3.5.3. Program Design

The 1983-1992 Methane Hydrate research program was designed to evaluate the potential of gas hydrates as a future supply of gas, to validate the extent of the resource, to estimate the potential resource and to develop methane hydrate exploration and production technology to the proof-of-concept level.

Specific objectives were to:

• Assess the current state of technology,
• Determine the chemical and physical properties of both natural and synthetic gas hydrates,
• Develop the geologic characterization of and geologic models for the formation of both onshore and offshore gas hydrates,
• Develop resource estimates of both onshore and offshore gas hydrates
• Develop the necessary diagnostic techniques and methods for measuring the in-place characteristics of both onshore and offshore gas hydrates, and
• Develop strategies, reservoir and stimulation models, and preliminary economics for gas hydrate production.

Figure 3.5.1: Gas Hydrate Research Program Schematic. (Click to enlarge)

In pursuit of these objectives, the gas hydrate research program was comprised of three technical elements and a project management function (Figure 3.5.1). The technical elements included Geologic Research, Generic Research, and Production Research.

The Geologic Research element focused on mapping, characterization and analyses of geological deposits existing within the hydrate stability zone in both onshore and offshore areas.

Studies were undertaken to determine the factors that permit or prohibit the formation and dissociation of gas hydrates in the subsurface.

The plan was for these analyses to generate data to guide more detailed, site-specific research required for the development of reservoir diagnostics, stimulation design and eventual estimates of the recoverable gas reserves associated with gas hydrates.

The work in this area would both inform the design of field tests and benefit from the data collected.

Generic Research was limited to database development and laboratory studies defining the fundamental properties of gas hydrates.

These studies, along with both geophysical and geochemical analyses, were to provide the necessary data to identify features that could aid industry in locating hydrate deposits and in defining hydrate reservoir geometry.

This research also had a significant modeling component that incorporated the understanding acquired through laboratory studies.

Production Research was focused primarily on the modeling and development of techniques for producing gas from hydrates at onshore and marine locations (thermal fluid injection to stimulate production was expected to be a likely approach).

Preliminary development of a hydrate-production well design was also undertaken.

The logic was for the results of the Generic and Production Research elements to combine to form a predictive capability for reservoir performance that could be validated with field tests.

This capability would inform the design of extraction methods which could also be validated with production tests. The combination of results from these efforts with the maps of potential resource areas would lead to one of the ultimate goals of the program: estimates of producible reserves.