This is the first book published on the emerging research field of naturally occurring gas hydrates (focusing on methane hydrate) that is not primarily a physical chemistry textbook. This book is designed as a broad introduction to the field of hydrate science, demonstrating the significance of the hydrate cycle to energy resource potential, seafloor stability, and global climate and climate change, along with other issues. The best known hydrate localities are described, as are research and laboratory methods and results. The book consists of chapters grouped in related themes that present up-to-date information on methane hydrate. Each of the contributing authors is expert in hydrate science and most have been carrying out research in hydrate for a considerable time.
Audience: This book will be an important source of information for marine geologists, geophysicists, geochemists, and petroleum geologists and regulators. It is also intended as a graduate-level textbook.

Zusammenfassung
Deals with the research field of naturally occurring gas hydrates (focusing on methane hydrate). This book is designed as a broad introduction to the field of hydrate science, demonstrating the significance of the hydrate cycle to energy resource potential, seafloor stability, and global climate and climate change, along with other issues.

Inhalt

Preface; M.D. Max. Part 1: Hydrate as a Material and its Discovery. 1. Introduction, Physical Properties, and Natural Occurrences of Hydrate; R.E. Pellenbarg, M.D. Max. 2. Natural Gas Hydrate: Introduction and History of Discovery; K.A. Kvenvolden. Part 2: Physical Character of Natural Gas Hydrate. 3. Practical Physical Chemistry and Empirical Predictions of Methane Hydrate Stability; E.T. Peltzer, P.G. Brewer. 4. Thermal State of the Gas Hydrate Reservoir; C. Ruppel. Part 3: Oceanic and Permafrost-Related Natural Gas Hydrate. 5. Permafrost-Associated Gas Hydrate; T.S. Collett, S.R. Dallimore. 6. Oceanic Gas Hydrate; W.P. Dillon, M.D. Max. Part 4: Source of Methane and its Migration. 7. The Role of Methane Hydrate in Ocean Carbon Chemistry and Biogeochemical Cycling; R.B. Coffin, et al. 8. Deep Biosphere: Source of Methane for Oceanic Hydrate; P. Wellsbury, R.J. Parkes. 9. Movement and Accumulation of Methane in Marine Sediments: Relation to Gas Hydrate Systems; M.B. Clennell, et al. Part 5: Major Hydrate-related Issues. 10. Natural Gas Hydrate as a Potential Energy Resource; T.S. Collett. 11. Climate Impact of Natural Gas Hydrate; B.U. Haq. 12. Potential Role of Gas Hydrate Decomposition in Generating Submarine Slope Failures; C.K. Paull, et al. Part 6: Some Examples of Natural Gas Hydrate Localities. 13. U.S. Atlantic Continental Margin; the Best Known Gas Hydrate Locality; W.P. Dillon, M.D. Max. 14. Gas Hydrate in the Arctic and Northern North Atlantic Oceans; M.D. Max, et al. 15. Cascadia Margin, Northeast Pacific Ocean: Hydrate Distribution from Geophysical Investigations; G.D. Spence, et al. 16. The Occurrence of BSRs on the Antarctic Margin; E. Loddo, A. Camerlenghi. 17. Gas Hydrate Potential of the Indian Sector of the NE Arabian Sea and Northern Indian Ocean; M.D. Max. 18. Hydrate as a Future Energy Resource for Japan; M.D. Max. 19. A Note on Gas Hydrate in the Northern Sector of the South China Sea; S. McDonnel, M. Czarnecki. Part 7: How we see Hydrate. 20. Introduction to Physical Properties and Elasticity Models; J. Dvorkin, et al. 21. Geophysical Sensing and Hydrate; P.R. Miles. 22. Seismic Methods for Detecting and Quantifying Marine Methane Hydrate/Free Gas Reservoirs; I.A. Pecher, W.S. Holbrook. 23. Ground Truth: In-Situ Properties of Hydrate; D.S. Goldberg, et al. Part 8: Laboratory Studies of Gas Hydrates. 24. GHASTLI &endash; Determining Physical Properties of Sediment Containing Natural and Laboratory-Formed Gas Hydrate; W.J. Winters, et al. 25. Laboratory synthesis of pure methane hydrate suitable for measurement of physical properties and decomposition behavior; L.A. Stern, et al. Part 9: The Promise of Hydrate. 26. Economic Perspective of Methane from Hydrate; K.J. Bil. 27. Hydrate Resource, Methane, Fuel, and a Gas-Based Economy? M.D. Max. Glossary of Terms. Selected References. List of Contributing Authors.