Chapter 10, Problem 212A

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The composition and structure of natural gas hydrates should be discussed along with the location of hydrates, importance to consumers and the impact on environment due to their use.

Concept introduction:

Natural gas hydrates known as clathrate hydrates which are crystalline solids like an ice-like solid in nature which is composed of water and gas (hydrocarbon molecules).

Explanation of Solution

Natural gas hydrates known as clathrate hydrates which are crystalline solids that resembles ice-like solid in nature which is composed of water and gas (hydrocarbon molecules). The hydrocarbon gases such as methane, ethane and propane are trapped in the spaces present between water molecules. The formation of these natural gas hydrates generally takes place at high pressure and low temperatures, that is temperature is near the freezing point of water, ${\text{0 }}^{\text{o}}\text{C}$. The location where these conditions exist for the formation of clathrate hydrates are at depth along the world’s continental slopes and rises on the sea floor like North America and Arctic.

The importance to consumers of clathrate hydrates are:

• They are clean energy source.
• The amount of natural gas is huge in natural gas hydrates.

The impact on environment due to their use are:

• With increase in temperature or decrease in pressure, the natural gas hydrates dissociate and produces free gas and water which cause a loss of support and shear strength.
• Due to warming of oceans, the release of greenhouse gas, methane into the atmosphere from methane clathrate hydrate can take place.