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Taiwan Quick Take: Gas hydrate deposit found

Some 500 billion cubic meters of gas hydrates have been detected beneath the sea floor off the southwestern coastline, according to a survey by the Central Geological Survey (CGS) under the Ministry of Economic Affairs. CGS Director Lin Chao-chung (林朝宗) said that the nation burns roughly 7 to 8 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year. Based on that rate, Lin said, the newly discovered reserves would be enough for to last for 60 years. However, the main obstacle lies in how to extract the gas without endangering the environment, Lin added. Lin explained that the gas reserves, mainly methane, could release quickly into the ocean and the atmosphere, contaminating the surrounding areas. Moreover, quick discharges sometimes create large cavities under the earth's crust. If the cavities then collapse, it could lead to landslides or tsunamis.

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