Natural gas hydrates have been studied extensively in the past three decades broadly, because they may constitute a geohazard, become an energy resource, and play a role in climate change.
The workshop will commence on 15 April with an evening Icebreaker and continue on 16 and 17 April and start with latest developments in exploration methods as well as lessons learnt from gas hydrate production tests. Geomechanical models and results from laboratory experiments will focus on hazards from gas hydrates to offshore installations.
Natural gas hydrates have been studied extensively in the past three decades broadly, because they may constitute a geohazard, become an energy resource, and play a role in climate change. While the latter is the topic of significant blue-sky research, the petroleum industry is largely focussing on possible hazards to offshore installation from gas hydrates. Government-led research meanwhile is investigating the potential of hydrates as an energy source.
Significant progress has been made in last decade with gas hydrate exploration and the development of geotechnical models of hydrate-bearing sediments. Furthermore, several field tests have demonstrated that gas production from hydrates is technically feasible. We have now reached the point at which we are facing a number of practical challenges associated with gas hydrates. These range from issues related to gas production from hydrates, such as sand flow and seafloor subsidence, to challenges for production of hydrocarbons through hydrate-bearing sediments, such as wellbore stability and seal capacity of hydrates. Furthermore, new production methods are being developed that involve CO2 sequestration, making gas hydrate potentially a net-carbon-efficient energy resource. This workshop aims at capturing the current state of research into gas hydrates and at projecting a way forward for mitigation of this potential geohazard and extraction of hydrates as possible low-carbon energy resource.
The workshop will commence on 15 April with an evening Icebreaker and continue on 16 and 17 April with latest developments in exploration methods as well as lessons learnt from gas hydrate production tests. Geomechanical models and results from laboratory experiments will focus on hazards from gas hydrates to offshore installations. Finally, novel production methods, in particular involving CO2 sequestration, will be introduced in order to assess the possible role of gas hydrates as an energy source in a carbon-constrained future.
Who should Attend
- Geologists
- Geophysicists
- Geochemists
- Petrophysicists
- Reservoir Engineers
- Academic and Government Researchers