Cyber Times International Journal of Technology & Management

In recent years, the topic of naturally occurring gas hydrates has attracted major interest worldwide due to the fact that they may play a major role as alternative fuel in the near future. Prior to this natural gas hydrates were mainly viewed at as a source of operational problems in gas processing and transportation equipment. Gas-hydrates are crystalline substances consisting of 99.9% methane and water, and are found in the outer continental margins and permafrost regions. Since methane is the cleanest of all hydrocarbon fuels, its use will cause less pollution to the atmosphere. Some review of the currently vast growing investigations on detection of natural gas hydrate locations, exploratory and first production efforts as well as some issues on possible hazards identified today in connection with naturally occurring gas hydrate deposits are highlighted.