TAMBANG, July 19, 2012 | 05.13
UNEARTHING THE MYSTERIOUS GAS IN INDONESIA’S DEEP SEA

In search of a more acceptable explanation of the Bermuda Triangle phenomenon, people have turned to the view of Bill Dillon of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), who stated in the 80s that "Oil drilling rigs have sunk as the result of [methane] gas escape". Mr. Dillon predicted that there is a massive concentration of natural methane gas stored below the seafloor of the area known as the Bermuda Triangle. According to his theory, a sudden crack on the seafloor could tear the underground pocket and release a significant amount of methane gas to the surface. The gas would surge up and erupt on the surface all of a sudden. If a ship is in the area of the blowout, the water beneath it would suddenly become much less dense. The vessel could sink and the sea sediment could quickly cover it as it settles onto the sea floor, with no trace whatsoever. Meanwhile, planes flying above the water are thought to catch fire during such a blowout.
Another scientist whose study on the methane gas was also linked with the Bermuda Triangle phenomenon is Richard McIver, a US geochemist who similarly theorized that landslides on the seafloor have caused fractures on the tip which then allowed the release of a massive gas layer, creating a huge methane surge upwards into the surface.
He stated that massive landslides often occur along the North American continental shelf, which lies to the north of the Bermuda Triangle. Such land slumps could occur over a large area bringing down huge boulders which rupture the layer of gas hydrate beneath the sea floor, freeing the gas that is trapped beneath the hydrate ‘cap’ and also liberating huge amounts of methane trapped within the hydrate itself. The moment a methane gas pocket ruptures a vast reservoir of gas suddenly surges from the seabed, rising up in a huge plume before erupting on the surface within seconds and without warning. A ship caught in such a blowout would be doomed; the water beneath it would suddenly become much less dense, sinking it in a matter of moments. The vessel would plunge into the depths, where it would be covered as sediment disturbed by the blow out settles back on the sea floor. In fact, planes too could fall prey to such a deadly fallout.
The scientific findings have invited interests to further study hydrate methane gas, as well as the sources and origins of the gas. Scientists started to do some research to unearth the gas which dubbed as an unconventional energy source.
Methane hydrates have gained some popularity recently and are being evaluated as potential fuel for the future. Some believe there is enough methane in the form of hydrates, or locked in ice, to supply energy for hundreds, maybe even thousands of years to come. Forming at low temperature and high pressure, Methane hydrates are mostly found in sea-floor sediments, scattered through several-hundred-meter depths and at various concentrations. The gas hydrates currently in evaluation by researchers are methane hydrates and carbon dioxide hydrates.
Although some research has been carried out in the past, little is known about the exact location, formation, decomposition, or actual quantities of methane hydrates. However, national and international research and exploration over the last 20 years by various governmental and industrial entities have resulted in general agreement that methane hydrates should be evaluated as a potential primary energy source for the future.
Prof. Doddy Abdassah PhD, an expert on oil techniques of Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) provided an explanation on hydrate methane gas. He explained that hydrate methane gas takes form in chunks of ice with solidified natural gas hydrate (NGH) trapped inside. The NGH is stable at high pressure and cold temperature, at the deep of 150 to 2000 meters under the sea. The gas could be formed out of the compounds of C1, C2, C3, i-C4, n-C4, N2, CO2 and H2S. Prof. Abdassah is confident that there are approximately 5000 to 12 million TcF land reserves of the Methane Hydrates, and 30 thousand to 49 million TCF of the reserves at the sea.

Reserves in Indonesia
It is not outwardly known that since 1994 efforts to determine the reserves of Methane Hydrates in the deep water of the country have taken place. The research is undertaken by the Indonesian Technology Application and Assessment Agency (BPPT in its Indonesian abbreviation) in cooperation with Germany’s Bundessanstalt fur Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe and the Japanese Marine Agency for Marine Earth Science and Technology.

The research have found that there is a quite significant amount of reserves of Methane Hydrates in several offshore locations of the Indonesian water. Yusuf Djajadihardja, Director for Natural Resources Development Technology of the BPPT explained that a reserves of approximately 625 TcF have been traced at some offshore areas of 22,125 km2 along the Sunda Strait covering parts of South Sumatera and southern West Java.
“The discovery was initially known when we traced the gas there back in 1999,” informed Mr. Djajadihardja on the occasion of a seminar entitled “Natural Gas Hydrate as Future Alternative Energy in Indonesia” in Jakarta, 3 May 2012. Beside those areas, he stated that the gas could be found in the water of North Sulawesi. The reserves there is estimated at 233 TcF, covering an area of 8200 km2.
He further informed that initial research on Methane Hydrates was performed by an international consortium of US, Canadian, Japanese and German scientists in 1971 and 1972 at the Mackenzie Delta in Canada. The delta is now known as home to Mallik Methane Hydrates drill sites, which in 2002 at a deep point of 1150 meters had sampled the gas for the use as energy source. Mr. Djajadihardja further stated that engineering of most proper technology for the use of Methane Hydrates was initially very rigid. “Finally the consortium has found a way (to use the Methane Hydrates)”, he said.
Mr. Djajadihardja further stated that Indonesia could secure its future national energy supply should it start to make use of Methane Hydrates as its future energy source. Especially considering the recent preference of gas to crude oil amid the latter’s high price in the international market. ”Some countries, among other Japan, have extended offer for technology cooperation should we plan to start exploring the potentials (of the gas)”, he stated to the media.
Eddy Hermantoro, Director for Upstream Oil and Gas Business Development of the ESDM Ministry informed TAMBANG Magazine that the utilization of Methane Hydrates would automatically add to the country’s available gas reserves, from current prediction of 50 years to 100 years to come. He affirmed that the ESDM Ministry currently undertakes necessary studies on the potentials and techniques for utilization plan of Methane Hydrates as future alternative energy source. The Ministry is also said to currently assessing the required rulings and regulations, bearing in mind the high investment costs for future utilization of the gas here. According to Mr. Hermantoro, at present there are only four corporations offering the necessary technology. “That is why (the investment costs) may become very expensive,” he told our reporters while stating a fact of current rental cost for one seismic vessel for exploration purpose which could arrive at US$ 50 million per day.
The notion to consider a future utilization was applauded by Prof. Doddy Abdassah PhD. He explained that there are three ways to manufacture Methane Hydrates, namely through depressurization method, thermal stimulation method and inhibitor injection method. “Further study and research on characteristics of the hydrate gas are essential in order to determine classification, proper production method and economical application of such future utilization”, uttered Prof. Abdassah in front of the May 2012 seminar of Methane Hydrates in Jakarta.
Thus far Pertamina EP, the state own oil and gas company, has come up with its readiness to explore possible utilization of Methane Hydrates in the future. The Indonesian energy giant would however wait for a go-ahead from the ESDM Minister as the principal regulator in the sector. For now, the company would not take any initiatives to investigate the application of future utilization of Methane Hydrates.
As a member of the International Methane Hydrate Consorsium, Indonesia should actively participate in an international forum on the gas which is held annually, in order to catch up with the latest development from relevant researches and technological advances for future utilization of Methane Hydrates. Indonesia would have an utmost interest in the mapping of the reserves throughout the country. It is predicted that only in 2020 the hydrate gas would be massively produced as an alternative energy in place of fossil-based oil. The methane content in the gas would guarantee a cleaner emission, hence it is better for environment. A possible global transition from petroleum-based to gas-based economy should therefore be forecast.
Nevertheless, according to Mr. Djajadihardja, extra caution should always come to pass. An incorrect method of exploration and exploitation could result in the leak of the pockets on the seabed, which could freely release the gas into the air. Proper and comprehensive preparation should very well be performed in order to ensure that any exploitation efforts will not bring negative impacts to the environment.