/sci/ - Science & Math

http://news.discovery.com/earth/japan-to-test-removal-of-methane-hydrates-110725.html

>Japan will seek to extract natural gas from seabed deposits of methane hydrate, also known as "burning ice," in the world's first such offshore experiment, a news report said Monday.

>The test is scheduled for a stretch of ocean southwest of Tokyo, between Shizuoka and Wakayama prefectures, over several weeks in the fiscal year to March 2013, the Nikkei financial daily said.

>The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is preparing to request more than 10 billion yen ($127.5 million) for the project, the report said.

>The government will support further research and aims for commercial drilling to start early in the next decade, the newspaper said.

>Methane hydrates are found in environments with high pressure and low temperatures such as the ocean floors, often near continental fault lines, where the gas crystallizes on contact with cold sea water.

>The offshore experiment, if successful, would be the world's first, the Nikkei said. Methane was previously extracted from methane hydrate on land in Canada in 2008 using technology developed in Japan.

>>3428459

>>That would be boring as fuck.

Aare you fucking shitting me.

>>3343547

It was science fiction. But now it's real.

http://www.nautilusminerals.com/s/Home.asp

These guys are already extracting precious metals from the Solwara 1 site. Five nations total have signed on to begin seafloor mining operations; Canada, Japan, Australia, India and China. That last one should come as no surprise.

Even knowing all of this, would anyone really hesitate to journey down there? You only live once, and just imagine what you might discover.