Gas Hydrates: A Fuel for Future but Wrapped in Drilling Challenges

ABSTRACT Gas hydrates are clathrate non-stoichiometric compounds, in which the gas molecules are encaged in crystalline cells, consisting of water molecules retained by the energy of hydrogen bonds. They are also called clathrate hydrates or "flammable ice". Considering the planet as a whole, the quantity of natural gas in sedimentary gas hydrates greatly exceeds conventional natural gas resources. As a result, numerous studies have been dedicated to the energy resource potential of gas hydrates. Hydrates of hydrocarbon gases occur naturally and attention has been drawn to develop these naturally occurring methane-hydrate reservoirs as an energy resource. The amount of carbon stored in these deposits is estimated to be 2-7 times higher than the amount present in the known fossil fuel deposits. Analysis indicates that hydrates can occupy as much as 500 m of sediments. Gas Hydrates research in the last two decades has taken various directions ranging from ways to understand the safe and economical production of this enormous resource to drilling problems and challenges. Gas Hydrates are stable at low temperature and high pressures. Studies are also underway for exploring the gas hydrates in the offshore area of Pakistan; initial exploration activities indicates very positive results for the presence of gas hydrates in the offshore Makran region (Western Costal Areas). This paper does a review on occurrence of gas hydrates. This paper discusses drilling related challenges for exploiting of gas hydrates and proposes some solutions. Finally, future considerations and recommendations are presented in paper to that may help our industry to unwrap this Fuel for Future.