Takashi Uchida

Bio: Takashi Uchida is an academic researcher from JAPEX. The author has contributed to research in topics: Clathrate hydrate & Natural gas. The author has an hindex of 6, co-authored 7 publications receiving 319 citations.

Occurrences of Natural Gas Hydrates beneath the Permafrost Zone in Mackenzie Delta: Visual and X‐ray CT Imagery

Abstract: The JAPEX/JNOC/GSC Mallik 2L-38 research well was drilled to a depth of 1,150 m beneath the permafrost zone in the Mackenzie Delta, N.W.T., Canada, early in 1998. A large amount of natural gas hydrates were successfully retrieved from a variety of sandy and gravel sediments. Over 110 m of gas hydrate-bearing sediments were found to be distributed between 897 m and 1,100 m deep. Approximately 37 meters of core were recovered in this interval with most of the recovered gas hydrates being less than 2 mm in size occurring mainly in intergranular porosity of silty to clean massive sand and conglomerate (granule to pebble). Typically, hydrate-bearing strata were between 10 cm and more than one meter thick with an estimated porosity of 25 to 35%. The largest form of hydrate was about 2 cm in diameter, occurring as clasts and intergranular porosity within granular sands. Occurrences of natural gas hydrate have been observed visually at the drill site and in core samples preserved in pressurized storage vessels utilizing an X-ray CT scanner technique. Quantitative assessments of gas hydrate concentrations in core samples have been made based on pressure response of dissociation vessels and direct volumetric measurements. Six types of gas hydrate have been recognized: (1) pore-space hydrate, (2) platy hydrate, (3) layered/massive hydrate, (4) disseminated hydrate, (5) nodule hydrate, and (6) vein/dyke hydrate. The X-ray CT images proved useful for characterizing macroscopic forms of gas hydrate. Finer grained occurrences were more difficult to study, however the distribution of gas hydrates and granular grains can be recognized. The occurrences of natural gas hydrates in the Mallik well are compared to the previous natural gas hydrate core samples obtained from ODP/DSDP programs and other field studies.

Dissociation of Natural Gas Hydrates Observed by X-ray CT Scanner

Abstract: Core samples containing pore-space gas hydrate within granular sands were collected from 913.76 m of the research well named JAPEX/JNOC/GSC Mallik 2L-38. X-ray CT images of the core were acquired while warming from −18 to 4°C, and subsequently during stepped decreases of 0.1 MPa in the chamber pressure below the methane hydrate equilibrium pressure. Discharged gas flows and sample temperatures were monitored continuously. Changes in CT values indicated that gas hydrate dissociated simultaneously both on the exposed surfaces and within the pore spaces of the sample in response to pressure changes. This suggested that pressure reductions were effectively transmitted through the sample most likely because the samples contained some amount of fluids. The result of gas flow measurements indicated that a larger pressure drawdown caused a higher dissociation rate.

Abrupt climate change

Abstract: Large, abrupt, and widespread climate changes with major impacts have occurred repeatedly in the past, when the Earth system was forced across thresholds. Although abrupt climate changes can occur for many reasons, it is conceivable that human forcing of climate change is increasing the probability of large, abrupt events. Were such an event to recur, the economic and ecological impacts could be large and potentially serious. Unpredictability exhibited near climate thresholds in simple models shows that some uncertainty will always be associated with projections. In light of these uncertainties, policy-makers should consider expanding research into abrupt climate change, improving monitoring systems, and taking actions designed to enhance the adaptability and resilience of ecosystems and economies.

Sensitivity of the carbon cycle in the Arctic to climate change

Abstract: The recent warming in the Arctic is affecting a broad spectrum of physical, ecological, and human/cultural systems that may be irreversible on century time scales and have the potential to cause rapid changes in the earth system. The response of the carbon cycle of the Arctic to changes in climate is a major issue of global concern, yet there has not been a comprehensive review of the status of the contemporary carbon cycle of the Arctic and its response to climate change. This review is designed to clarify key uncertainties and vulnerabilities in the response of the carbon cycle of the Arctic to ongoing climatic change. While it is clear that there are substantial stocks of carbon in the Arctic, there are also significant uncertainties associated with the magnitude of organic matter stocks contained in permafrost and the storage of methane hydrates beneath both subterranean and submerged permafrost of the Arctic. In the context of the global carbon cycle, this review demonstrates that the Arctic plays an important role in the global dynamics of both CO2 and CH4. Studies suggest that the Arctic has been a sink for atmospheric CO2 of between 0 and 0.8 Pg C/yr in recent decades, which is between 0% and 25% of the global net land/ocean flux during the 1990s. The Arctic is a substantial source of CH4 to the atmosphere (between 32 and 112 Tg CH4/yr), primarily because of the large area of wetlands throughout the region. Analyses to date indicate that the sensitivity of the carbon cycle of the Arctic during the remainder of the 21st century is highly uncertain. To improve the capability to assess the sensitivity of the carbon cycle of the Arctic to projected climate change, we recommend that (1) integrated regional studies be conducted to link observations of carbon dynamics to the processes that are likely to influence those dynamics, and (2) the understanding gained from these integrated studies be incorporated into both uncoupled and fully coupled carbon-climate modeling efforts. (Less)

Physical properties of hydrate-bearing sediments

Abstract: [1] Methane gas hydrates, crystalline inclusion compounds formed from methane and water, are found in marine continental margin and permafrost sediments worldwide. This article reviews the current understanding of phenomena involved in gas hydrate formation and the physical properties of hydrate-bearing sediments. Formation phenomena include pore-scale habit, solubility, spatial variability, and host sediment aggregate properties. Physical properties include thermal properties, permeability, electrical conductivity and permittivity, small-strain elastic P and S wave velocities, shear strength, and volume changes resulting from hydrate dissociation. The magnitudes and interdependencies of these properties are critically important for predicting and quantifying macroscale responses of hydrate-bearing sediments to changes in mechanical, thermal, or chemical boundary conditions. These predictions are vital for mitigating borehole, local, and regional slope stability hazards; optimizing recovery techniques for extracting methane from hydrate-bearing sediments or sequestering carbon dioxide in gas hydrate; and evaluating the role of gas hydrate in the global carbon cycle.

Energy resource potential of natural gas hydrates

Abstract: The discovery of large gas hydrate accumulations in terrestrial per mafrost regions of the Arctic and beneath the sea along the outer continental margins of the world's oceans has heightened interest in gas hydrates as a possible energy resource. However, significant to potentially insurmountable technical issues must be resolved be fore gas hydrates can be considered a viable option for affordable supplies of natural gas. The combined information from Arctic gas hydrate studies shows that, in permafrost regions, gas hydrates may exist at subsurface depths ranging from about 130 to 2000 m. The presence of gas hydrates in offshore continental margins has been inferred mainly from anomalous seismic reflectors, known as bottom-simulating reflectors, that have been mapped at depths below the sea floor ranging from about 100 to 1100 m. Current estimates of the amount of gas in the world's marine and permafrost gas hydrate accumulations are in rough accord at about 20,000 trillion m3. Disagreements over fundamental issues such as the volume of gas stored within delineated gas hydrate accumulations and the concentration of gas hydrates within hydrate-bearing strata have demonstrated that we know little about gas hydrates. Recently, however, several countries, including Japan, India, and the United States, have launched ambitious national projects to further examine the resource potential of gas hydrates. These projects may help answer key questions dealing with the properties of gas hydrate reservoirs, the design of production systems, and, most important, the costs and economics of gas hydrate production.