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Natural Gas Supplies Could Be Augmented With Methane Hydrate



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Methane hydrate in core sample from Mt. Elbert. Photo courtesy USGS.

January 28, 2010 -- Naturally occurring methane hydrate may represent an enormous source of methane -- the main component of natural gas -- and could ultimately enhance conventional natural gas supplies, although some technical challenges remain before commercial production is feasible, says a new congressionally mandated report from the National Research Council. Moreover, the U.S. Department of Energy has made considerable progress toward understanding and developing methane hydrate as a possible future energy resource.