Drilling into Methane Hydrate Concentration Zones

Abstract

Studies of naturally existing methane hydrate are classified according to their aims; 1. Roles of methane hydrate in the global environment related mainly to global warming, 2. Potential as a natural resource, and 3. Drilling hazards and flow assurance of gas pipelines in oil and natural gas field developments. This report focuses on one of the field operations carried out in the eastern Nankai trough off Japan in 2004, which was part of the Japanese national project for methane hydrate study. The aim of this project is to assess the potential of methane hydrates off Japan as natural resources.