Gas Hydrates as a Promising Source of Natural Gas: Analysis of Current Methods and Technologies for Extracting Methane from Gas Hydrates

Natural gas hydrates represent a new type of environmentally friendly energy source with enormous reserves. This work aims to analyze gas hydrates as a promising source of natural gas, as well as to conduct a comprehensive study of modern methods and technologies for extracting methane from gas hydrate deposits, evaluating their technical efficiency, economic feasibility, and environmental risks. The article discusses various methods, technologies, and technical solutions for extracting methane from gas hydrates (converting gas from hydrates to a free state directly inside the deposit). The advantages and disadvantages of the main methods (depression, thermal, combined, inhibitor injection, and chemical injection) are analyzed, as well as the results of their testing on gas hydrate deposits in Canada, the USA, Japan, and other countries around the world. Special attention is given to the geological and thermodynamic conditions required for the stable occurrence and safe production of gas hydrates, including reservoir pressure, temperature, permeability, and hydrate saturation. The study also examines recent technological developments aimed at improving methane recovery while minimizing energy consumption and reducing environmental impacts. Particular emphasis is placed on production stability, reservoir deformation, and the prevention of methane leakage, which is a significant greenhouse gas. A comparative assessment of existing extraction technologies is presented based on production efficiency, operational complexity, and commercial readiness. The paper highlights the importance of continued scientific research, pilot-scale field experiments, and international collaboration to overcome current technical challenges. It concludes that, despite existing technological and economic barriers, gas hydrates have considerable potential to become an important component of the future global energy system, contributing to energy security and the transition toward lower-carbon energy resources.

کلیدواژه ها:

Gas hydrates ، gas clathrates ، methane extraction from gas hydrates ، Gas hydrate deposits ، hydrate-saturated sandstones