hydrate) in which a large amount of methane is trapped within a crystal structure of water, forming a solid similar to ice. Originally thought to occur only in the outer regions of the Solar System where temperatures are low and water ice is common, significant deposits of methane clathrate have been found under sediments on the ocean floors of Earth.

The worldwide amounts of carbon bound in gas hydrates is conservatively estimated to total twice the amount of carbon to be found in all known fossil fuels on Earth.

Methane hydrate deposits around the world: Graphic Der Spiegel

While production of usable gas from methane hydrates is still some way away, DoE reports on successful tests:

New Energy and Fuel

By injecting a mixture of carbon dioxide and nitrogen into a methane hydrate formation (pdf link) on Alaska’s North Slope, the DOE partnering with ConocoPhillips and Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corp was able to produce a steady flow of natural gas in the first field test of the new method. The test was done from mid-February to about mid-April this year. …..

While everyone is suggesting that methane hydrate production is some time in the future, we might note that a partner is from Japan, a country that has been buying via imports virtually all its energy and fuel inputs. A glance at the map of potential reserves shows that Japan may well pour on the intellectual and financial power to get results much quicker than many expect.

On the other hand, for North Americans natural gas is ratcheting down to dirt cheap, with more resources with the new horizontal drilling and reserve fracturing available on land and significant amounts of natural gas at sea in already developed areas. ..

It would seem that with shale gas added to natural gas resources and the potential for methane hydrates, that we will have gas available for a thousand years.

[bicyclerepair]

Shh don’t tell barry.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

The Greenies are gonna get concerned.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

So,,, if I fart into my freezer,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[Wurlitzer]

The only thing all this gas will do is to ratchet up the left’s global warming lies so they can redistribute even more wealth.

The dark lord will never allow us to drill for this amount of fuel.

[BipolarBob]

Gots to be careful with these babies. They are thought to have caused the die off off most species on earth. Either the meteor or this methane are the most likely suspects of a mass die-off.

[Marine_Uncle]

You mean to say there is hope for the poor birds flying into moving blades and the poor scorpions having to relocate from solar farms. :)

[uncommonsense]

"Gots to be careful with these babies. They are thought to have caused the die off off most species on earth. Either the meteor or this methane are the most likely suspects of a mass die-off."

Any links to this theory?

I'm persuaded that the great flood had something to do with any dieoff - given that we find sea shells across every area of every continent.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

YES,...course some fishes offshore might be concerned....

And by the way:

Huge Natural Gas From Methane Hydrates Process Developed

And it uses Carbon Dioxide....some concern about having enough of it.

[Marine_Uncle]

Heh heh. I was going to make comment on the fish issue. The greenies may shut the whole process down before it can ever reach maturity.
Meanwhile, Al Gore, John Holdren, Jim Hansen must be having a fizzy over the CO2 part of the extraction process. Idiots.

[BipolarBob]

Links? Sure, look under methane release - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paleocene-Eocene_Thermal_Maximum
And I agree the Great Flood did kill off huge numbers of creatures.

[backwoods-engineer]

With gas from methane hydrates added to shale and natural gas, ....thousand years ...supply?

If so, why (in a sane world) would we EVER build another electricity-generating windmill? Why would we EVER build another electric car? Why would we EVER hear the words "algae" and "power" in the same sentence?

The problem is in my parenthetical. It ain't a sane world.

[beethovenfan]

I’m sure the EPA will find a way to prevent its development.

[Doc91678]

We'll just have to wait until after January when we have a new president to get this going.
If the technology is available to collect this gas, compress it and distribute it throughout America, it will destroy the Middle East hold over our politics.
Hmmm....I wonder how the EPA and environmentalists will handle this?

[Doc91678]

Maybe we can cap all those cow farts too.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

Seems like this sort of supply of NG could even be used as a source of Hydrogen for fuel cells . . .

[aruanan]

Bubbling up from the depths of the mantle.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks will read later...

[TigersEye]

It would seem that with shale gas added to natural gas resources and the potential for methane hydrates, that we will have gas available for a thousand years.

Wait 'til they get good at finding it. They're still improving their methods of finding petroleum.

[US Navy Vet]

HUMMM “Methane hydrates” think I’ll have Chili tonight!