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The USGS’s Critical Role in DOE’s Methane Hydrates R&D Program USGS Congressional Briefing Series July 27, 2007 Washington, DC Ray Boswell, Technology Manager for Methane Hydrates U.S. DOE/National Energy Technology Laboratory
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National Energy Technology Laboratory Natural Gas Hydrates Setting the Stage Before ~1980: Few consider hydrate a significant part of nature 1982-1995: USGS documents gas hydrate occurrence in Alaska USGS reports 320,000 tcf gas in place in US EEZ. Japan starts massive 15-year program 2000: MHR&D Act passed Glomar Challenger; 1982 Plugged Pipeline - Petrobras “Eileen” and “Tarn” trends – Collett, USGS, 1993 Kvenvolden, USGS, 1988
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National Energy Technology Laboratory The Federal Interest in Hydrate R&D Arising from the recognition of the global scale of hydrates A clear federal role Long term, high risk, high potential payoff Expanding international R&D Multi-disciplinary Wide range of public interest issues Role in nature Deep sea ecosystems Sediment stability Carbon cycle Global climate Economic significance Safety of ongoing E&P Future energy source DOE and USGS scientists collaborate aboard the JOIDES Resolution: NGHP Expedition 01 - Summer 2006
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National Energy Technology Laboratory The USGS Contribution USGS Science + DOE Technology The nature of the Gas Hydrate Program is unique in NETL’s portfolio USGS has been… a credible, reliable source of objective scientific expertise for DOE and its industrial- private partners a valued partner in creating a “National R&D Program” DOE’s gas hydrate program would not undertake a major field program or a new scientific direction without consultation and collaboration with the USGS USGS scientists contributing to field operations; DOE-Chevron Gulf of Mexico JIP – Spring 2005
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National Energy Technology Laboratory The USGS Contribution …to Program Execution DOE sponsored Field Programs developing science plans provide scientific leads during field operations 2007 Mt. Elbert Well, which demonstrated… … the ability to safely gather data in hydrate-bearing sediments …the validity of the USGS-developed gas hydrate exploration methodology …the producibility of gas hydrate via depressurization …the need to continue to a long-term production test Experimentation assuring work is relevant to important issues pushing the state of the art Numerical Simulation ensuring modeled scenarios honor reality Dr. Timothy Collett (USGS) at the Mt. Elbert gas hydrate test well – Winter 2007
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National Energy Technology Laboratory USGS Contribution …to International Gas Hydrate Collaborations Mallik 2002 test well program (Japan, Canada) IODP gas hydrate expeditions (Japan, EU, USA (NSF) USGS: science and operations DOE: supplemental funding for technology development NGHP Expedition 01 (India) 113-day expedition in the Indian Ocean unprecedented data quantity and quality Significance to the program foreign programs recognize US capabilities grow DOE/NETL expertise enable valuable leveraging of US R&D funds advance DOE collaborations Derrick of the JOIDES Resolution – DGH-USGS gas hydrate expedition, summer 2006 Mallik India
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National Energy Technology Laboratory Ray Boswell ray.boswell@netl.doe.gov 304 285-4541 The Doyon 14 rig at Mt. Elbert – Alaska North Slope – February, 2007
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