Investigation on the Kinetics of Gas Hydrates
A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "H: Geo-Energy".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 March 2026 | Viewed by 3
Special Issue Editor
Interests: natural gas hydrate formation and decomposition kinetics; natural gas hydrate production and utilization; carbon capture and sequestration; natural gas hydrate-based application technologies
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Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Natural gas hydrates (NGHs), crystalline compounds formed by natural gas molecules (primarily methane) trapped within water cages under specific low-temperature and high-pressure conditions, represent a groundbreaking frontier in energy and environmental research. With estimated global reserves exceeding twice the combined carbon content of all conventional fossil fuels, NGHs possess transformative potential as a future energy source. However, their dual nature as both a promising energy reservoir and a potential geohazard demands urgent scientific attention. The complex kinetics of hydrate formation and dissociation involve multiphase flow, thermal stimulation, and geomechanical stability, making their exploitation technologically challenging. Furthermore, as climate change alters oceanic and permafrost conditions, understanding the role of NGHs in the global carbon cycle—including their potential as a carbon storage medium and their susceptibility to destabilization—is critical. Advancements in this field are essential not only for unlocking a sustainable energy supply but also for mitigating environmental risks and informing climate adaptation strategies. Interdisciplinary collaboration across thermodynamics, geology, chemistry, and engineering will drive innovations toward safe and efficient utilization of gas hydrates, aligning with global goals for energy transition and climate resilience.
In this Special Issue, we welcome submissions of original research papers, review articles, and high-quality technical perspectives and commentaries. We look forward to your contributions, which will provide valuable insights to advance hydrate science from fundamental theories to engineering practices, and from resource utilization to environmental synergy.
Relevant themes include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Formation Mechanisms and Characteristics of Gas Hydrates
Thermodynamic and kinetic processes of hydrate formation, reservoir sediment properties, enrichment patterns, and distribution prediction, as well as innovations in resource assessment methodologies.
2. Safe Production and Utilization of Natural Gas Hydrates
Mechanism optimization of production methods such as depressurization, thermal stimulation, and chemical inhibitor injection; novel development technologies (e.g., CO₂ replacement); numerical simulation and analysis of field data from trial production projects.
3. Flow Assurance and Safety Risks in Hydrate Development
Mechanisms and prevention technologies for hydrate reformation in wellbores and transportation pipelines during production; sand production and deformation behavior of reservoirs; geomechanical stability; and environmental and ecological risk assessment.
4. Hydrates and Global Change
Potential impacts of hydrate dissociation and methane release on marine environments and global climate, as well as implications for paleoclimate studies.
5. Novel Applications of Hydrate Technology
Exploration of emerging interdisciplinary technologies such as hydrate-based gas storage and transport, seawater desalination, and carbon sequestration.
Dr. Xiaoya Zang
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- natural gas hydrate
- formation kinetics
- energy
- carbon capture
- sequestration
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