gas hydrate

Gas hydrates are compounds containing water molecules that form cage-like structures around other molecules, most notably methane. These structures are found in environments with specific combinations of low temperature and high pressure, such as beneath polar permafrost and on the ocean floor along continental shelves.12

Methane hydrates are of significant interest as a potential energy source, with estimates suggesting they contain more fuel than all the world's coal, natural gas, and oil reserves combined. However, extracting this methane in an economically viable and environmentally sustainable manner is still under exploration. There are also concerns that climate change could destabilize these hydrates, releasing methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and exacerbating global warming.12