08/01/2019 - S&T | Mainstorming

IAS Parliament 5 years

Gas Hydrates

Gas hydrates are formed when a gas such as methane gets trapped in well-defined cages of water molecules forming crystalline solids. In terrestrial conditions, gas hydrates are formed naturally under the sea bed and glaciers under high pressure, low temperature conditions.

Potential locations: Cambay basin, Krishna-Godavari Basin, Assam-Arakan Basin, Cauvery Basin.

Applications of Gas hydrates

· Researchers at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras have experimentally shown that methane and carbon dioxide (CO2) can exist as gas hydrates at temperatures and pressures seen in interstellar atmosphere.

· The carbon dioxide hydrate produced in the lab raises the possibility of sequestering or storing carbon dioxide as hydrates by taking advantage of ice existing in environmental conditions favourable for hydrate formation.

· This helps India to reduce cumulative emission of carbon dioxide to attain the goals enshrined in Intended Nationally Determined Contributions.

· Methane hydrate is a potential source of natural gas. If tapped properly, it will reduce the share of import of oil from other countries and allows India to gradually shift towards greener form of energy mix with substantial reduction in cumulative emission of Green house Gases.

· Sea water desalination by gas hydrate principle will address the problem of scarcity of drinking water in India especially in Rajasthan and Maharashtra.

· It is also used in the process of refrigeration which help reduce the use of gases like ammonia which significantly contributes to share of green house gases, thereby conforming with Montreal Protocol.

· Methane hydrate is used in gas storage application which saves the costs of fuel in automobiles.