Integration of Theoretical, Laboratory, and Field Studies for Efficient Gas Hydrate Assessment and Acquisition

Dear Colleagues,

The 12^th International Methane Hydrate Research and Development (IMHRD) conference was held in Southwest Petroleum University from 1–3 November 2018. Over 500 delegates from the United States, Canada, Russia, the United Kingdom, Australia, Norway, South Korea, Japan, and other countries attended the conference. The participating representatives included 22 Chinese Academics, 69 foreign experts, and 19 Presidents of overseas universities. It was the first time that so many top experts in methane hydrate research gathered in China. They discussed the development and commercial use of methane hydrate in depth, achieving substantial results. We invite you to contribute to this Special Edition of Energies, where we focus on laboratory experiments, field assessment, and modeling of coastal gas hydrate loading and stability. 

Previous workshops were held in India, China, USA, Chile, Canada, Scotland, Norway, New Zealand, and Japan. The basic aim of this workshop, steered by an International Committee, is to provide a platform for deliberation, interaction, and sharing information on leading-edge topics such as natural systems, energy, environmental issues, advancements in production, etc. by an outstanding and diverse group of researchers/scientists from both academia and industries around the world, and to foster an opportunity for international collaboration.

The purpose of this Special Edition is to organize thorough data and information sharing that joins discussions at the workshop with the international gas hydrate research and development community. While this document focuses on the 12^th IMHRD, it will include results from the 11^th IMHRD that was held during December 2017 in Corpus Christi, Texas. Focus topics of the recent workshop included:

1. Laboratory Experimentation: 1) Limitations on experimentation relative to the environment. 2) Mineral/hydrate/Fluid interactions focus on porous non-steady-state conditions.
2. Gas Hydrate Related Modelling: Load Predictions, Coastal - Platform Stability, Environmental Safety.
3. Gas Hydrate Deep Drilling: Technology, Recent Data.
4. Carbon Storage Combined with Gas Hydrate Production: Concepts; Geomechanical Stability, Environmental Safety vs. Impact.
5. Initial Site Assessment: Seismic and Geochemical Evaluation, Recent Data (Positive and Negative), Additional Approaches
6. Biogeochemical Assessments of Gas Hydrate Loading and Monitoring Environmental Health

We are open to the inclusion of related topics. 

11th IMHRD WORKSHOP FINAL REPORT

Dr. Richard Coffin
Dr. Bjørn Kvamme
Dr. Tsutomu Uchida
Dr. Shouwei Zhou
Dr. Norio Tenma
Guest Editors

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