METHOD AND EQUIPMENT FOR DISSOCIATION OF METHANE HYDRATE

摘要

In order to collect methane from methane hydrate (MH) present in a methane hydrate bed with low electric-power consumption safely and efficiently, provided is a method which comprises: reducing the ambient pressure of a methane hydrate sediment bed to a prescribed level; injecting an electrolyte solution into the resulting methane hydrate sediment bed; passing an electric current between multiple electrodes inserted into the methane hydrate sediment bed to raise the temperature of the methane hydrate sediment and thus dissociate the methane hydrate into methane and water; and continuing the passing of an electric current therebetween, while preferentially discharging the methane thus separated and thereby keeping the rate of penetration of water into the methane hydrate sediment bed.