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Marine clathrate mining and sediment separation

Patent ·
OSTI ID:873640
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. Albuquerque, NM
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A method and apparatus for mining of hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon-containing clathrate such as is found on the ocean floor. The hydrocarbon containing clathrate is disaggregated from sediment by first disrupting clathrate-containing strata using continuous mining means such as a rotary tilling drum, a fluid injector, or a drill. The clathrate-rich portion of sediment thus disrupted from the sea floor strata are carried through the apparatus to regions of relative lower pressure and/or relative higher temperature where the clathrate further dissociates into component hydrocarbons and water. The hydrocarbon is recovered with the assistance of a gas that is injected and buoys the hydrocarbon containing clathrate helping it to rise to regions of lower pressure and temperature where hydrocarbon is released. The sediment separated from the hydrocarbon returns to the ocean floor.

Research Organization:
SANDIA CORP
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000
Assignee:
Sandia Corporation (Albuquerque, NM)
Patent Number(s):
US 6209965
OSTI ID:
873640
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (2)

Oceanic Methane Hydrates: a "Frontier" gas Resource journal January 1996
Natural gas hydrates: Arctic and Nordic Sea potential book January 1993

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Related Subjects

/299/37/
apparatus
assistance
buoys
carbon containing
carried
clathrate
clathrate-containing
clathrate-rich
component
containing
containing clathrate
continuous
continuous mining
disaggregated
disrupted
disrupting
dissociates
drill
drum
floor
fluid
found
gas
helping
hydrocarbon
hydrocarbon containing
hydrocarbon-containing
hydrocarbons
injected
injector
marine
means
method
mining
ocean
ocean floor
portion
pressure
recovered
regions
relative
released
returns
rise
rotary
sediment
separated
separation
strata
temperature
tilling
water