Lockheed Idaho Technologies Company, P.O. Box 1625, Idaho Falls, ID 83415-3521

A -- DOWL-HOLE LOGGING TOOL FOR METHANE HYDRATES CHARACTERIZATION SOL Cbd2099 DUE 042699 POC Paul Grahovac WEB: Idaho National Engineering & Environmental Laboratory, http://www.inel.gov/procurement/litco/index.htm. E-MAIL: Paul Grahovac, pg2@inel.gov. A -- DOWN-HOLE LOGGING TOOL FOR METHANE HYDRATES CHARACTERIZATION. Potential technology development opportunity with Lockheed Martin Idaho Technologies Company (LMITCO), the prime operating contractor for the Department of Energy at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL). LMITCO has developed a new concept for rapidly detecting and characterizing the amount of methane hydrate in situ. The concept offers a way to determine the volume percent of hydrates in sediment even at very low concentrations. This method utilizes a novel approach not applicable to oil or gas logging. It is envisioned to be implemented in a downhole tool, either a wireline tool or possibly measurement-while-drilling, to characterize hydrate deposits in ocean sediments or under permafrost. For geotechnical and seafloor stability studies, the system could be used on the seafloor or from a cone penetrometer to determine hydrate locations and concentrations at shallow depths into sediments. This technology is still at the conceptual stage, but early validation of the idea's potential is a major goal. Methane hydrates are naturally occurring crystalline substances composed of water and methane gas that are found subsea beneath the sediment of outer continental margins as well in permafrost regions of Alaska and Siberia. Estimates indicate this resource exceeds the known world reserves of oil, natural gas, and coal combined. LMITCO is seeking a written indication of interest from industry partners to participate in a proposal to the Department of Energy to develop this technology. No money or cost-sharing is necessary from the industrial partner for the first phase of this work to prove the concept. However, if the technology development is successful, the later stages of development and prototyping will require industrial cost-sharing and commercialization efforts. Licensing terms to the partner will be negotiated then. This is not an opportunity to provide goods or services to LMITCO or the Department of Energy. This Request for Interest (RFI) will close to response 30 days after publication. Interested parties should send e-mail to pg2@inel.gov (Paul Grahovac, Account Executive, Technology Transfer Office, LMITCO). If you do not have e-mail access, send regular mail to Paul Grahovac, Account Executive, Technology Transfer Office, LMITCO, P. O. Box 1625, Idaho Falls, ID 83415-3805. Posted 03/25/99 (W-SN312704). (0084)

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