Nonequilibrium Controls on the Formation and Dissociation of Gas Hydrates in Natural and Engineered Systems

The 2020 Natural Gas Hydrate Systems Gordon Research Conference will bring together academic, government, and industry researchers at all career stages to explore controls on the formation, evolution, and destruction of gas hydrate in a wide range of natural and engineered systems.

In the 1940s, gas hydrates became a significant engineering problem associated with hydrate plug formation in the first gas transmission lines. By the 1960s, conditions suitable for the occurrence of gas hydrates were believed to exist in terrestrial Arctic and deep marine environments. Today, gas hydrates still represent a significant engineering challenge, are considered to be an important potential source of energy, have been shown to be a geologic hazard, and may be an agent of climate change. Gas hydrates are also the building blocks of comets and icy planetary bodies.

Recently, there is a growing appreciation of the dynamic nonequilibrium processes controlling the occurrence of gas hydrates. This meeting will examine the thermodynamic/kinetic and physical/chemical/biological processes controlling the life cycle of gas hydrate systems under a wide range of conditions and analyze the existence and properties of multicomponent and multiphase gas hydrate systems. Key laboratory findings, along with molecular-to-basin scale modeling, and field observations will be examined to further our understanding of the processes controlling the occurrence of gas hydrates in both natural and engineered systems.

This GRC is designed to encourage intensive exchange and discussion of unpublished, state-of-the-art advances in gas hydrate sciences. Those not giving an oral presentation will have the opportunity to contribute to the equally important poster sessions scheduled throughout the meeting.