Realizing the Energy Potential of Methane Hydrate for the United States

National Research Council

doi:10.17226/12831

Consensus Study Report

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Realizing the Energy Potential of Methane Hydrate for the United States

(2010)

Natural gas, composed mostly of methane, is the cleanest of all the fossil fuels, emitting 25-50% less carbon dioxide than either oil or coal for each unit of energy produced. In recent years, natural gas supplied approximately 20-25% of all energy consumed in the United States. Methane hydrate is a potentially enormous and as yet untapped source of methane. The Department of Energy's Methane Hydrate Research and Development Program has been tasked since 2000 to implement and coordinate a national methane hydrate research effort to stimulate the development of knowledge and technology necessary for commercial production of methane from methane hydrate in a safe and environmentally responsible way.

Realizing the Energy Potential of Methane Hydrate for the United States evaluates the program's research projects and management processes since its congressional re-authorization in 2005, and presents recommendations for its future research and development initiatives.

Contributor(s): National Research Council; Division on Earth and Life Studies; Board on Earth Sciences and Resources; Committee on Assessment of the Department of Energy's Methane Hydrate Research and Development Program: Evaluating Methane Hydrate as a Future Energy Resource; Committee on Earth Resources

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Suggested Citation

National Research Council. 2010. Realizing the Energy Potential of Methane Hydrate for the United States. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/12831.

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Publication Info

204 pages | 6 x 9 |

ISBNs:

Paperback: 978-0-309-14889-4
Ebook: 978-0-309-15763-6

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/12831

Chapters		skim
Front Matter	i-xx
Summary	1-12
1 Methane Hydrate Research in the United States	13-30
2 State of the Science: Recent Advances and Current Challenges in Methane Hydrate Research	31-82
3 Review of Central Research Efforts Within the Methane Hydrate Research and Development Program	83-108
4 Coordinating Process for the Methane Hydrate Research and Development Program	109-132
5 Conclusions and Recommendations	133-138
Appendixes	139-140
Appendix A: Legislative Authorization Language H.R. 6 – Energy Policy Act of 2005 Section 968. Methane Hydrate Research	141-148
Appendix B: Committee and Staff Biographical Sketches	149-156
Appendix C: Presentations to the Committee	157-158
Appendix D: Comparison of Units of Measurement of Amounts of Methane by Volume and Weight	159-160
Appendix E: Program Authorizations and Appropriations FY 2000-2010	161-162
Appendix F: Project Summary Table	163-184

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