An Investigation Into the Occurrence of Hydrate-Bearing Sediments Offshore the East Coast of Trinidad and Tobago

Abstract

Summary It is anticipated that increasing pressure for cleaner burning fuels and lower carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions will cause a shift in global energy demand from oil to natural gas. In the near future, natural gas is expected to replace crude oil as the fuel of choice for energy production and transportation. In Trinidad and Tobago, natural-gas production has already surpassed crude-oil production. Natural gas accounts for 80% of the country's energy export, but the reserves-to-production ratio is only 7 years (year 2022). Consequently, the Ministry of Energy has taken steps to supplement the natural-gas resource base by supporting initiatives that can potentially bolster the nation's proven gas reserves. Such initiatives include invitations to tender on deepwater blocks offshore Trinidad and Tobago's gas-rich east coast. Even though initiatives are under way to boost conventional natural-gas reserves, effort was not placed on identifying and/or characterizing unconventional gas resources such as natural-gas hydrates. Furthermore, the potential hazards of submarine gas hydrates on deepwater exploration and production (E&P) activities on Trinidad and Tobago's east coast were not assessed. The results presented in this manuscript provide oil-and-gas operators with a means of proactively managing the risk associated with natural-gas hydrates. More importantly, this study acts as a necessary precursor to future studies in characterizing and, later, harnessing the energy potential of Trinidad-and-Tobago's natural-gas-hydrate deposits.