Systems and methods for extracting and processing gases from submerged sources

A system for removing and processing a gas, comprising:

• a membrane disposed over a submerged area, the membrane having an outer periphery and an inner region positioned inwardly from the outer periphery, the outer periphery being positioned to define, at least in part, an enclosed volume, the inner region of the membrane having an elevation that is higher than an elevation of the outer periphery, the inner region including an outlet port positioned to permit the outflow of a trapped gas within the enclosed volume;
• an extraction conduit coupled to the outlet port;
• a support structure positioned over the submerged area;
• a turbine carried by the support structure and coupled to the extraction conduit to receive the outflow of trapped gas;
• and
• a chemical reactor carried by the support structure and coupled to the turbine to receive the gas exiting the turbine, the chemical reactor having a reaction zone positioned to conduct a non-combustion reaction to dissociate a donor substance of the trapped gas.

A method of removing and processing a gas from a submerged area, comprising:

• deploying an open-bottom structure over at least a portion of the submerged area to at least partially enclose a gas volume;
• collecting the gas under the open-bottom structure;
• delivering the gas from the submerged area;
• identifying a property of the gas;
• routing a first portion of the gas to a first reactor when the gas has a first composition corresponding to the property;
• dissociating a first hydrogen-bearing constituent from the first portion in a first non-combustion reaction;
• routing a second portion of the gas to a second reactor when the gas has a second composition different than the first composition and corresponding to the property;
• and
• dissociating a second hydrogen-bearing constituent from the second portion in a second non-combustion reaction different than the first non-combustion reaction.

A system for removing and processing a gas from a submerged area, comprising:

• a membrane disposed over at least a portion of the submerged area and at least partially enclosing a gas volume, the membrane having an extraction port;
• an extraction conduit having first and second portions, the first portion being in fluid communication with the gas volume via the extraction port;
• a chemical reactor coupled to the second portion of the extraction conduit to receive gas from the gas volume, the chemical reactor having a reaction zone positioned to conduct a non-combustion reaction to dissociate a donor substance of the gas;
• a heat distributor operatively coupled to the extraction conduit for delivering warm water to the submerged area;
• a moveable pickup bell operatively coupled to the extraction conduit for capturing the gas hydrates from an inner capture zone;
• and
• an outer flexible skirt operatively coupled to the extraction conduit for capturing the gas hydrates from an outer capture zone.

A method of removing and processing a gas from a submerged area, comprising:

• deploying an open-bottom structure over at least a portion of the submerged area to at least partially enclose a gas volume;
• collecting the gas under the open-bottom structure;
• delivering the gas from the submerged area;
• dissociating a constituent from a donor substance of the gas in a non-combustive reaction;
• wherein the donor substance includes methane, wherein dissociating a constituent includes dissociating hydrogen from the methane, and wherein the method further comprises:
• providing the hydrogen for use as a fuel;
• and
• forming a solid-phase carbon-based material from carbon remaining after dissociating the hydrogen.