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Title: Substantially self-powered method and apparatus for recovering hydrocarbons from hydrocarbon-containing solid hydrates

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for producing gaseous hydrocarbons from formations comprising solid hydrocarbon hydrates located under either a body of land or a body of water. The vast natural resources of such hydrocarbon hydrates can thus now be economically mined. Relatively warm brine or water is brought down from an elevation above that of the hydrates through a portion of the apparatus and passes in contact with the hydrates, thus melting them. The liquid then continues up another portion of the apparatus, carrying entrained hydrocarbon vapors in the form of bubbles, which can easily be separated from the liquid. After a short startup procedure, the process and apparatus are substantially self-powered.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2];  [1]
  1. Los Alamos, NM
  2. Santa Fe, NM
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
864508
Patent Number(s):
US 4376462
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-36
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
substantially; self-powered; method; apparatus; recovering; hydrocarbons; hydrocarbon-containing; solid; hydrates; provided; producing; gaseous; formations; comprising; hydrocarbon; located; land; water; vast; natural; resources; economically; mined; relatively; warm; brine; brought; elevation; portion; passes; contact; melting; liquid; continues; carrying; entrained; vapors; form; bubbles; easily; separated; startup; procedure; process; gaseous hydrocarbons; gaseous hydrocarbon; relatively warm; containing solid; recovering hydrocarbons; solid hydrates; substantially self-powered; solid hydrocarbon; hydrocarbon hydrates; comprising solid; producing gaseous; hydrocarbon vapor; hydrocarbon-containing solid; formations comprising; hydrates located; carbon vapor; /166/

Citation Formats

Elliott, Guy R. B., Barraclough, Bruce L, and Vanderborgh, Nicholas E. Substantially self-powered method and apparatus for recovering hydrocarbons from hydrocarbon-containing solid hydrates. United States: N. p., 1983. Web.
Elliott, Guy R. B., Barraclough, Bruce L, & Vanderborgh, Nicholas E. Substantially self-powered method and apparatus for recovering hydrocarbons from hydrocarbon-containing solid hydrates. United States.
Elliott, Guy R. B., Barraclough, Bruce L, and Vanderborgh, Nicholas E. 1983. "Substantially self-powered method and apparatus for recovering hydrocarbons from hydrocarbon-containing solid hydrates". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/864508.
@article{osti_864508,
title = {Substantially self-powered method and apparatus for recovering hydrocarbons from hydrocarbon-containing solid hydrates},
author = {Elliott, Guy R. B. and Barraclough, Bruce L and Vanderborgh, Nicholas E},
abstractNote = {A method and apparatus are provided for producing gaseous hydrocarbons from formations comprising solid hydrocarbon hydrates located under either a body of land or a body of water. The vast natural resources of such hydrocarbon hydrates can thus now be economically mined. Relatively warm brine or water is brought down from an elevation above that of the hydrates through a portion of the apparatus and passes in contact with the hydrates, thus melting them. The liquid then continues up another portion of the apparatus, carrying entrained hydrocarbon vapors in the form of bubbles, which can easily be separated from the liquid. After a short startup procedure, the process and apparatus are substantially self-powered.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/864508}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1983},
month = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1983}
}