Japanese Breakthrough Could Revolutionize Natural Gas Extraction

Japan is looking to unleash a new source of natural gas in the same way that fracking and horizontal drilling has revolutionized natural gas drilling in the U.S. It's called methane hydrate or 'flammable ice', and is the most prevalent energy source.

3 minute read

March 15, 2013, 10:00 AM PDT

By Irvin Dawid


Hiroko Tabuchi reports on the 'breakthrough' made by Japanese scientists on March 12 when they "extracted gas from offshore deposits of methane hydrate - thought to be a first". The potential for Japan is huge, especially as it seeks to replace the closed nuclear power plants as a result of the Fukushima earthquake two years ago. The nation is the world's largest importer of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Brad Plumer of The Washington Post Wonkblog also writes on the breakthrough and provides several excellent graphics for the reader. 

What are methane hydrates? Methane hydrates are essentially cage-like lattices of water molecules that contain methane, the chief ingredient in natural gas. They can be found either beneath the seafloor or underneath Arctic permafrost.

He also notes that the "United States is currently funding 14 different research projects into the energy source". In fact, an earlier breakthrough was announced on May 2, 2012 by U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu of "the completion of a successful, unprecedented test of technology in the North Slope of Alaska that was able to safely extract a steady flow of natural gas from methane hydrates."

Tabuchi writes how prevalent this source of natural gas is - the trick is how to safely and economically extract if from the sea - or onshore.

Experts estimate that the carbon found in gas hydrates worldwide totals at least twice the amount of carbon in all of the earth’s other fossil fuels, making it a potential game-changer for energy-poor countries like Japan. Researchers had already successfully extracted gas from onshore methane hydrate reservoirs, but not from beneath the seabed, where much of the world’s deposits are thought to lie.

In fact, there is speculation that methane hydrate may be partially responsible for the April 20, 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion, writes David Sassoon for the Guardian Environment Network.

The vast deepwater methane hydrate deposits of the Gulf of Mexico are an open secret in big energy circles. They represent the most tantalizing new frontier of unconventional energy — a potential source of hydrocarbon fuel thought to be twice as large as all the petroleum deposits ever known.

Survivors of the BP rig explosion told interviewers that right before the April 20 blast,.... a quickly expanding bubble of methane gas shot up the drill column before exploding on the platform on the ocean's surface.

But what of the effect on climate change if natural gas can be safely extracted from methane hydrate? Tabuchi writes:

It is unclear how much the tapping of methane hydrate would affect Japan’s emissions or global warming. On one hand, natural gas would provide a cleaner alternative to coal, which still provides Japan with a fifth of its primary energy needs. But new energy sources could also prompt Japan to slow its development of renewable energies or green technologies, hurting its emissions in the long run. Any accidental release of large amounts of methane during the extraction process would also be harmful.

According to the BBC World News, which also reported on the breakthrough, "Offshore (methane hydrate) deposits present a potentially enormous source of methane but also some environmental concern, because the underwater geology containing them is unstable in many places."

Tuesday, March 12, 2013 in The New York Times

Sweeping view of Portland, Oregon with Mt. Hood in background against sunset sky.

Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary

Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.

March 12, 2024 - Housing Wire

Aerial view of green roofs with plants in Sydney, Australia.

Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024

A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.

March 10, 2024 - Daily Journal of Commerce

Cobblestone street with streetcar line, row of vintage streetlights on left, and colorful restaurant and shop awnings on right on River Street in Savannah, Georgia.

Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts

From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.

March 12, 2024 - Strong Towns

Aerial View of Chuckanut Drive and the Blanchard Bridge in the Skagit Valley.

Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding

The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.

March 18 - The Seattle Times

Historic buildings in downtown Los Angeles with large "Pan American Lofts" sign on side of building.

Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly

The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.

March 18 - Beverly Press

View from above of swan-shaped paddleboats with lights on around artesian fountain in Echo Park Lake with downtown Los Angeles skylien in background at twilight.

LA's Top Parks, Ranked

TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.

March 18 - TimeOut

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.