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The National Methane Hydrates R&D Program
 DOE/NETL Methane Hydrate Projects
NETL-ORD - Methane Hydrate Research - Geoscience Evaluations and Field Studies

Project Objectives
Conduct geological evaluations of methane hydrate systems from the microscopic to the field scale in support of ongoing and future NETL/DOE supported methane hydrate studies. The effort has three primary goals:

  • to develop linkages between the U.S. National program and major international R&D efforts by direct participation and contribution to international field programs
  • to work with the DOE’s domestic research partners, in particular those participating in its major field programs in Alaska (with BP ) and the Gulf of Mexico (the Chevron-led JIP ) , to ensure field testing locations and plans are based on full petroleum systems analyses, and
  • to provide geologic expertise to DOE-NETL efforts to advance numerical simulation and field-relevant experimental studies.

Project Performers
Kelly K. Rose – NETL Office of Research & Development
Ray Boswell – NETL Office of Research & Development

Location
National Energy Technology Laboratory, Morgantown, West Virginia

photo of scientist examining sediment from Korean Hydrate expediton

Geologist Kelly Rose(NETL) and Dr. Bahk (KOGAS) examining hydrate bearing sediments from the recent Korean gas hydrate expedition, 11/2007, in the Ulleung Basin, South Korea

Project Description
This effort includes geologically-based studies of gas hydrate systems ranging from microscopic to basin-wide scales. We integrate these datasets from a geological and petroleum systems perspective to help isolate those factors that can control the occurrence and saturation of gas hydrate.

Sedimentological description of cores provide valuable insight into the lithologies represented by the wireline log and seismic responses. This allows for broader interpretation and evaluation of the lithostratigraphy and geology away from the core/drill wells. Detailed descriptions of cores from gas hydrate field expeditions provide a framework for integrating other data gathered at these studies. Understanding changes in lithology, mineral composition, diagenetic precipitates, sedimentary structures, and other attributes are used to better understand geochemical, microbiological, wireline log, and other micro to meso-scale datasets gathered at these sites. NETL’s Morgantown lab is equipped with advanced geologic visualization and interpretation software (Geographix, Kingdom Suites), Mastersizer sediment grain-size analyzer, and field-portable petrographic microscopes and XRD/XRF equipment.

photo of Ray Boswell(NETL) and Tim Collett (USGS), on the 2006 NGHP-01 Indian expedition, examine an infra-red image of sediment cores, looking for thermal anomalies in the sediments that would indicate gas hydrate

Ray Boswell(NETL) and Tim Collett (USGS), on the 2006 NGHP-01 Indian expedition, examine an infra-red image of sediment cores, looking for thermal anomalies in the sediments that would indicate gas hydrate

Gas Hydrate Geological Systems Analysis: NETL, in conjunction with our collaborators at other institutions including the US Geological Survey and the Minerals Management Service, is working to develop a full petroleum systems approach to the evaluation of gas hydrates in the field (Summer 2005 Fire in the Ice article). This approach focuses on developing a process for gas hydrate exploration and evaluation that integrates geophysical detection with geological analysis of reservoir distribution (including sand, fractured shale, and combination reservoirs), and supporting petroleum systems elements including traps, seals, and migration histories. This integrated approach is being used by the MHFS group to contribute to the geologic assessments and characterizations of key field study sites, including sites for FY2009 drilling programs in the Gulf of Mexico and future production test sites on the Alaska North Slope. .

General Geologic Support to US Interagency Program: Members of the MHFS team serves in an advisory role on the gas hydrates Interagency Technical Coordination Team that produced the Interagency Roadmap for Gas Hydrates R&D (2006) and the Interagency Five-Year Plan for Methane Hydrate Research and Development (2007). Team members are also instrumental in the creation and direction of the International Gas Hydrates Code Comparison effort.

Accomplishments

  • In collaboration with the USGS, established formal research links with R&D efforts in India.
  • In collaboration with Fugro and Geotek, established strong research links with gas hydrate field efforts in China and Korea.
  • Technical point of contact for establishing detailed cooperative research plans with R&D programs in Japan and Korea under signed Statements of Interest.
  • Contributed to primary site evaluation and selection recommendations for the Joint Chevron-DOE JIP Gas Hydrate Expedition Phase 2 effort
  • Ongoing - BP-DOE Mt. Elbert #1 Gas Hydrate Well, Alaska North Slope, where MHFS members served as field research team members and currently lead as sedimentologist
  • Shipboard sedimentologist with South Korea’s Ulleung Basin-01 Methane Hydrates Expedition, Fall 2007
  • Shipboard scientist during the Naval Research Laboratory’s Alaminos Canyon Gas Hydrate Expedition in the Gulf of Mexico, Summer 2007
  • Shipboard scientist during the Spring 2007 Chinese GMGS-01 Methane Hydrates Expedition in the South China Sea
  • Developed the gas hydrate resource “pyramid” concept, which is a widely sited attempt to describe gas hydrate resource potential in term of the relative recoverability of different resource elements
  • Sedimentologist (Legs 3 and 4) and Co-chief scientist (Leg 4), the Indian National Gas Hydrate Program Expedition 01, Bay of Bengal, Summer 2006
  • Shipboard scientist during the Summer 2008 Geological Survey of Canada-USGS Methane Hydrates Expedition off the Cascadia Margin
  • Member and co-founders of the Code Comparison Project

Photo of scientists at Mt. Elbert test well
The Mt. Elbert test well was a joint effort of DOE, USGS, BP Exploration Alaska (BPXA), and several university and technology company partners.

Current Status
NETL-ORD’s Gas Hydrates Field Studies team is currently conducting geologic evaluations of gas hydrate systems in conjunction with research groups from around the world. Key ongoing activities include the following:

  • Lithostratigraphic analyses (petrographic, xrd/xrf and grain size) of cores from recent field expeditions; including, DOE-BP’s Mount Elbert #1 well on the North Slope of Alaska (2007); NRL’s Gulf of Mexico coring expedition over Alaminos Canyon Blk 818 (2007); South Korea’s UBGH-01 expedition to the East Sea (2007); and Geological Survey of Canada’s Cascadia Expedition (2008)
  • Provide sedimentologic expertise to the Geological Survey of Canada’s August 2008 Cascadia Margin expedition. This effort seeks to integrate data from IODP Expedition 311 [external site] to evaluate gas hydrate linkages to recent seafloor slump features. Some goals of the GSC effort include:
    • Investigating the role of gas hydrate in the mechanisms controlling and responding to submarine slumping
    • Determining the potential for fluid and gas venting and formation of gas hydrate in and around the slump sites
  • Interpretation of lithostratigraphic data from India’s NGHP-01 Expedition to the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Islands (2006).
  • Participation in the development of an exploration methodology and selection of sites for drilling and coring in the upcoming Phase 2 DOE-Chevron Texaco JIP in the Gulf of Mexico. Results from this drilling and logging phase will be used by the selection team to finalize locations for a subsequent drilling, coring, and possible production test expedition.

Geological and geophysical correlation and interpretation of data from the Alaska North Slope region in support of the DOE-BP, USGS Alaska North Slope gas hydrate production test well site selection.

DOE Fiscal Year 2008 Contribution: ~$200,000.00

Additional Information:
In addition to the information provided here, a full listing of project related publications and presentations as well as a listing of funded students can be found in the Methane Hydrate Program Bibliography [PDF].

2008 Hydrate Peer Review [PDF-6.32MB]

Presentions from the Sixth International Conference on Gas Hydrates 2008

Co-Editor

  • Collett, T., Riedel, M., Cochran, J., Boswell, R., Presley, J., Kumar, P., Sathe, A., Sethi, A., Lall, M., and V. Sibal, eds., 2008, India National Gas Hydrate Program: Expedition 01 Initial Reports; Directorate General for Hydrocarbons, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (India).
  • Collett, T., Johnson, A., Knapp, C., and R. Boswell, eds., in press, Natural Gas Hydrates: Energy Resource and Associated Geologic Hazards; American Association of Petroleum Geologists Memoir 89.
  • Ruppel, C., Boswell, R., and E. Jones, eds., in press, Scientific Results of 2005 Gas Hydrates Expedition of the Gulf of Mexico Gas Hydrates Joint Industry Project; Special Issue, Marine and Petroleum Geology, 2008.
  • Boswell, R., Collett, T., and Anderson B., eds., in prep., Scientific Results of the 2007 “Mount Elbert” Gas Hydrate Stratigraphic test well, Milne Pt. Alaska.

Refereed Publications

  • Boswell, R., in review, Motivations for the geophysical investigation of gas hydrates: in Reidel, M, et al., eds., Geophysical Characterization of Gas Hydrates; Society of Exploration Geophysicists, Special Publication.
  • Boswell, R., Shelander, D., Lee, M., Latham, T., Collett, T., Guerin, G., Moridis, M., Reagan, M., and D. Goldberg, in review, Gas Hydrate Occurrence in Oligocene Frio Sand; Alaminos Canyon Block 818, Gulf of Mexico; Marine and Petroleum Geology.
  • Ruppel, R., Boswell, R., and E. Jones, 2008, Scientific Results from Gulf of Mexico Gas Hydrates Joint Industry Project Leg 1 Drilling: Introduction and Overview; in Ruppel, C., et al., eds., Scientific Results of 2005 Gas Hydrates Expedition of the Gulf of Mexico Gas Hydrates Joint Industry Project; Special Issue, Marine and Petroleum Geology.
  • Boswell, R., 2007, Methane Hydrates resource potential coming into focus; Journal of Petroleum Science and Technology, v. 56, p. 17-24.

Other Publications and Reports

  • Boswell, R., Rose, K., and R. Baker, 2008, Research path towards production of marine gas hydrates, Society of Petroleum Engineers, OTC paper 19414.
  • Inks, T., Lee, M, Collett, T., Agena, W., and R. Boswell, 2008, Comparison of pre-drill estimates with drilling results, Mount Elbert Gas Hydrate Test Well, Fire in the Ice Newsletter, U.S. DOE – Office of Fossil Energy, Winter 2008, p. 13-15.
  • Jones, E., Latham, T., McConnell, D., Frye, M., Hunt, J., Shedd, W., Shelander, D., Boswell, R., Rose, K., Ruppel, C., Hutchinson, D., Collett, T., Dugan, R., Wood, W. 2008, Scientific objectives for Gulf of Mexico JIP 2008 drilling program, Society of Petroleum Engineers, OTC Paper 19505.
  • Moridis, G., Collett, T., Boswell, R., Kurihara, M., Reagan, M., Sloan, D., and C. Koh, 2008, Toward production of gas hydrate; current status, assessment of resources, and simulation-based assessment of technology and potential, SPE Paper #114162.
  • Boswell, R., Kleinberg, R., Collett, T., and M. Frye, 2007, Exploration priorities for marine gas hydrate resources: Fire in the Ice Newsletter, U.S. DOE – Office of Fossil Energy, Spring 2007, p. 16-18.
  • Hunter, R., Digert, S., Boswell, R., and T. Collett, 2007, Alaska gas hydrate research and stratigraphic test well preliminary results, Proceedings, 2007 Arctic Energy Summit, Anchorage, Alaska.
  • Zhang, H., Yang, S., Wu, N., Su, X., Holland, M., Schultheiss, P., Rose, K., Butler, H., Humphrey, G., GMGS-1 Science Team, 2007, Successful and surpising results for China’s first gas hydrate drilling expedition: Fire in the Ice Newsletter, U.S. DOE – Office of Fossil Energy, Fall 2007, p. 6-9.
  • Mount Elbert Science Party, 2007, Alaska North Slope well successfully drills, cores, and tests gas hydrate reservoirs: Fire in the Ice Newsletter, U.S. DOE – Office of Fossil Energy, Winter 2007, p. 1-5.
  • Boswell, R., and T. Collett, 2006, The gas hydrates resource pyramid; Fire in the Ice Newsletter, U.S. DOE – Office of Fossil Energy, Fall 2006, p. 1-5.
  • Smith, S., Boswell, R., Lee, M., Collett, T., and E. Jones, 2006, Alaminos Canyon 818 – a documented example of gas-hydrate-bearing sandstone in the Gulf of Mexico: Fire in the Ice Newsletter, U.S. DOE – Office of Fossil Energy, Fall 2006, p. 1-5.
  • Collett, T., Reidel, M., Boswell, R. Cochran, J., Kumar, P., and A. Sethi, 2006, International Team completes landmark gas hydrates expedition in the offshore of India: Fire in the Ice Newsletter, U.S. DOE – Office of Fossil Energy, Fall 2006, p. 1-5.
  • Boswell, R., 2005, “Buried Treasure”; Power and Energy (Mechanical Engineering) magazine, ASME, v. 2, n. 1.
  • Boswell, R., Hutchinson, D., and P. Ray, 2005, Changing perspectives on the resource potential of methane hydrates: Fire in the Ice Newsletter, U.S. DOE – Office of Fossil Energy, Winter 2007, p. 1-5.
 
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