Natural gas from seaweed: is near-term R and D funding by the US gas industry warranted

Journal Article · Tue Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1985 · Energy J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.5547/ISSN0195-6574-EJ-Vol6-No4-10· OSTI ID:6236513

Gopalakrishnan, C

This paper is the result of a study of critical factors the Gas Research Institute needed to consider in deciding whether to continue R and D funding of a Marine Biomass Project (MBP). The mission of this project is to determine the commercial feasibility of large marine biomass farms for methane conversion and to develop such farms if they prove viable. The paper develops a macroanalytic framework for R and D decision making in an innovative but high-cost and high-risk method of natural gas production. It identifies and analyzes principal factors having significant bearing on the US natural gas industry and against this background examines implications for R and D funding of the MBP. The study is based on an extensive review of secondary data sources on the economics and technology of natural gas production supplemented by personal discussions with a number of experts. This paper suggests that decisions on near-term R and D funding of the MBP should be based on careful study of the current, continuing, and projected developments in the US natural gas industry as a whole rather than on narrow and short-term considerations. 16 references, 6 tables.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu
• OSTI ID: 6236513
• Journal Information: Energy J.; (United States), Vol. 6:4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
METHANE
BIOSYNTHESIS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
NATURAL GAS
SUPPLY AND DEMAND
DECISION MAKING
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
DATA
ECONOMICS
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FINANCING
FORECASTING
IMPORTS
NATURAL GAS INDUSTRY
SEAWEEDS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
ALKANES
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BIOCONVERSION
DIGESTION
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
HYDROCARBONS
INDUSTRY
INFORMATION
MANAGEMENT
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
PROCESSING
SYNTHESIS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
030600* - Natural Gas- Economic
Industrial
& Business Aspects
294003 - Energy Planning & Policy- Natural Gas
292000 - Energy Planning & Policy- Supply
Demand & Forecasting
299003 - Energy Planning & Policy- Unconventional Sources & Power Generation- Other- (-1989)
290500 - Energy Planning & Policy- Research
Development
Demonstration
& Commercialization