112 Ecological Sustainability
There is no doubt that future extensive NG production from MH deposits
will lead to incidental methane leaks into the atmosphere, even from the sea
bottom. Methane is a potent GHG. Taken with the CO
2
from burning MH
gas, solar energy absorption and planetary warming will increase more rap-
idly—unless the CO
2
is sequestered.
Due to silting and heating of water, the extraction of methane from under-
sea MH deposits can potentially be very harmful to the coastal marine eco-
systems that we depend on for food. If all the methane extraction takes place
well under the ocean bottom, these effects will be lessened. Energy compa-
nies are currently in the exploration stage to locate the richest MH deposits
that are the easiest ...