Gas Hydrates
( UPSC Prelims)
News Context
China is building the world's first permanent undersea research station to investigate gas hydrates, a potential energy source that surpasses the oil reserves of the Persian Gulf.
About Gas Hydrates
Crystalline solids made up of water and gas, with significant amounts of methane. They are considered unconventional hydrocarbons since their extraction demands advanced and non-traditional technologies. These solids are present in vast amounts within marine sediments, forming a layer several hundred meters thick just beneath the sea floor. They are also located within the permafrost layer in the Arctic. In India, substantial quantities are found around the Andaman Islands and in the Krishna-Godavari offshore.