Carbon dioxide storage as clathrate hydrate

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Annual world wide emissions of carbon dioxide gas are 23 billion metric tons and Canada is one of the top ten contributors to this staggering number. The capture and storage of carbon dioxide, known as carbon sequestration, can assist in reducing our atmospheric emissions and thus mitigating global climate change. While our carbon emissions are rising, so to is our demand for energy. Gas hydrates contain ample natural gas to be considered a significant and viable energy source for the future. The proposition of storing carbon dioxide as clathrate hydrate (solid crystalline compounds that encages gasmolecules inside the lattice of hydrogen bonded water molecules in a very compact form) with simultaneous conversion of in situ methane hydrates into natural gas is extremely appealing. This methodology offers a double advantage of reducing carbon emissions to the atmosphere while assisting in gas hydrate exploitation. The conversion of methane hydrate to carbon dioxide hydrate is limited by the contact between the two gases, and thus highly dependent on the formation interfaces and ability of gases to move through the reservoirs. Our innovative research program aims to characterize and assess carbon dioxide hydrate formation in the presence of methane gas, with an emphasis on the permeability of these systems. This investigation into the relatively unexplored area of hydrate-sediment mixtures, combines an experimental and theoretical approach, from the sample scale to the reservoir scale, to garner an integrated understanding of the effects of permeability and carbon dioxide hydrate formation on the production of natural gas from hydrate reservoirs during simultaneouscarbon dioxide sequestration. Our results will contribute towards developing real strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while still meeting our energy needs; thus benefiting not only the energy sector but also the population in general.