Environmental Research of Gas Hydrates

Gas Hydrates, ice cubes that burn, have been long been of interest and concern to the Minerals Management Service. Stable under a variety of temperatures and pressures, these odd minerals have been noted in many of the areas of the outer continental shelf including the Blake Escarpment in the Atlantic Ocean, Green Canyon in the Gulf of Mexico, and Prudoe Bay of the Alaskan North Slope.^{5, 6, 9} Early research focused on the potential for hydrate areas to have unstable sediments that could be hazardous to drilling operations.^{3, 4, 7} Research to study deepwater benthos in the mid 1980’s discovered clams and worms that lived in chemosynthetic communities associated with gas and hydrothermal vents.

While this research initially seemed unrelated to gas hydrates, subsequent research to learn more about these benthic creatures in 1997 discovered a new species of polychaete worm, fondly known as "ice worms," that actually live on the outcrops of frozen methane hydrates that occur in deepwater areas of the Gulf of Mexico. This curious symbiotic relationship created a natural link between MMS resource evaluation efforts to understand the effects of hydrates on geophysical data and environmental efforts to better understand the benthic habitat of the ice worms. High positive-amplitude seafloor echoes from geophysical records appear to be good indicators of the potential for outcropping gas hydrates and may help to identify areas of sensitive biological fauna.¹⁰

An MMS review "Oceanic Gas Hydrate Research and Activities Review" noted the following: "Gas hydrates are ice-like crystalline structures of water that form 'cages' that trap low molecular weight gas molecules, especially methane. Gas hydrates have recently attracted international attention from government and scientific communities. This document outlines the major issues surrounding gas hydrates, research initiatives that are underway around the world, and the potential information needs of and the role that Minerals Management Service (MMS) may play in future activities. Gas hydrate interests are multifaceted and intertwined. The major issues can be divided into three categories: 1) Safety Hazards, 2) Energy Resource, and 3) Environmental."¹ MMS is currently involved with studying hydrates from each of these perspectives to fullfill the responsibilities of the OCS Lands Act to develop marine energy and mineral resources in an environmentally sound manner.

For more information, contact Keith Good.