Gas Hydrates

Minerals Management Service

United States Department of the Interior

Content:
Roger Amato

Pagemasters:
OMM Web Team

Photograph of offshore inspectors.

Photograph of a seabird.

Photograph of an ice island.

Photograph of a fish.

Photograph of a platform at sunset.

Photograph of fish feeding beneath a platform.

Photograph of a welder working on an offshore platform.

Gas Hydrates

Gas Hydrates
Research Consortium
Sea Floor Observatory

A methane hydrate mound is seen on the seafloor of the Gulf of Mexico.

In-Place Gas Hydrate Resource Assessment:
Gulf of Mexico

The methane from a piece of gas hydrate burns. Under the enormous pressures and cold temperatures at the bottom of the ocean, methane gas dissolves. The molecules of methane become locked in a cage of water molecules to form crystals. These crystals look like ice, and they cement together the ocean sediments. In some places a solid layer of crystals—called methane hydrate—extends from the sea floor down hundreds of meters. The drilling rig “Uncle John” is preparing to leave in late April to test methane hydrate deposits at two sites in the Gulf of Mexico under the Joint Industry Program.

MMS Hydrate Links
Other Agency Hydrate Links
Maps and Graphics
Joint Industry Project
MMS Kids Energy Booklet (see page 9)

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Last Updated: 03/28/2008, 06:56:05 AM