Seabed gas find blows all other energy sources out the water



Scientists have found vast amounts of natural gas frozen into the seabed, potentially containing more energy than all the world’s known coal, oil and gas reserves combined.

The methane gas is mixed with water, and frozen solid by the high pressure and low temperatures in the deep sea.Methane hydrate, as the substance is known, has long been regarded by oil and gas companies as a nuisance because it can block marine drilling rigs.

Now a study by Statoil, Norway’s state oil firm and a leading global gas producer, suggests it should be reclassified as a major fuel resource, with enough buried in the oceans to power the world for decades or even centuries.

“The energy content of methane occurring in hydrate form is immense, possibly exceeding the combined energy content of all other known fossil fuels,” said Espen Andersen, Statoil’s exploration manager in unconventional hydrocarbons, who will present his study at an energy conference next week.

Such claims will anger environmentalists, who fear global exploitation of the deep seabed would put marine life at risk, especially whales and dolphins, which are sensitive to noise. It would also mean an increase in the burning of fossil fuel.

Read the rest at Peak Oil

Seabed gas find blows all other energy sources out the water

Jonathan Leake | The Australian

Well, if the cold fusion thang turns out to be false positive, then we at least have natural gas to last for some time while we figure something else out.