Investigation into potential gas hydrate and gas zones off the South African coastline

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dc.contributor.advisorSmith, Georgeen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorSmith, Bronwyn Kateen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2015-06-30T07:55:26Z
dc.date.available2015-06-30T07:55:26Z
dc.date.issued2014en_ZA
dc.descriptionIncludes bibliographical references.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractGas and petroleum products are important to modern life and, as peak oil is reached, the search is on for alternative fuel sources. A natural gas hydrate, also known as a clathrate, is formed when a gas molecule (such as methane) is trapped in a lattice of ice. Once considered oilfield nuisances, they are now being considered as an alternative fuel source. I asked whether any indications of hydrates, and gas, were present off the South African coastline within Block 2. Two hundred and sixty (260) pre-processed seismic lines and eighteen (18) well reports were provided by the Petroleum Agency of South Africa (PASA) for review and study. Within these, evidence of gas was abundantly clear. The presence of gas, and thus a gas source, is a good indicator that - should the other formation conditions be present – hydrates could occur in this area within the Gas Hydrate Stability Zone (GHSZ). Unfortunately, no bottom simulating reflectors (BSRs) - the clearest indicator of gas hydrates - were found. These findings do not, however, confirm the absence of gas hydrates as where there is gas, there maybe hydrates. The field of hydrate research is still new in terms of technology and practical applications, and the means to extract and produce hydrates is still expensive. However, in the drive for more sources of power to supply a growing demand, the South African government has already drafted a plan to develop infrastructure for future gas market developments. When developed, this infrastructure could potentially make use of the gas found within Block 2 and its surrounds and, as the technology to detect and extract methane hydrates becomes more mature (and associated costs to extract and produce it drop), it may prove to be a valuable additional future resource as well.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationSmith, B. K. (2014). <i>Investigation into potential gas hydrate and gas zones off the South African coastline</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Geological Sciences. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13176en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationSmith, Bronwyn Kate. <i>"Investigation into potential gas hydrate and gas zones off the South African coastline."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Geological Sciences, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13176en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationSmith, B. 2014. Investigation into potential gas hydrate and gas zones off the South African coastline. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Smith, Bronwyn Kate AB - Gas and petroleum products are important to modern life and, as peak oil is reached, the search is on for alternative fuel sources. A natural gas hydrate, also known as a clathrate, is formed when a gas molecule (such as methane) is trapped in a lattice of ice. Once considered oilfield nuisances, they are now being considered as an alternative fuel source. I asked whether any indications of hydrates, and gas, were present off the South African coastline within Block 2. Two hundred and sixty (260) pre-processed seismic lines and eighteen (18) well reports were provided by the Petroleum Agency of South Africa (PASA) for review and study. Within these, evidence of gas was abundantly clear. The presence of gas, and thus a gas source, is a good indicator that - should the other formation conditions be present – hydrates could occur in this area within the Gas Hydrate Stability Zone (GHSZ). Unfortunately, no bottom simulating reflectors (BSRs) - the clearest indicator of gas hydrates - were found. These findings do not, however, confirm the absence of gas hydrates as where there is gas, there maybe hydrates. The field of hydrate research is still new in terms of technology and practical applications, and the means to extract and produce hydrates is still expensive. However, in the drive for more sources of power to supply a growing demand, the South African government has already drafted a plan to develop infrastructure for future gas market developments. When developed, this infrastructure could potentially make use of the gas found within Block 2 and its surrounds and, as the technology to detect and extract methane hydrates becomes more mature (and associated costs to extract and produce it drop), it may prove to be a valuable additional future resource as well. DA - 2014 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2014 T1 - Investigation into potential gas hydrate and gas zones off the South African coastline TI - Investigation into potential gas hydrate and gas zones off the South African coastline UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13176 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/13176
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationSmith BK. Investigation into potential gas hydrate and gas zones off the South African coastline. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Geological Sciences, 2014 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13176en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Geological Sciencesen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Scienceen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherGeologyen_ZA
dc.titleInvestigation into potential gas hydrate and gas zones off the South African coastlineen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMScen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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