Method and apparatus for extracting gas hydrate deposits

Abstract

An apparatus and method for disassociating natural gas from a deposit of natural gas hydrates and producing natural gas. A reactor module is located downhole in a heating and injection well. Water is provided to the reactor module where it is heated and a solvent is injected into the water prior to heating. The heated water and solvent passes to the deposit of natural gas hydrates where the natural gas is disassociated under the influence of the heat from the reactor module.

1 . A method of extracting natural gas from a deposit of natural gas hydrates, said method comprising supplying water to said deposit of said natural gas hydrates, heating said water supplied to said deposit of natural gas hydrates and flooding said deposit of said natural gas hydrates to disassociate said natural gas hydrates in order to recover said natural gas and the water from said disassociation of said natural gas hydrates, said natural gas and said water migrating from said deposit of natural gas hydrates to an area of lower pressure being production casing.  
   
   
       2 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein a solvent is added to said water supplied to said deposit of said natural gas hydrates.  
   
   
       3 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein said heated water is injected into said deposit of said natural gas hydrates from a vertical, a deviated or a horizontal casing.  
   
   
       4 . A method as in  claim 2  wherein said solvent is methanol or ethylene glycol.  
   
   
       5 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein said water is heated by a reactor module located within a heating well having casing, said water supplied to said deposit of gas hydrates being heated by said reactor module.  
   
   
       6 . A method as in  claim 5  wherein said reactor module further heats said casing of said heating well.  
   
   
       7 . Apparatus for heating a deposit of gas hydrates to disassociate said gas hydrates and obtain natural gas comprising a reactor module located within casing of a heating well, a water injector to supply water to said reactor module and a heater within said reactor module to heat said water supplied to said reactor module and to inject said heated water into said deposit of gas hydrates.  
   
   
       8 . Apparatus as in  claim 7  and further comprising an injector for a solvent to be added to said water supplied to said reactor module.  
   
   
       9 . Apparatus as in  claim 8  wherein said reactor module provides heat by either induction or by resistive heating.  
   
   
       10 . Method of heating a deposit of natural gas hydrates comprising positioning an induction tool in downhole well casing and generating an induction flux in said tool to excite and heat said well casing and said deposit of natural gas hydrates.  
   
   
       11 . Method as in  claim 10  wherein at least two induction tools are positioned in locations within said deposit of natural gas hydrates.  
   
   
       12 . Apparatus as in  claim 7  and further comprising a bladder to seal said reactor module within said well casing.