Gas hydrates – history of discovery

The literature sources dealing with the history of gas hydrate studies and discovery of possible existence of gas hydrate deposits in natural conditions were analyzed. They contain facts proving that within 1966 and 1969 the conditions for formation of hydrates in porous medium were researched at the Department of Gas and Gas Condensate Deposits Development and Exploitation of Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas. The first experiments were set up by the Ukraine-born Yurij F. Makogon, Department Assistant Professor. The results proved possibility of formation and stable existence of gas hydrates in earth’s crust and became a scientific substantiation of natural gas hydrate deposits discovery. In 1969 the exploitation of Messoyakha deposits in Siberia started and it was the first time when the natural gas was derived directly from hydrates. The same year that invention was officially recognized and registered. Following the comprehensive international expert examination the State Committee on Inventions and Findings of the USSR Council of Ministers assumed that the citizens of the USSR Yurij F. Makogon, Andrej A. Trofimuk, Nikolaj V. Cherskij and Viktor G. Vasilev made a discovery described as follows: “Experiments proved previously unknown ability of natural gas to form deposits in the earth’s crust in solid gas hydrate state under definite thermodynamic conditions (Request dated March 19, 1969)”. The authors were presented with diplomas on March 4, 1971. From then onwards the issue of natural gas hydrates existence was widely researched all around the world. In 1985 Yurij F. Makogon became a Professor. Since 1973 he was a head of the gas hydrate laboratory in the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Natural Gases and Gas Technologies. Within 1974–1987 he was a head of the gas hydrate laboratory in Oil and Gas Research Institute RAS. In 1992 he was invited by one of the largest universities of the USA to arrange modern laboratory for gas hydrate study. The laboratory was created in the Texas University, USA and in 1995 Yurij Makogon became its head. As far as interest in gas hydrates increases Yurij F. Makogon reports at 27 international congresses and conferences, gives lectures in 45 world leading universities, functions as an academic adviser and participates in different international programs on research and exploitation of gas hydrate deposits in USA, Japan and India. The heritage of the scientist includes 27 patents, eight monographs (four of them were translated and published in the USA and Canada) and more than 270 scientific articles.