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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 1980s
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.
Bibliography &
Selected References: |
Full Pdf Documents & Summaries |
1 |
Boatman, M.C. and Peterson, J.; 2000; Oceanic Gas
Hydrate Research and Activities Review; US DOI, Minerals Management Service OCS Report MMS
2000-017 |
Document |
2 |
Boland, Gregory; 2000, Diving on Bush
Hill; People, Land & Water, US DOI. Page 32. |
Document |
3 |
Carpenter, G., 1981. Coincident sediment
slump/clathrate complexes on the U.S. Atlantic continental slope. Geo-Marine
Letters, 1:29-32 |
Document |
4 |
Carpenter, G.B., 1981, Potential geologic hazards and
constraints for blocks in Proposed South Atlantic OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sale 56: U.S.
Geological Survey Open File Report 81-019, 325 p. |
N/A |
5 |
Han-Padron Associates, 1985, Beaufort Sea Petroleum
Technology Assessment, U.S. Department Of The Interior Technical Report No. 112 Contract
No. 14-12-0001-30154, OCS Study MMS 85-0002 |
Document
Summary |
6 |
MacDonald, Ian R. (ed.), 1992, Northern Gulf of Mexico
Chemosynthetic Ecosystems Study Literature Review and Data Synthesis Volume III: Appendix,
OCS Study MMS 92-0035, Prepared under MMS Contract 14-35-0001-30555 by Texas A&M
University Texas A&M Research Foundation College Station, Texas |
Document |
7 |
McCarthy, J.C., Clingan, R.S., and Roberts, J.W.,
1980, Potential geologic hazards and constraints for blocks in South Atlantic OCS Oil and
Gas Lease Sale 43: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 80-866a, 41 p. |
N/A |
8 |
Neave, K.G. and Sellmann, P.V.; 1982; Subsea
permafrost in Harrison Bay, Alaska: An interpretation from seismic data; U.S. Army Cold
Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory; CRREL Report 82-24 |
Document |
9 |
Popenoe, Peter (ed.), 1981, . ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGIC
STUDIES ON THE SOUTHEASTERN ATLANTIC OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF, 1977-1978 Final report
submitted to the U.S. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT under Memorandum of Understanding
AA551-ML18-13, U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 81- 582 -A |
Document |
10 |
Seismic Surveys Pinpoint Chemosynthetic Communities on
Gulf of Mexico Seafloor; 2000, Diving on Bush Hill; People, Land & Water,
US DOI. Pages 32-33. |
Document |
11 |
Woolsey, J.R.; 2000; Monitoring the Physical and
Chemical Conditions Affecting the Hydrocarbon System Within the Hydrate Stability Zone of
the Northern Gulf of Mexico; presented at the Minerals Management Service Information
Transfer Meeting |
Document |
For more information, contact Keith Good.
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