POTENTIAL OF NATURAL GAS HYDRATES AS AN ENERGY RESOURCE.

Abstract

The author discusses the nature and occurrence of natural gas hydrates, the detection of naturally occurring hydrate fields, the production of gas from gas hydrate reservoirs, and the economics of this gas production. On the basis of this discussion, the author stresses the need to determine the volumes and purities of hydrate formations and to ascertain the method of decomposition of gas hydrates in the earth before commercial production of gas from hydrates can occur.