Main features of gas hydrates

Natural gas hydrates are specific combinations of two very common substances: water and natural gas. If these substances come into contact at high pressure and low temperature, the solid mass is formed, similar to ice. Huge amounts of hydrate deposits are found in the seabed of the ocean floor and in the polar zones, where they are kept in the thermobaric conditions that permit formation of gas hydrates. Synonymous with the term "hydrate" are gas hydrates, methane hydrates, or clathrates (from the Greek "frame"). The basic structural element of hydrates is crystal lattice of water molecules, inside of which gas molecules are located. Hydrate structure is similar to the structure of ice, but differs from the latter by the fact that gas molecules are located inside the crystal cells rather than between them. Outside hydrates are looking like ice, although they can be seen not frequently. They do not behave like ice. If a match is brought to them, they flash. When conventional hydrocarbon reserves can not provide energy to the growing economy and population, then they will be substituted with the so-called unconventional hydrocarbon reserves in the form of gas hydrates.

---

Opracowanie rekordu w ramach umowy 509/P-DUN/2018 ze środków MNiSW przeznaczonych na działalność upowszechniającą naukę (2018).