Abstract

A gas hydrate storage reservoir includes at least one insulated wall defining an opening and a sunlight permeable top covering the opening. A gas-tight, gas hydrate storage cavity is defined within the top and the wall(s). A cover element is provided to cover at least a portion of the top to prevent sunlight from passing through that portion of the top. The gas storage reservoir also includes devices for removing gas and water from the storage cavity. In use, when gas is desired by the user, the cover element is removed from at least a portion of the sunlight permeable top so that sunlight will pass through the top and into the storage reservoir. Heat energy from the sun warms the exposed gas hydrates, thereby forcing the hydrates to dissociate into gas and water. The gas is removed from the tank and transported to an appropriate location for use. When sunlight is unavailable or when additional gas is needed than that produced by dissociation via the sun, an external, auxiliary heater (e.g., one or more heating coils, one or more coils or channels through which steam flows, one or more coils or channels through which a relatively warm gas or liquid flows, one or more electrical heating elements, a steam lance device, or a microwave generator) is provided to heat the hydrates. Through the use of the method and apparatus according to the invention, gas hydrates can be stored and regassified conveniently, inexpensively, and controllably, without loss of valuable gas products.

Other References

• W.P. Gee, et al., "The Solvent Dewaxing Process," Refiner & Natural Gasoline Manufacturer, vol. 15, No. 16, (1936), pp. 205-209
• B. Miller, et al., "Hydrate Storage of Natural Gas," American Gas Association Monthly, vol. 28, No. 2 (1946), pp. 63-67, 92
• D. Katz, et al., Handbook of Natural Gas Engineering, McGraw-Hill, New York (1959) pp. 189-221
• H.C. Kim, "Kinetics of Methane Hydrate Decomposition," Chemical Engineering Science, vol. 42, No. 7 (1987), pp. 1645-1653
• A.A. Trofimuk, et al., "The Dynamics of the Zone of Hydrate Formation and its Effect on the Temperature Regime of the Cryolithozone," Soviet Geology and Geophysics, vol. 27, No. 11 (1987), pp. 1-7
• I. Ridley, et al., "Gas Hydrates Keep Energy on Ice," New Scientist, No. 1601 (1988), pp. 53-58
• Y.P. Handa, "A Calorimetric Study of Naturally Occurring Gas Hydrates," Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, vol. 27, No. 5 (1988), pp. 872-874
• L.F. Smirnov, "New Technologies Using Gas Hydrates," Theoretical Foundations of Chemical Engineering, vol. 23, No. 6 (1990), pp., 514-526 (Russian language original published at Teor. Osn. Khim. Tekhnol. V23(6), 808-822 (1989)
• E.D. Ershov, et al., "Experimental Investigations of the Microstructure of Agglomerate of Ice and Methane Hydrate," Soviet Engineering Geology, vol. 3 (1990), pp. 32-37
• E.D. Sloan, Gas Research Institute, Topical Report "The State-of-the-Art of Hydrates as Related to the Natural Gas Industry," GRI-91/0302, 1992
• E.D. Ershov, et al., Experimental Research on Gas Hydrate Decomposition in Frozen Rocks, Cold Regions Science and Technology, vol. 20 (1992), pp. 147-156
• P. Englezos, "Clathrate Hydrates," Industrial & Engineering Chemical Research, vol. 32 (1993), pp. 1251-1274
• J.S. Gudmundsson, "Storing Natural Gas as Frozen Hydrate," SPE Production & Facilities, vol. 9, No. 1 (1994), pp. 69-73
• R.D. Malone, "Gas Hydrate Geology and Geography," International Conference on Natural Gas Hydrates, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, vol. 715, pp. 225-231
• K.A. Kvenvolden, "Natural Gas Hydrate Occurrence and Issues," International Conference on Natural Gas Hydrates, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, vol. 715, pp. 232-246
• J.S. Gudmundsson, et al., "Transport of Natural Gas as Frozen Hydrate," Proceedings of the Fifth International Offshore and Polar Engineering Conference, vol. I, The Hague, Netherlands, Jun. 1995, pp. 282-288
• "Natural Gas Transport as Hydrates 25% Below Cost of LNG," Offshore, Nov., 1995, p. 26
• J. Long, "Gas Hydrate Formation Mechanism and Kinetic Inhibition," Ph.D. Dissertation, 1994, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado
• MS Peters et al., "Plant Design and Economics for Chemical Engineers", McGraw Hill, 1976, pp. 575-58