Natural methane hydrates are a kind of clathrates. These are solid compounds in which lattices of crystallized water molecules trap methane gas molecules. They are naturally stable in high pressure and low temparature conditions, so that seismic reflection survey profiles obtained by the Geological Survey of Japan, AIST. The total resource potential around Japan could amount to 6 trillion cubic meters as methane gases, more than 100 times the present domestic consumption of natural gases in Japan. AIST investigates such offshore methane hydrates for future development as natural gas resources.

AIST Today Vol. 1, No. 6 (2001) 19