Will Gas Hydrate Lying On Oceanic Floors In India Solve Its Energy Problem? A Futuristic Approach

Abstract

India with the largest gas hydrate deposits in the world have potential of being the biggest global producer of NGH (a solidified form of gas lying on oceanic floors). 1.08 trillion cubic metres of the proven conventional natural gas reserves in India is around 1700 times less than the prognosticated gas hydrate resources of 1,894 trillion cubic metres lying in the deep water regions. Even the extraction of minor fraction of this resource can be the energy hunters for decades.This paper discusses the geological and geophysical aspects of marine gas hydrate distribution in India. Through a wide literature survey authors have shown the hurdles which are imposing constraints on the wide scale extraction of natural gas from NGH. The Indian exploration strategies to identify and quantify the gas hydrates by various seismic tools (e.g. seismic reflectors coincidence with the base of the gas hydrate stability zone (BGHSZ)) with its limitations are described in lucid manner. Also, the technical advancements are presented to eliminate the mentioned limitations. Well- based extraction technology (a drilling program) is discussed for safe and economically viable production of gas from gas hydrate reservoirs.India's 7500 km of coastline having a vast fuel reserve in the form of NGH can be a next generation energy source if mature extraction technology is developed to extract the gas from gas hydrate reservoirs.