Blog 8 - Japan Methane Hydrate Extraction

In a world first Japan has extracted gas from methane hydrate off its central coast.  Methane hydrates, or clathrates, are a type of frozen group of molecules of methane and water. There is currently a survey being done of the gas field by Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Cooperation (JOGMEC) where engineers are using a depressurization method that turns hydrate into gas.  These tests are scheduled to continue for about another two weeks.

These methane hydrate deposits are located in the Nankai Trough about 50km away from Japan’s main island but can also be extracted from under land ice.  Canada, the US, and China have all also been looking for ways of extracting these deposits for the past several years. This development will possibly allow Japan, who now imports all of its energy needs, to become energy efficient.  Japan aims to establish production technologies for these deposits for practical use within the next five years.

An official from the economy, trade, and industry ministry was quoted saying that this is the “world’s first offshore experiment producing gas from methane hydrate.”  At least 1.1tn cubic meters exist in these offshore deposits, which is equivalent to more than a decade of Japan’s gas consumption.  Japan has few natural resources and since the Fukushima nuclear disaster importing fuels has become increasingly expensive. While this new technology will offer a huge local source of alternative energy it also poses environmental concerns because of the unstable water geology surrounding Japan.

            The most interesting thing about this article is that it goes in a different direction than many of the other alternative energy articles I’ve read in that it has potential environmental dangers. It begs the question of whether or not Japan should be investing more time in finding environmentally friendly approaches to alternative energy.  While it is admirable that Japan is attempting to step away from nuclear energy it will be interesting to find how much these deposits help Japan become energy dependent and whether or not it negatively affects the oceans geology and the wellbeing of Japan as a whole.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21752441