Development of marine gas hydrate deposits with alternative use of the potential of the gas transport system on the example of Ukraine

Abstract

The object of research is the use of a pipeline system for the production of methane and utilization of carbon dioxide. One of the most problematic areas in this scheme is the substantiation of the effectiveness and the possibility of using the existing pipeline system of countries that are gradually moving towards carbon neutrality of the economy based on the principles of sustainable development. In this case, these principles are implemented through the consumer’s access to clean energy by burning gas obtained from offshore hydrate fields at thermal power plants with the simultaneous utilization of carbon dioxide. In the course of the study, the methods of mathematical modelling of the development of offshore gas hydrate fields were used, which were developed earlier in the study of methane production from hydrate deposits by the replacement method. Comparison of the block diagram of the development of offshore gas hydrate fields using the existing pipeline system by means of logical analysis made it possible to establish not only the economic, but also the environmental effect. Data have been obtained that the gas transmission system, provided that carbon dioxide is transported, can be effectively used at various stages of the development of offshore gas hydrate fields. This is due to the fact that the proposed development block diagram has a number of design features, in particular, the possibilities of using the gas transmission system at the stage of development, production and decommissioning of wells are taken into account. This makes it possible to efficiently use carbon dioxide transported from power plants using the existing transport system to the development site of offshore hydrate deposits. Compared with similar known methods of carbon dioxide utilization, this provides the following advantages: alternative use of the existing pipeline system for the purpose of greening the technology of methane production from offshore hydrate deposits. The principles considered in the work make it possible to dispose carbon dioxide in the form of a hydrate under the seabed. The achieved economic effect can be considered as income received from the sale of electricity produced at power plants, and quite obvious environmental effect.