Dr Gabrielle Wojtowitz
Ground Engineering Group, Buro Happold, Bath
Large deposits of methane hydrate are trapped as an ice-like substance in deep-ocean sediments and in permafrost in Arctic regions. Methane hydrates have recently been identified as a new energy resource, with various countries investing research money into how to extract it from below the seafloor.
Methane hydrate is quite an unstable substance making it difficult to directly sample. Researchers have therefore been using seismic surveys to identify deposits below the seafloor. Hydrates have also been identified as a geohazard for offshore operations related to hydrocarbon recovery. This talk will look at the properties of the substance as well as its intended application for the future in terms of tapping into this energy resource and quantifying the geohazard risk.
