New Energy Tech: Extracting Natural Gas from Ice--ConocoPhillips is Already On It In the Arctic

ConocoPhillips has been focusing some efforts to extract natural gas from ice in the Arctic.

InHabitat: Image by USGS

Because of Fracking, or Hydraulic Fracturing technology, we've all heard of the Shale Boom and the U.S's changing Energy Landscape.

However, what we haven't heard much about is: Methane Hydrate. This substance has the potential to yield large quantities of Natural Gas (NG).

Hydrates look like blocks of ice: lattice-like structure of frozen water molecules and methane. 

Hydrates are found in arctic regions or shallow sediments below deep water along the outer continental shelf. 

THE SCIENCE of possible recovery methods:
American Petroleum Institute--

1. "Heating the hydrates using hot water, steam, electromagnetic radiation (such as microwaves) or electricity. These methods would raise the temperature so that the hydrates would melt, releasing the natural gas." 

2. "Lowering the pressure of the hydrates. Lowering the pressure would also cause the hydrates to melt, releasing the natural gas." 

3. "Injecting chemical inhibitors. Inhibitors prevent hydrates from forming or cause hydrates that have formed to “melt.”"

Scope of Hydrates: 

National Journal--Energy Information Administration (EIA):
"Estimates that hydrates contain more carbon than every fossil fuel available on Earth combined. Reports that these ice-like structures could hold anywhere from 10,000 trillion to more than 100,000 tcf (trillion cubic feet) of natural gas."

Risks: 

1. Surface Collapse (Higher risk of ground caving in shallower regions then deeper drilling)
2. Methane Leakage (powerful greenhouse gas)

However, they are similar to risks with NG in Shale:

National Journal--“But the risks associated with hydrates are very similar to the risks that are dealt with and managed every day by the oil and gas industry in the process of drilling for natural gas in shale.”
-Ray Boswell, program manager on methane hydrates at National Energy Technology Lab