Gas Hydrates: An Overview on the Niger Delta Continental Front (Published)
The formation of gas hydrates occurs when gas molecules are trapped in a lattice of water molecules at temperatures above 0°C and pressures above one atmosphere.The Niger Delta occupies the central region of West Africa’s Gulf of Guinea. With a land area of some 75,000 km2, it forms the largest delta system in Africa. It continental depth holds a deposit of gas hydrates. The gas hydrate deposit in this region is mostly biogenic, however, small amounts have been found to be thermogenic in nature. The clathrates in this region have 99% methane formation statistics up to the depth which is 1500+ meters below sea level. The hydrates found have been observed to contain sedimented light hydrocarbon alkane gases.These clathrate reserves hold significant amount of energy that is estimated to be more than twice the combined carbon of coal, conventional gas and petroleum reserves and as such holds more commercial and economic value. Gas hydrate can serve as a sustainable energy resource and also as a means of storing and transporting natural gas from one end to the other.This paper presents an overview of gas hydrate in the Niger Delta continental front. It describes the nature of the hydrate formed in the Niger Delta region based on it geological formation. It showcases the huge energy potential of hydrate in the Niger Delta, and how it can posit as a sustainable energy resource to meet the ever-growing energy need of Nigeria and the world at large.
Keywords: Niger-Delta, continental front, gas hydrates