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A GLOBAL OUTLOOK ON METHANE GAS HYDRATES
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of the deposit, identify production technology, and quan-
tify the reservoir productivity expected during the life of the
producing field. Environmental assessments would also be
required in order to consider surface and subsurface issues
over both short and long terms. Potential subsurface issues
to be considered might include possible leakage and migra-
tion of produced gas, strategies for subsurface disposal of
wastewater, and disruption of subsurface resources, such
as groundwater aquifers or conventional oil and gas depos-
its. Possible surface issues might include ground surface
subsidence, a potentially significant challenge in oceanic
accumulations (Moridis and Reagan 2007a, b; Rutqvist and
Moridis 2012), as well as ecosystem impact and the cumula-
tive effects of development.
In an offshore setting, jurisdictional issues could arise, leading
to a need for special policy considerations. Although no poten-
tially accessible gas hydrate occurrences have been found to
date in areas beyond national jurisdiction, our ever-expanding
knowledge of the oceans could lead to such discoveries. In
these situations, global instruments like the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea could serve as mechanisms
to address trans-boundary issues that might range from regu-
lation and environmental management to the overall protec-
tion and equitable use of the global commons.
Other policy issues could go well beyond regulation. In a
market economy, the primary drivers influencing gas hydrate
research and development would vary from nation to nation
and from company to company according to conventional
economic factors, including national endowments of con-
ventional hydrocarbon resources (supply), internal demand,
and market forces (profitability). In those nations with abun-
dant or secure energy resources, development of gas hydrate
resources might occur more slowly or not at all, depending
on the relative economics of gas hydrates versus convention-
al resource development and other factors. In nations with
fewer and less secure conventional energy options but with
significant gas hydrate prospects, a full and aggressive evalu-
ation of gas hydrate resource potential might be more likely.
4.3.2
NATIONAL POLICY AND INTERNATIONAL
ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE
Decisions associated with potential gas hydrate development
would be influenced by more than economics and technol-
ogy. Political forces and indirect economic considerations are
likely to play an important role. For example, international
aid, diplomatic concerns, or other socio-political factors
could ultimately sway the decision as to whether a country
should choose to proceed with development.
The choice to exploit or not to exploit might not, in fact, be a
matter of national determination at all. The causes and im-
pacts of climate change are global and require broad-based
international action. The United Nations Framework Con-
vention on Climate Change (UNFCC), now ratified by 195
countries, is the tool through which the nations of the world
are attempting to prevent dangerous human interference
with the climate system. Any development of new sources
of carbon-based energy supplies might well fall under future
international agreements reached through the UNFCC.