Natural gas, composed mostly of methane, is the cleanest of all the fossil fuels, emitting 25-50% less carbon dioxide than either oil or coal for each unit of energy produced. In recent years, natural gas supplied approximately 20-25% of all energy consumed in the United States. Methane hydrate is a potentially enormous and as yet untapped source of methane. The Department of Energy's Methane Hydrate Research and Development Program has been tasked since 2000 to implement and coordinate a national methane hydrate research effort to stimulate the development of knowledge and technology necessary for commercial production of methane from methane hydrate in a safe and environmentally responsible way.



Realizing the Energy Potential of Methane Hydrate for the United States evaluates the program's research projects and management processes since its congressional re-authorization in 2005, and presents recommendations for its future research and development initiatives.

Table of Contents


Front Matter
Summary
1 Methane Hydrate Research in the United States
2 State of the Science: Recent Advances and Current Challenges in Methane Hydrate Research
3 Review of Central Research Efforts Within the Methane Hydrate Research and Development Program
4 Coordinating Process for the Methane Hydrate Research and Development Program
5 Conclusions and Recommendations
Appendixes
Appendix A: Legislative Authorization Language H.R. 6 – Energy Policy Act of 2005 Section 968. Methane Hydrate Research
Appendix B: Committee and Staff Biographical Sketches
Appendix C: Presentations to the Committee
Appendix D: Comparison of Units of Measurement of Amounts of Methane by Volume and Weight
Appendix E: Program Authorizations and Appropriations FY 2000-2010
Appendix F: Project Summary Table