Arctic Science Journeys
Radio Script
1997

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Energy from Ice
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STORY: Almost everyone knows Alaska has a lot of oil. Now researchers say the state also has a plentiful supply of an unlikely energy source found in ice.

Scientists call it methane hydrate. It forms when methane gas becomes trapped inside molecules of frozen water. Methane hydrate is found in abundance within the Arctic's permanently frozen ground, and in cold, deep-ocean sediments around the world. Alaska's frozen tundra is thought to have huge amounts of the gas, and that's caught the attention of countries like Japan.

Yutaka Aoki is the general manager of the Japan Petroleum Exploration Company's geosciences division.

AOKI: "We are studying the possibility to develop methane from gas hydrates offshore Japan. We don't know if it is possible in the very near future. It's a very hard target. The reason we are studying methane hydrates, the one reason is that we don't have, "we" meaning Japan, we don't have natural resources. Almost 100 percent of our oil is imported from other countries."

While Japan lacks conventional oil and natural gas deposits, an estimated 212 trillion cubic feet of gas hydrate lies beneath the sea floor off its coast. It's enough gas to fuel all of Japan's energy needs for the next 200 years. But before attempting deep-ocean drilling to develop the frozen gas, Japan--together with the University of Alaska Fairbanks--will drill two exploratory wells on Alaska's northern tundra. Japan Petroleum's Yutaka Aoki:

AOKI: "Before developing the actual production technology, we need to know the exact nature of methane hydrate. That is the main purpose of the current phase of the project."

In 1999, Japan's government-owned National Oil Company will begin exploring the Philippine Sea off Japan's southern coast. Keith Kvenvolden, of the U.S. Geological Survey, says bringing methane hydrate to market is still decades away.

KVENVOLDEN: "What hasn't been shown is that this gas is actually in a state that can be produced economically; that is to say it's a gas tied up in water and the whole production scheme is something that has not been clearly defined."

But once the details are worked out, Japan's desire to become energy independent may be realized. Alaska also stands to benefit. Already rich in oil and natural gas, the state may find itself with yet another energy bonanza. Vidyadhar Kamath is a petroleum engineer at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

KAMATH: "The preliminary estimates that have been reported by the Department of Energy are in the range of 400 to 700 trillion cubic feet of gas in the form of gas hydrates. That is in the onshore as well as offshore region."

At current consumption rates, Kamath says that's enough gas to supply America's needs for the next 400 years. So, who said there was an energy crisis?

Reporting from Fairbanks, Alaska, this is Debra Damron for Arctic Science Journeys.