Marine clathrate mining and sediment separation
- Albuquerque, NM
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 National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA (United States)
- 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
Natural gas hydrates: Arctic and Nordic Sea potential
|
book | January 1993 |
Oceanic Methane Hydrates: a "Frontier" gas Resource
|
journal | January 1996 |
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disrupting
clathrate-containing
strata
continuous
means
rotary
tilling
drum
fluid
injector
drill
clathrate-rich
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carried
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buoys
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rise
released
separated
returns
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hydrocarbon containing
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