Charting the Future of Methane Hydrate Research in the United States

Methane hydrate is a natural form of clathrate - a chemical substance in which one molecule forms a lattice around a 'guest' molecule with chemical bonding. This report reviews the Department of Energy's (DOE) Methane Hydrate Research and Development Program, the project selection process, and projects funded to date.

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Methane hydrate is a natural form of clathrate - a chemical substance in which one molecule forms a lattice around a "guest" molecule with chemical bonding. In this clathrate, the guest molecule is methane and the lattice is formed by water to form an ice-like solid. Methane hydrate has become the focus of international attention because of the vast potential for human use worldwide. If methane can be produced from hydrate, a reasonable assumption given that there are no obvious technical or engineering roadblocks to commercial production, the nation's natural gas energy supply could be extended for many years to come.


This report reviews the Department of Energy's (DOE) Methane Hydrate Research and Development Program, the project selection process, and projects funded to date. It makes recommendations on how the DOE program could be improved. Key recommendations include focusing DOE program emphasis and research in 7 priority areas; incorporating greater scientific oversight in the selection, initiation, monitoring, and assessment of major projects funded by the DOE; strengthening DOE's contribution to education and training through funding of fellowships, and providing project applicants with a set of instructions and guidelines outlining requirements for timely and full disclosure of project results and consequences of noncompliance.


Table of Contents


Front Matter
Executive Summary
1 Introduction
2 Why Study Gas Hydrate?
3 A Review of Methane Hydrate Research and Development Projects to
Date
4 Directions for Program Emphasis, Research, and Resource
Development
5 Scientific Oversight of the DOE Methane Hydrate R&D Program
6 Summary of Findings and Recommendations
References
Appendix A: Committee and Staff Biographies
Appendix B: Methane Hydrate Research and Development Act of 2000
Appendix C: Speakers and Presentation Titles from Meetings of the
NRC Committee to Review the Activities Authorized Under the Methane
Hydrate Research and Development Act of 2000
Appendix D: Committee Summary and Observations of the DOE
Conference/JIP Workshop Held September 30 to October 1, 2003 in
Westminster, Colorado
Appendix E: Acronyms
Appendix F: Project Summaries
Appendix G: Projects Funded by DOE Under the Methane Hydrate
Research and Development Program
Appendix H: Letters from the Methane Hydrate Advisory Committee
(2001 and 2002) to DOE Secretary Spencer Abraham
Appendix I: Membership of the Interagency Coordinating Committee
and the Technical Coordinating Team
Color Plates