Bangladesh finds 17 to 103tcf gas hydrates in Bay of Bengal

PBC News:  Huge quantity of methane gas (gas hydrates) has been found in the Bay of Bengal, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has said.

Addressing a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday to reveal the results of a study on gas hydrates (methane) and marine genetic resources in the Bay of Bengal, Dr AK Abdul Momen disclosed the information.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam and Secretary to Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Maritime Affairs Unit) Mohammad Khurshid Alam were also present at the press conference.

Khurshid Alam said, “We have not been able to survey the entire area yet. However, we anticipate that there are 17 to 103 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of gas hydrate is available here. Gas hydrate is accumulated methane gas.”

According to the US Geological Survey, gas hydrates are a crystalline solid formed of water and gas. It looks like ice, but it contains huge amounts of methane.

Natural gas hydrates reside on the bottom of the deep sea or in perforated soils. It is also known as ‘combustible ice’, ‘solid gas’ or ‘gas ice’.

Natural gas hydrates contain 80 per cent to 99.9 per cent methane. Its combustion pollution is much lower and richer than coal, oil and other natural gas. It has been stored globally for a thousand years as an alternative fuel for the future.

At present, more than 30 countries and regions have been conducting research on ‘Shining Ice’. Over the last two years, the country has made great strides in mining research.