Abstract

A method and apparatus is described for transporting a natural gas in the form of a hydrate. The method utilizes the pressure and temperature conditions of a submerged vessel to facilitate the formation and maintenance of natural gas as a hydrate during the subsea voyage and the subsequent reconversion of the hydrate to a natural gas when the destination of the vessel is reached.The submarine vessel can have: supplementary refrigeration, a hold or void in which a natural gas is hydrated, and a membrane pervious to gas and water within the hold. In the vicinity of the hold bottom are situated gas conductors with spargers through which the natural gas is pumped into the hold. Adjacent to them are cold-water distributor pipes through which water is pumped into the hold for forming a gas hydrate and for removing the heat of formation.The membrane is spaced from the interior wall of the hold so that a gap around and within the hold is formed. This gap provides a path for the water and gas to travel upward to an exit conduit located near the top of the vessel. From this conduit, the gas and water is recycled to form a hydrate.