Geological Systems of Gas Hydrate

Geological Systems of Gas Hydrate is a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in this important and topical research area. Focusing on Gas Hydrate as it occurs and behaves in nature the book clearly describes the geological systems that produce the various manifestations of gas hydrates in the natural environment. The book includes the latest developments in the field with respect to the understanding of how gas hydrate resides in porous media and the impact it has on the physical properties of sediments. It describes the newly developing technologies for gas hydrate study (including sampling, detection, characterization, prediction of behaviour) and provides a compilation of results from the recent cluster of exploratory international marine and arctic expeditions. The book opens with a brief overview of the subject including a useful account of key events and discoveries that have helped shape our knowledge of the subject today. Emphasis will be placed on the fact that gas hydrate science in the field is only just entering its second decade and there is still much to be learned. This important introduction is followed by key chapters on controls on gas hydrate formation, the nature of GH bearing sediments and how to assess gas hydrate occurrences chapters and a summary. Each chapter contains material prepared by leading experts in gas hydrate science.