DEPOSITION OF CO2 ON THE SEABED IN THE FORM OF HYDRATES

This paper presents a possible method to reduce the environmental problems connected to the emission of carbon dioxide, (CO2). CO2 is proposed to be deposited on the seabed in the form of hydrates, which are crystalline materials with an appearance like snow or ice. Carbon dioxide hydrates consist of CO2 and water, and at elevated pressures they are formed at temperatures above the freezing point of water. Experimental studies of the hydrate formation mechanisms are described. High pressure experiments with CO2 and water were performed to study the supercooling required to initiate the hydrate formation. Low pressure experiments on a model fluid and water were carried out to observe the consistency of the hydrates formed.