The USGS’s Critical Role in DOE’s Methane Hydrates R&D Program
USGS Congressional Briefing Series
July 27, 2007Washington, DC
Ray Boswell, Technology Manager for Methane Hydrates U.S. DOE/National Energy Technology
Laboratory
National Energy Technology Laboratory
Natural Gas HydratesSetting the Stage
Before ~1980: Few consider hydrate a
significant part of nature
1982-1995: USGS documents gas
hydrate occurrence in Alaska USGS reports 320,000 tcf gas
in place in US EEZ. Japan starts massive 15-year
program
2000: MHR&D Act passed
Glomar Challenger; 1982
Plugged Pipeline - Petrobras
“Eileen” and “Tarn” trends – Collett, USGS, 1993
Kvenvolden, USGS, 1988
National Energy Technology Laboratory
The Federal Interest in Hydrate R&D Arising from the recognition of the global scale of hydrates
A clear federal role Long term, high risk, high potential payoff Expanding international R&D Multi-disciplinary Wide range of
public interest issues
Role in nature Deep sea ecosystems Sediment stability Carbon cycle Global climate
Economic significance Safety of ongoing E&P Future energy source
DOE and USGS scientists collaborate aboard the JOIDES Resolution: NGHP Expedition 01 - Summer 2006
National Energy Technology Laboratory
The USGS ContributionUSGS Science + DOE Technology
The nature of the Gas Hydrate Program is unique in NETL’s portfolio
USGS has been…
a credible, reliable source of objective scientific expertise for DOE and its industrial-private partners
a valued partner in creating a “National R&D Program”
DOE’s gas hydrate program would not undertake a major field program or a new scientific direction without consultation and collaboration with the USGS
USGS scientists contributing to field operations; DOE-Chevron Gulf of
Mexico JIP – Spring 2005
National Energy Technology Laboratory
The USGS Contribution…to Program Execution
DOE sponsored Field Programs developing science plans provide scientific leads during field operations
2007 Mt. Elbert Well, which demonstrated…
• …the ability to safely gather data in hydrate-bearing
sediments• …the validity of the USGS-developed gas hydrate exploration methodology• …the producibility of gas hydrate via depressurization• …the need to continue to a long-term production test
Experimentation assuring work is relevant to important issues pushing the state of the art
Numerical Simulation ensuring modeled scenarios honor reality
Dr. Timothy Collett (USGS) at the Mt. Elbert gas hydrate
test well – Winter 2007
National Energy Technology Laboratory
USGS Contribution…to International Gas Hydrate Collaborations
Mallik 2002 test well program (Japan, Canada)
IODP gas hydrate expeditions (Japan, EU, USA (NSF) USGS: science and operations DOE: supplemental funding for technology
development
NGHP Expedition 01 (India) 113-day expedition in the Indian Ocean unprecedented data quantity and quality
Significance to the program foreign programs recognize US capabilities grow DOE/NETL expertise enable valuable leveraging of US R&D funds advance DOE collaborations
Derrick of the JOIDES Resolution – DGH-USGS gas hydrate expedition,
summer 2006
Mallik
India
National Energy Technology Laboratory
304 285-4541
The Doyon 14 rig at Mt. Elbert – Alaska North Slope – February, 2007
