Gas hydrates are both a huge energy resource and an environmental challenge. They have a significant impact on society because of their applications to the future of energy, protection of the environment and fuel transportation.

Gas Hydrates opens up this fascinating, multidisciplinary field to non-specialists. It provides a scientific study of gas hydrates that considers their potential as an energy source while assessing the possible risk to the environment. The authors also examine the feasibility of using these natural compounds for storing and transporting gases such as methane and carbon dioxide.

Diagrams and photos are used throughout Gas Hydrates to help readers understand the scientific and technical content. Each section has been designed so it can be read independently by academics and professionals in the oil and gas industry, as well as by all those with an interest in how hydrates combine to be an energy resource, an industrial challange and a geological hazard.

Gas Hydrates opens up this fascinating, multidisciplinary field to non-specialists. It provides a scientific study of gas hydrates that considers their potential as an energy source, while assessing possible risks to the environment.

Gas hydrates are both a huge energy resource and an environmental challenge. They have a significant impact on society because of their applications to the future of energy, protection of the environment and fuel transportation.

Gas Hydrates opens up this fascinating, multidisciplinary field to non-specialists. It provides a scientific study of gas hydrates that considers their potential as an energy source while assessing the possible risk to the environment. The authors also examine the feasibility of using these natural compounds for storing and transporting gases such as methane and carbon dioxide.

Diagrams and photos are used throughout Gas Hydrates to help readers understand the scientific and technical content. Each section has been designed so it can be read independently by academics and professionals in the oil and gas industry, as well as by all those with an interest in how hydrates combine to be an energy resource, an industrial challange and a geological hazard.

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Gas hydrates are both a huge energy resource and an environmental challenge. They have a significant impact on society because of their applications to the future of energy, protection of the environment and fuel transportation.

Gas Hydrates opens up this fascinating, multidisciplinary field to non-specialists. It provides a scientific study of gas hydrates that considers their potential as an energy source while assessing the possible risk to the environment. The authors also examine the feasibility of using these natural compounds for storing and transporting gases such as methane and carbon dioxide.

Diagrams and photos are used throughout Gas Hydrates to help readers understand the scientific and technical content. Each section has been designed so it can be read independently by academics and professionals in the oil and gas industry, as well as by all those with an interest in how hydrates combine to be an energy resource, an industrial challange and a geological hazard.

1. The Evolution of Energy Sources 1.1 Conventional Fossil Fuels 1.2 Nuclear Power and Renewable Energy Sources 1.3 Non-Conventional Fossil Fuel Sources 1.4 The Evolution of the Global Energy Market References 2. The Clathrate Hydrates of Gases 2.1 Waht are Gas Hydrates? 2.2 A Little Historical Information 2.3 Research Efforts and the Potential of Gas Hydrates References 3. The Stucture and Formation of Gas Hydrates 3.1 A Strange Mixture: Water 3.2 The Formation of Gas Hydrates 3.3 The Crystal Structures of Gas Hydrates 3.4 Other Possibilities and Curiosities 3.5 The Conditions for Hydrate Formation 3.6 Hydrate Formation Kinetics 3.7 Influence of Inhibitors and Multiple Hydrate Components References 4. Methods to Predict Hydrate Formation Conditions and Formation Rate 4.1 Methods to Predict Hydrate Formation Conditions 4.2 Hydrate Formation Kinetics References 5. Physical Properties of Hydrates 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Hydrate Formation in th Laboratory 5.3 Techniques Used to Investigate Hydrates 5.4 Some Key Hydrate Physical Properties References 6. Hydrates in Nature 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Where Gas Hydrates are Found in Nature 6.3 Field Techniques to Study Natural Hydrates 6.4 How Gas Hydrates Occupy the Sediment Pore Space 6.5 How Much Methane is Trapped in Natural Hydrates 6.6 The Ecology of Gas Hydrates: Ice Worms 6.7 Natural Hydrates in Popular Culture References 7. Hydrates Seen as a Problem for the Oil and Gas Industry 7.1 The Problems Caused by Gas Hydrates for Industry 7.2 Hydrate Formation and Where it Occurs 7.3 Ways to Prevent Hydrates 7.4 Hydrate Inhivitors 7.5 Remediation and Removal of Hydrate Plugs References 8. Hydrates as an Energy Source 8.1 Why Gas Hydrates? 8.2 Identifying the Ideal Hydrate Reservoirs 8.3 Amount of Gas They Trap 8.4 The Pyramid of Methane Resources in Hydrates 8.5 Some Problems to bl Solved 8.6 How Do We Get Gas from the Hydrates? 8.7 International Projects for Gas Hydrate Production 8.8 Processing and Transportation of the Gas Produced 8.9 Economics of Gas Production from Gas Hydrates References 9. Industrial Applications 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Transportation of Methane 9.3 Transportation of Gas in the Form of Methane Hydrate 9.4 Desalination Using Hydrates 9.5 Sour Gas Separation 9.6 Carbon dioxide Sequestration and Disposal 9.7 Other Processes References 10. Environmental Issues with Gas Hydrates 10.1Why are Hydrates of Environmental Concern? 10.2 Gas Hydrates and Climate Change 10.3 Destabilization of Submarine Slopes 10.4 Environmental Impact Studies for Production 10.5 Carbon dioxide Sequestration 10.6 Hydrates in Outer Space References Index