Burning Ice - An Oxymoron Discovered

    • Burning Ice - An Oxymoron Discovered

      Imagine sinking into the deep dark sea, in search of an oxymoron. Sinking through the twilight and midnight zones, we come to the abyss where sunlight fails to filter and only a few creatures can survive the low temperatures and high pressures. Here we see bubbles rising from the sea bed,and we move closer to explore the oxymoron which gives rise to these bubbles. An Icy hot Oxymoron which will provide 30 times the amount of natural gas as available in reserves of conventional natural gas in the world. An Oxymoron known as Methane Ice,Methane Hydrate or Methane clathrate.

      Methane hydrates are formed by molecules of methane being trapped inside cages of frozen water.This methane rises to the sea bed through geological faults and due to the extreme conditions of temperature and pressure it crystallizes when it comes into contact with ice cold water. When these methane hydrates are brought up to the surface, the ice melts and methane is released to the atmosphere. If this matter is ignited, it burns, thus giving rise to the oxymoron Burning Ice.According to marine geologist and geochemist Erwin Suess, who brought up a lode of methane hydrate to the surface,"the whole cubic meter of stuff was bubbling...it was cold, ice cold. I threw it on the deck to get rid of the sediment, because it was all covered, and it broke open. It was pure white".

      Methane is a principal component of natural gas, which is used to produce electricity, run vehicles, in residential domestic use, as a feedstock for fertilizers, in aviation,manufacture of fabrics, plastic, glass, steel etc. Discovering a treasure trove of methane through methane hydrates would prove to be a very valuable resource for mankind. Many underwater reserves have already been discovered, the Hydrate Ridge off the coast of Oregon, seas surrounding the geologically unstable island of Japan, the gulf of Mexico etc.

      Methane, though being a number one greenhouse gas, releases lesser amount of carbon dioxide per unit of heat that other fossil fuels such as coal and oil. So, with energy crisis being where it is, will the extraction of underwater methane prove to be a lifesaver ?
    • Book on Geology of Natural Gas Hydrates

      Hello Rusty.

      I think I have seen a book in Barnes & Noble. Please look for the author "John Carroll".

      He talks about :
      Hydrate Types and Formers
      Hand Calculation Methods
      Computer Methods
      Inhibiting Hydrate Formation With Chemicals
      Dehydration of Natural Gas
      Combating Hydrates Using Heat and Pressure
      Physical Properties of Hydrates
      Water Content of Natural Gas

      Enjoy! :D