Global marine modeling of CO hydrate stability.

Hydrates have recently come to the forefront because of their importance for the environmental impact and subsurface exploration. However, the conditions that affect their stability, particularly in the marine environment, are not yet fully understood. This study presents a static model on a global scale to assess CO hydrate stability. This analysis allowed evaluating the effects of salinity, sea water depth and geothermal gradient changes on CO hydrate stability also taking into account the thickness of the porous media. The results indicate that shallow water depth and low geothermal gradient favour the formation of CO hydrates. Furthermore, this modelling suggests that the actual salinity values rather than assuming constant values significantly improves the accuracy of stability predictions. A focus analysis was performed in the polar regions, where environmental conditions are most favourable for CO hydrate formation. The results provide a comprehensive global understanding of CO hydrate formation and optimal conditions, facilitating future local-scale applications.