Methane Hydrate
Apart from the above methane sources, Methane hydrate is a vast
storage of methane gas. The technique to extract methane from the
methane hydrate is still under the developing stage. It was reported
in March, 2013 that Japan developed the technique to extract methane
gas from methane hydrate. It is expected that by 2019, they will be in
a position for commercial production. Methane hydrate is also known
under the names, Methane clathrate, hydro methane, methane ice,
fire ice, natural gas hydrate, or gas hydrate.
Clathrates are a special types of chemical substances. Clathrates are
formed when small molecules are trapped within a cage formed by
the molecules. Here, in a cage formed by the water molecules (by
hydrogen bonds) methane molecules are getting trapped. The
chemical equation of methane hydrate is (CH4)4(H2O)23. It has
got 13.4% (weight) methane. The observed density is around 0.9
g/cm3. There exists 120 grams’ methane in one litre of methane
hydrate. So methane hydrate is a good source for methane (natural
gas).
Friends of Scientifica,
October
2016