Study on biogenic methane hydrate in the Krishna-Godavari (KG) Basin conducted

  • IASbaba
  • October 3, 2020
  • 0
UPSC Articles

Study on biogenic methane hydrate in the Krishna-Godavari (KG) Basin conducted

Part of: GS Prelims and GS-I – Mineral & Energy Resources

In news

  • Recently, a study on biogenic methane hydrate in the Krishna-Godavari (KG) Basin was conducted by the researchers at the Agharkar Research Institute (ARI).
  • They have identified the methanogens that produced the biogenic methane trapped as methane hydrate.
  • Methane hydrate can be a significant source of energy.
  • This study revealed maximum methanogenic diversity in the KG basin in comparison to the Andaman and Mahanadi basins.

Important value additions

Methane Hydrate

  • Methane hydrate is a crystalline solid that consists of a methane molecule surrounded by a cage of interlocking water molecules.
  • It only occurs naturally as ‘ice’ in subsurface deposits where temperature and pressure conditions are favourable for its formation.
  • It becomes unstable if the ice is removed from its environment.
  • Other names: Methane clathrate, methane ice, fire ice, natural gas hydrate, and gas hydrate.
  • Most methane hydrate deposits also contain small amounts of other hydrocarbon hydrates.

Krishna-Godavari Basin

  • It is an extensive deltaic plain formed by two large east coast rivers, Krishna and Godavari 
  • Location: Andhra Pradesh and the adjoining areas of Bay of Bengal.
  • The site is known for the D-6 block with the biggest natural gas reserves in India. 
  • The first gas discovery was made in 1983 by ONGC.
  • The basin is home to the Olive Ridley Sea Turtle (IUCN Status: Vulnerable).

Do you know?

  • Biogenic Methane is the methane produced from the metabolic activities of living organisms. 
  • Methane is a clean and economical fuel.
  • Even the lowest estimate of methane present in the methane hydrates in the KG Basin is twice that of all fossil fuel reserves available worldwide.

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