Gas Hydrate

가스 하이드레이트

Gas hydrates are ice-l ike sol id compounds that are composed of water and natural gas. All common gas hydrates belong to the three crystal structures that are composed of five polyhedral cavities formed by hydrogen bonded water molecules and stable in specific high pressure and low temperature conditions. Gas hydrates contain large amounts of organic carbon and widely occur in deep oceans and permafrost regions, and they may therefore represent a potential energy resource in the future. United States and Japan perform the national R&D programs for the commercial production of gas hydrates in 2010's. The study on gas hydrates are also important for exploration and development of natural gas in the regions where gas hydrates are accumulated and could be formed. Although their global abundance is debated, they play an important role in global climate change since methane is a 50 times more effect ive greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Natural gas hydrates also form a possible natural hazard if rapidly dissociated and can cause slides and slumps and in the marine environment associated tsunamis.