A recent U.S. Geological Survey analysis indicates the presence of over 500 trillion cubic feet of methane at the Black Ridge site off the coast of Carolinas alone. When you consider that current U.S. consumption is less than 25 trillion cubic feet of natural gas per year, you begin to appreciate the magnitude of this energy resource. The U.S. energy outlook is perilous at best. Our dependence on imported oil is steadily increasing. Soon we will import over 60 percent of the oil we consume.
Air pollution is a persistent problem.
We are spending enormous resources to improve air quality. Global climate change poses a looming challenge. With these concerns in mind, it is easy to recognize the importance of methane hydrates. Methane hydrates are a strategic resource because they contain huge amounts of methane in a concentrated form. Extracted methane from hydrates represents an extraordinarily large energy resource and petrochemical feedstock.