Gas hydrate conversion system for harvesting hydrocarbon hydrate deposits

• US 9,394,169 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2014
• Issued: 07/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Advanced Green Innovations, LLC
• Original Assignee: McAlister Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: McAlister, Roy Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Merkling, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US14/149,740
• Publication Number:
  US 20140120025A1
• Time in Patent Office: 924 Days
• Field of Search: 48/61, 423/644, 299/8, 299/9, 373/07, 166/352
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0266 containing a decomposition step
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/84 Energy production
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/24 of hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/05 Preparation or purification of carbon not covered by groups C01B32/15, C01B32/20, C01B32/25, C01B32/30
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 16/26 Deposition of carbon only
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 16/4581 characterised by material of construction or surface finish of the means for supporting the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 16/4583 the substrate being supported substantially horizontally
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 16/46 characterised by the method used for heating the substrate C23C16/48, C23C16/50 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C30B 25/08 Reaction chambers; Selection of materials therefor
• CPC Class Codes: C30B 25/10 Heating of the reaction chamber or the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: C30B 29/02 Elements
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0099 specially adapted for drilling for or production of natural hydrate or clathrate gas reservoirs; Drilling through or monitoring of formations containing gas hydrates or clathrates
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0606 with means for production of gaseous reactants
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/129 Energy recovery, e.g. by cogeneration, H2recovery or pressure recovery turbines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/133 Renewable energy sources, e.g. sunlight
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6416 With heating or cooling of the system

Abstract

In one embodiment, a gas hydrate conversion system is provided comprising a floating factory, an appendage for harvesting a gas hydrate from an oceanic hydrate deposit, and one or more storage tanks. The floating factory comprises one or more heat exchange assemblies, one or more heat pump assemblies and an engine. In another embodiment, a method for harvesting hydrocarbon hydrate deposits is provided, the method comprising providing a gas hydrate conversion system; inducing release of methane from an oceanic hydrate deposit; capturing the methane from a primary methane capture zone and/or a secondary methane capture zone; and converting the methane to hydrogen and carbon.

Claims

1. A method for harvesting hydrocarbon hydrate deposits, the method comprising:

providing a gas hydrate conversion system;

inducing release of methane from an oceanic hydrate deposit;

capturing the methane from a primary methane capture zone and/or a secondary methane capture zone;

converting the methane to hydrogen and carbon; and

delivering solar energy to the oceanic hydrate deposit using a solar energy apparatus including a light conduit, the light conduit having reflective walls to provide high-intensity delivery of the solar energy to the oceanic hydrate deposit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the gas hydrate conversion system includes a furnace adapted to disassociate one mole of methane into two moles of hydrogen and one mole of carbon.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein inducing release of the gas hydrate is accomplished using heated water or solar energy.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein converting the methane to hydrogen and carbon is accomplished by exposing the methane to heat generated by one or more heat exchange assemblies, one or more heat pump assemblies, or by exothermic reactions between extracted hydrogen, methane, steam and oxygen.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising utilizing the hydrogen and carbon for producing durable goods.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising sequestering carbon and storing hydrogen for later use.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the sequestered carbon is used to produce durable goods.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the stored hydrogen is used to produce energy.