Methane hydrate

　Hello, everyone. It became the last report contribution still more.
　I have summarized the information which exists in the middle of research until now. A still more familiar thing is taken up this time. In fact, there are some which have influence on our life early most. It is methane hydrate.
　I introduce easily the methane hydrate which is capturing the spotlight now.

　First, what is methane hydrate? Speaking directly, it being a kind of natural gas. Natural gas, such as methane, combined with water and is made. Although it tends to seem whether to be a liquid, it is a solid crystal in practice. Appearance resembles ice. Since it has the character to burn if fire is brought close, it may be called "the ice which burns." Only water remains, after burning. It is a very wonderful substance. 

　Compared with oil or coal, the amount of discharge of carbon dioxide of this substance is a half about. Methane is included in large quantities, and moreover, since only water remains, after use can be said to be a very environment-friendly substance. If utilizable, it will greatly be useful also for the global environmental destruction prevention currently tackled on a worldwide scale. This can be used for various energy sources, such as fuel of a car, town gas, and power generation. This is very reliable!

　Is this what has occurred with distant backgrounds, such as Europe and Africa? It is different. That is an important point of this methane hydrate is Japan in which what and we live. As said for beginning, having influence on a life is not restricted to use. It is the first point that natural gas can be exploited at its own country. 

　Two conditions are required in order for methane hydrate to occur. It is "high pressure" and "low temperature." First of all, it is the very limited place that existence of methane hydrate is checked. One is a place of 100 meters of the underground number of the North Pole or the South Poles. Another is a place deeper than the depth of water of 500 meters. It is the latter that it is related to Japan, of course. 

　Then, what methane hydrate is really sleeping in the world?

 

　An abundant quantity of methane hydrate exists all over the world. On what and land, the quantity of several 1 quadrillion cubic meters is checked in several 10 trillion cubic meters and ocean space. Doesn't imagination stick at all? This is about 10 times the quantity of the deposits of the natural gas in the world. They say that it is equal to the amount of primitive of the natural gas used now. Furthermore, the quantity of the methane hydrate around Japan is uncanny. About 4,200 billion cubic meters is told to the Nankai Trough around Japan. Furthermore, it is surmised in the Hokkaido surrounding ocean area that it also amounts to 6 trillion cubic meters. 

　Do you think that you will have in what year if there is a quantity like this? 50 year ? 80 years? It is the quantity which can say and is equal to 100 income tax years. This is the world's largest methane hydrate quantity possessed. Could the natural blessing possibly receive just because it was the island country surrounded by the sea? Probably, the day which becomes the world's largest energy-resources power also has near Japan. 

　Then, this finishes the blog contribution over ten weeks. "The world of deep sea" -- Did you have enjoy this blog? It is happy if you get interested. Thank you. 

reference

• http://mhy.cmpcmp.net/010/ent1.html
• http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/メタンハイドレート
• http://methanehydrate.net/
• http://www.eps.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/res-edu/geosphere/matsumoto.html