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Page added on December 2, 2013
Japan Finds Methane Hydrate in Sea of Japan
Japan has discovered methane hydrate lying over a large area in the Sea of Japan in northwestern Japan, in addition to previously discovered areas in the Pacific Ocean, the trade ministry said.
The government plans to spend the next three years trying to determine the nation’s reserves of methane hydrate – a frozen gas known as “flammable ice” – as part of its goal to achieve commercial production within six years.
A geological survey in June and July confirmed 225 “gas chimney” structures off Joetsu and Noto Peninsula, which likely contain methane hydrate, the ministry said. The survey also confirmed shallow methane ice forming over a large area within one of the structures.
In March, Japan succeeded in producing 120,000 cubic meters of gas over six days from a test tapping of methane hydrate in the Pacific Ocean off Aichi Prefecture in central Japan.
Since 2001, Japan, which imports nearly all of its energy needs, has invested several hundred million dollars in developing technology to tap methane hydrate reserves that are estimated to be equal to about 11 years of its gas consumption.
10 Comments on "Japan Finds Methane Hydrate in Sea of Japan"
Dave Thompson on Mon, 2nd Dec 2013 1:12 pm
More deep water fossil non-conventional fuel extraction. Another example of peak everything.
BillT on Mon, 2nd Dec 2013 1:41 pm
They may be opening a Pandora’s box of disaster…
Arthur on Mon, 2nd Dec 2013 2:39 pm
The more you look, the more you find, likely leading to…
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-t-klare/renewable-energy_b_3725777.html?utm_hp_ref=business&ir=Business
For the rest, as Bill says…
GregT on Mon, 2nd Dec 2013 3:31 pm
Pandora’s box has already been opened. A long time ago.
This is nothing more, than an indication of the futility of our dilemma.
Bob Inget on Mon, 2nd Dec 2013 4:08 pm
Attempting to mine methane hydrates, a dangerous, expensive process, is, like Arctic drilling; signs of desperation.
Stilgar on Mon, 2nd Dec 2013 7:25 pm
Out of that desperation may be a situation in which they can only retrieve a certain percent of the available methane, with the remaining percent dissolving in the water and or escaping into the atmosphere, adding to GHG emissions.
Northwest Resident on Mon, 2nd Dec 2013 8:12 pm
More dangerous expensive-to-extract fossil fuel sources identified. Great news. Just great…
Bob Spoley on Tue, 3rd Dec 2013 3:49 pm
This is just the beginning. Other nations with significant MH deposits will join the in the E&P process for MH. This will eventually cause the price for natural gas to go into free-fall. Most of this activity will be carried out by NOCs. Very little room for public companies. The advantage will come in GTL technology to make diesel, a stable, high energy content, mobile fuel that will become even more so with TDI technology. Get Ready.
surf on Tue, 3rd Dec 2013 4:16 pm
What the article doesn’t say is that no one has figured out how to extract it. ocan floor Methane Hydrate has been known to exist for at least 20 years. During ttat entire time industry has been trying to figure out how to extract it. By the time they do we will have passed peak oil, peak natural gas, and maybe peak coal.By that time renewables will dominate.
rollin on Tue, 3rd Dec 2013 5:25 pm
Since when did hydrocarbons suddenly become good for the planet? Pursuit of further hydrocarbon mining technology is a dangerous waste of resources and another coffin nail driven into the planet’s ecosystems.
Lack of success would be a very positive result.