Extraction Of Methane From Gas Hydrates Using Anaerobic Archaebacteria
Authors: Abraham Leo T. , Varma Esha N. 
Published: October 2008

The growing need of energy and the depletion of the conventional resources i.e. the fossil fuels have led us to think seriously about the non conventional resources like solar, tidal, wind, waste energy, etc. Apart from these resources the science and technology is rather focusing more on gas hydrates. Natural Gas which is an important source of energy is being consumed about 85 trillion cubic feet per year. The current natural gas reserves show that they will last only for 60 years at this rate of consumption. But luckily the reserves of gas hydrates (natural gas) are enough so as to provide 100 ercent of the present energy and will serve upto 2000 years, but we aren't able to extract them economically.

The idea of ‘EXTRACTION OF METHANE FROM GAS HYDRATES USING ANAEROBIC ARCHAE-BACTERIA’ may not only help in extracting methane from gas hydrates but also may convert water and carbon di oxide present in gas ydrates into methane. In this idea, I propose the use of anaerobic archaebacteria namely methanogenic archaebacteria, to convert carbon di oxide and water to methane. The above process is exothermic in nature that liberates heat, which can increase the temperature of water above its boiling point and cause gas hydrates to liberate methane. The characteristics of the anaerobic archaebacteria satisfy the conditions of existence of gas hydrates. Thus, these bacteria may help in extracting methane from gas hydrates effectively and efficiently.

INTRODUCTION

Need of Unconventional Resources

The people of the world use natural gas (methane, CH4), one of the fossil fuels, to provide 25% of the everyday energy they use. At present, this amounts to burning about 2.4 trillion cubic meters (85 trillion cubic feet) of natural gas each year. Unfortunately, we have found enough natural gas reserves in the world to last only another 60 years at this rate of consumption. This means that our grandchildren might see the end of natural gas. In turn these fossil fuels cause pollution on combustion, producing dangerous carbon mono oxide causing global warming. The solution to this dangerous problem is the use of unconventional resources, which will take care of our grand children. Solar, Tidal, Wind Waste energy are the forms of unconventional resources, the methods to use them effectively fail in some cases, say as in automobiles, in operation of huge machines in big industries. So this leads to the search of such an unconventional resource that is not only efficient but also available in abundance. This led to the discovery of Gas Hydrates.

Gas Hydrates - Potential

In recent years the topics of naturally occurring gas hydrates have attracted major interest worldwide due to the fact that they may play a dominant role as possible energy resources in the future. Gas hydrate is one of such non-conventional source of energy that is worthy to be studied for possible exploration and exploration to meet the burgeoning demand of hydrocarbons, ensuring energy security for the world and sufficient to provide 100% of our current energy needs for as much as 2000 years into the future.