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The economics of exploiting gas hydrates

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  • Döpke, Lena-Katharina
  • Requate, Till

Abstract

We investigate the optimal exploitation of methane hydrates, a recent discovery of methane resources under the sea floor, mainly located along the continental margins. Combustion of methane (releasing CO2) and leakage through blow-outs (releasing CH4) contribute to the accumulation of greenhouse gases. A second externality arises since removing solid gas hydrates from the sea bottom destabilizes continental margins and thus increases the risk of marine earthquakes. We show that in such a model three regimes can occur: i) resource exploitation will be stopped in finite time, and some of the resource will stay in situ, ii) the resource will be used up completely in finite time, and iii) the resource will be exhausted in infinite time. We also show how to internalize the externalities by policy instruments.

Suggested Citation

  • Döpke, Lena-Katharina & Requate, Till, 2014. "The economics of exploiting gas hydrates," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 355-364.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eneeco:v:42:y:2014:i:c:p:355-364
    DOI: 10.1016/j.eneco.2013.11.001
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    Cited by:

    1. He, Juan & Li, Xiaosen & Chen, Zhaoyang & You, Changyu & Peng, Hao & Zhang, Zhiwen, 2022. "Sustainable hydrate production using intermittent depressurization in hydrate-bearing reservoirs connected with water layers," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(PA).
    2. Chong, Zheng Rong & Yang, She Hern Bryan & Babu, Ponnivalavan & Linga, Praveen & Li, Xiao-Sen, 2016. "Review of natural gas hydrates as an energy resource: Prospects and challenges," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 1633-1652.
    3. Chen, Xuejun & Lu, Hailong & Gu, Lijuan & Shang, Shilong & Zhang, Yi & Huang, Xin & Zhang, Le, 2022. "Preliminary evaluation of the economic potential of the technologies for gas hydrate exploitation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    4. Li, Xiao-Sen & Xu, Chun-Gang & Zhang, Yu & Ruan, Xu-Ke & Li, Gang & Wang, Yi, 2016. "Investigation into gas production from natural gas hydrate: A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 286-322.
    5. He, Juan & Li, Xiaosen & Chen, Zhaoyang & Li, Qingping & Zhang, Yu & Wang, Yi & Xia, Zhiming & You, Changyu, 2021. "Combined styles of depressurization and electrical heating for methane hydrate production," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(PA).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Exhaustible resources; Double externalities; Greenhouse gases; Methane hydrates;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q32 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Nonrenewable Resources and Conservation - - - Exhaustible Resources and Economic Development
    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming

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