Production of natural gas from hydrates

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for producing methane gas from a hydrate formation. A column of modified material substantially filling a wellbore extending into the hydrate formation. The column of modified material is permeable to gases. A heat source extends into the column of modified material and is operable to provide heat to the hydrate formation so as to release methane gas from the hydrate formation. Methane gas flow through the column of modified material to a gas collector, which regulates the flow of gas to a production

1 . A system for extracting methane gas from a hydrate formation, said system comprising: 
 a plurality of wellbores extending into the hydrate formation;    a column of modified material substantially filling wellbores and in direct contact with the hydrate formation;    a heat source operable to provide heat to said modified material, wherein the heat is transferred through said modified material to the hydrate formation so as to release methane gas from said formation; and    gas collector means operable to control the flow of methane gas out of said formation    
   
   
       2 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein said wellbores are arranged in a circular array.  
   
   
       3 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein said wellbores are arranged in a rectangular array.  
   
   
       4 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein export pipes from multiple gas collectors are combined into a commingled collection chamber connected to a pipeline.  
   
   
       5 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein said boreholes filled with modified material and in direct contact with the hydrate formation are used to heat the hydrate formation so as to release methane gas from said formation and recovering said gas from a conventional pressure relief well.  
   
   
       6 . A system for extracting methane gas from a hydrate formation, said system comprising: 
 a wellbore extending into the hydrate formation;    a column of modified material substantially filling said wellbore and in direct contact with the hydrate formation, wherein said column of modified material is in multiple zones.    a heat source operable to provide heat to said column of modified material, wherein the heat is transferred through said column of modified material to the hydrate formation so as to heat the formation and release methane gas into said column of modified material; and    a gas collector in fluid communication with said column of modified material, wherein said gas collector is operable to control the flow of methane gas out of said column of modified material.    
   
   
       7 . A system according to  claim 6  wherein the zones of modified material have differing properties;  
   
   
       8 . A system according to  claim 6  wherein the zones of modified material have differing thermal conductivity;  
   
   
       9 . A method for extracting hydrocarbon gases from a hydrate formation, the method comprising: 
 drilling a wellbore into the hydrate formation;    substantially filling the wellbore with a modified material that is permeable to gases,    supplying an oxidizer to a heat source in said modified material operable to provide combustion to fuel at said heat source and to heat said modified material so as to heat the hydrate formation and release hydrocarbon gases from the formation; and    collecting at least a portion of the hydrocarbon gases that flow into the wellbore.