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Natural Gas Hydrates: Potentially Greater Transport Efficiency

Natural Gas Hydrate ("NGH") chain technologies are composed of three processes: production, ocean transportation and re-gasification. JOGMEC has been promoting research and development in this area since 2001 in collaboration with Japanese engineering companies such as Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. ("MES"), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. ("MHI") and JFE Engineering Corporation ("JFE"). These technologies are expected to be a viable alternative system for natural gas transportation instead of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) or a pipeline in small and medium-sized gas fields.

NGH Transport: Higher Storage Temperatures Can Lower Costs

In general, the LNG chain is economically feasible for natural gas reserves with a sizable volume over several trillion cubic feet ("TCF") and long-distance transportation projects. On the other hand, pipelines, another practical natural gas transportation system, are suitable for transportation for relatively short distances because the capital cost is proportionate to the transportation distance. Feasibility studies to date have reported that the NGH chain has economic advantages, particularly under conditions with a suitable size of gas reserve and transportation distance.

JOGMEC and Japanese engineering companies have recently focused on the concept and promoted the development of the NGH chain. In particular, we have focused on research and development of the production process, which has a great impact on improving the total capital cost. We have approached the research and development through the technology development of bench-scale, with the following main outcomes:

  • MES has developed the bubbling/stirring-type formation reactor,
  • MHI has developed the water-spraying-type formation reactor, and
  • JFE has developed a new hydrate formation system, which uses micro-bubbles with a tubular reactor. The micro-bubbles type reached a higher formation rate than the other systems.
  NGH
(Natural Gas Hydrate)		 NGH
(Liquefied Natural Gas)
Transport and storage format Solid body, powder, siurry Liquid
Storage temperature approx, -5°C to -20°C -162°C
Ingredient In 1m³ Natural gas: 165Nm³
Water: 0.8m³		 Natural gas: 600Nm³
  • Note:Nm³ denotes cubic volume at standard conditions of 0°C and 1atm.

In the near future, we must promote both a feasibility study and technology development to find out to what extent NGH technology has the potential to compete effectively with LNG technology. To do so, it is important to approach an optimization of comprehensive NGH chain technologies through a demonstration.


Natural gas hydration and transportation technology