Mining methane, sequestering carbon dioxide and farming in oceans

Abstract

The present invention is a multiple purposed system of producing methane from its hydrates and sequestering carbon dioxide into its hydrates. Methane hydrates mixed with mud, prepared with methane mining assembly 23 are brought to sea surface by a series of buckets 16 attaching to rotating chains 18 . The decomposed methane is collected into the methane dome 50 and is processed into liquefied natural gas or synthetic liquid fuels. Liquid carbon dioxide is brought down through a tube 70 and a sequestering device 86 into the sea where the pressure and the temperature are adequate for carbon dioxide hydrates to form and settle down to the sea bottom. The unconverted gaseous carbon dioxide is collected into carbon dioxide dome 49 and is liquefied again for recycling. A specially designed marine plantation, comprising of plurality of planting units 352 and a fleet of seeding and harvesting boats, is employed to remove the residual carbon dioxide from the sequestering, to alleviate the global warming, to serves as an abundant source of renewable energy, and as a huge sink for carbon. In addition, it could provide a profusion of less-polluted seafood. The operations of mining methane, sequestering carbon dioxide and marine plantation are fully integrated and optimized

1 .- 16 . (canceled)  
     
     
         17 . A method of exploiting an ocean and its bottom, said method comprising: 
 (a) mining methane from a methane hydrate formation at said ocean bottom;    (b) combusting at least a portion of said methane to sequester carbon dioxide at said ocean bottom, and    (c) absorbing by a marine plantation unit at least a portion of any residual carbon dioxide not sequestered.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising proliferating diatoms in ocean water of said plantation unit.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said sequestering comprises: 
 i) bringing carbon dioxide down to a depth in said ocean having a pressure high enough and a temperature low enough to convert said carbon dioxide gas to carbon dioxide hydrates;    ii) sequestering said carbon dioxide hydrates in a sequestering region at the bottom of said ocean; and    iii) collecting above the surface of the ocean carbon dioxide gas that has not been converted to carbon dioxide hydrates.    
     
     
         20 . A method of mining methane from a methane-hydrate formation at an ocean bottom said method comprising: 
 (a) grinding said methane-hydrates together with inert mass from said ocean bottom into a paste,    (b) bringing the paste up to the surface of the ocean,    (c) decomposing the methane hydrates on their way up to the ocean surface,    (d) collecting the decomposed methane above the ocean surface.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the paste is brought to the ocean surface in buckets hanging on moving chain loops, wherein the said chain loops are driven by sprockets on a drum.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the said drum is supported on a hydraulic system which is regulated by a tension controller.  
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein vertical movement of the drum is synchronized with tide movement by an automatic stress controller.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the said grinding is performed by a mining assembly suspended on chain loops through a pair of rollers and channel, wherein when the chain loops are rotating, the mining device continues grinding without changing its location.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising supporting said chains, buckets, said paste by attaching buoys to said buckets.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said decomposed methane is collected above the ocean surface into a dome.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the dome comprises transparent windows and gloves attached to said windows to allow workers outside the dome to use, repair and adjust machinery inside the dome.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the mining device further comprises a walking device.  
     
     
         29 . A method of sequestering carbon dioxide at an ocean bottom, said method comprising: 
 (a) bringing carbon dioxide down to a depth in an ocean, said depth having a pressure high enough and a temperature low enough to convert said carbon dioxide gas to carbon dioxide hydrates;    (b) sequestering said carbon dioxide hydrates in a sequestering region at the ocean bottom;    (c) collecting above the surface of the ocean carbon dioxide gas that has not been converted to carbon dioxide hydrates, and    (d) absorbing by a marine plantation in said sequestering region at least a portion of any residual carbon dioxide not sequestered or collected.    
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising dispersing liquid carbon dioxide into droplets and depositing said droplets in said sequestering region.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising cooling said sequestering region by expanding a portion of said liquid carbon dioxide into a vapor in a radiator in contact with ocean water located at said sequestering region.  
     
     
         32 . A method of marine farming comprising: 
 (a) cultivating plants in a plantation unit in ocean water by means of a seeding and harvesting boat and its crew in said ocean above said plantation unit, and    (b) proliferating diatoms in ocean water of said plantation unit, wherein said proliferating is by means of said seeding and harvesting boat.    
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the said plantation unit comprises a plurality of planting pans.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said planting pans are stacked vertically and connect to a cord.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said cord is anchored to the bottom of the ocean.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein a plurality of said plantation units run from west to east to maximize sunshine exposure.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the said planting pans further comprise fertilizer bags to increase growth of said plants.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising harvesting said plants and centrifugally removing water from said harvested plants.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said seeding and harvesting boat comprises an enclosure having a slot through which the plantation unit enters, and said boat further comprises a centrifuge for removing water from harvested plants.