Realizing the energy potential of methane hydrate for the United States
By: Committee on Assessment of the Department of Energy's Methane Hydrate Research and Development Program : evaluating methane hydrate as a future energy resource, Committee  on Earth Resources, Board on Earth Sciences and Resources, Division on Earth and Life Studies, National Research Council of the National Academies
Contributors: National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on Earth Resources; National Research Council (U.S.). Board on Earth Sciences and Resources
Publisher: National Academies Press
Published: 2010
Place of publication: Washington, D.C
Language: eng
Number of pages: 184
ISBN-13: 9780309148894
Subjects: Methane industry; Natural gas; Energy development; Renewable energy sources
Description: "Natural gas, composed mostly of methane, is the cleanest of all the fossil fuels, emitting 25-50% less carbon dioxide than either oil or coal for each unit of energy produced. In recent years, natural gas supplied approximately 20-25% of all energy consumed in the United States. Methane hydrate is a potentially enormous and as yet untapped source of methane. The Department of Energy's Methane Hydrate Research and Development Program has been tasked since 2000 to implement and coordinate a national methane hydrate research effort to stimulate the development of knowledge and technology necessary for commercial production of methane from methane hydrate in a safe and environmentally responsible way. Realizing the Energy Potential of Methane Hydrate for the United States evaluates the program's research projects and management processes since its congressional re-authorization in 2005, and presents recommendations for its future research and development initiatives."--Publisher's description.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references.

Also available online.
Table of contents: title: Methane hydrate research in the United States; title: State of the science: recent advances and current challenges in methane hydrate research; title: Review of central research efforts within the methane hydrate research and development program; title: Coordinating process for the methane hydrate research and development program; title: Conclusions and recommendations.