Organizations

Gas Hydrate Energy Production Studies in Northern Alaska

The primary objective of this effort is to evaluate the production response of the know gas hydrate accumulations in the area of the Prudhoe Bay and Kuparuk River production units on the North Slope of Alaska. Gas hydrates are naturally occurring, ice-like solids in which water molecules trap gas molecules in a cage-like structure known as a clathrate. This project is designed as a cooperative research effort, with the USGS providing the technical research lead in a partnership that includes the US Department of Energy and various industry representatives, including BP Alaska Exploration, ConocoPhillips Alaska, and others. This effort is designed to address critical issues associated with potential production of gas hydrates based on an understanding of the geologic nature of the gas hydrate accumulations, the geophysical characteristics of in-situ natural gas hydrates, and (eventually) an extended gas hydrate production test well. Much of the work on this task is focused on the Eileen and Tarn accumulations, including the portion of the Eileen accumulation in the Milne Point region which was drilled in February, 2007. USGS provides a leadership role in the interpretation, calibration, and modeling of the Mount Elbert (Milne Point area) drilling results and their integration with pre-drilling estimates.

Data and Resources

• View website

  Website :: Project Description

  http://alaska.usgs.gov/portal/project.php?project_id=210

• View website

  Website :: Energy Resources Program Website

  http://energy.usgs.gov/OilGas/UnconventionalOilGas/GasHydrates.aspx