The gas hydrate potential of the Eastern Mediterranean basin

Abstract

Gas hydrate exploration studies have increased substantially since last decade. Gas hydrate reservoirs are commonly found in the marine environment and permafrost. Studies related to natural gas hydrates in the Mediterranean Basin are rare compared to those released on the continental margins of the United States of America, Japan, India, China and Korea. This study provides an evaluation of the gas hydrate potential of the Mediterranean Basin using available literature data such as scientific drilling data (Ocean Drilling Program Leg 160 and Leg 161), sediment data, geothermal data, geochemical data, gas seepage data, mud volcano data etc., It is shown that there is a high producible gas hydrate potential (~ 98.16 standard trillion cubic meter) in the Mediterranean Basin. The Eastern Mediterranean basins have the highest gas hydrate potential due to its high amount of source gas potential and lower geothermal gradient compared to those in the Western Mediterranean.

Keywords

• gas hydrate
• methane hydrate
• methane
• mediterranean sea