Systems and Methods for Harvesting Natural Gas from Underwater Clathrate Hydrate Deposits
OwnerSusanne F. Vaughaninventor
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Abstract
A system for harvesting natural gas from a clathrate deposit includes a storage system and a processing system. The storage system is located at a surface of a body of water and is configurable to couple to a conduit for receiving a slurry including clathrate hydrate pieces and natural gas from an underwater apparatus. The processing system is coupled to the conduit and is configured to separate the natural gas from the slurry.
Claims20
A system for harvesting natural gas from a clathrate deposit, the system comprising:
- a storage system at a surface of a body of water, the storage system configurable to couple to a conduit for receiving a slurry comprising clathrate hydrate pieces and natural gas from an underwater apparatus;
- and
- a processing system coupled to the conduit and configured to separate the natural gas from the slurry.
A harvesting unit comprising:
- a plow unit including a propulsion system and configured to move along an underwater surface according to control signals from a remote controller;
- and
- a harrow coupled to the plow unit and configured to couple to a conduit, the harrow configured to mechanically break portions of a clathrate deposit into a slurry and to direct the slurry into the conduit.
A method of harvesting natural gas from clathrate hydrate deposits on an underwater surface, the method comprising:
- mechanically fracturing and dislodging selected portions of a clathrate hydrate deposit from the underwater surface using a mobile harvesting unit coupled to a conduit;
- directing the selected portions into the conduit as a slurry;
- and
- processing the slurry to separate natural gas from other components.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.