Abstract
Gas hydrate decomposition in sediments involves complicated multiphase flow and heat and mass transfer processes because of heat absorption by solid hydrates. Factors affecting gas hydrate decomposition in sediments include sediment type, mineral composition, pore size distribution, particle size, pore water composition, hydrate saturation distribution, initial formation pressure and temperature and cement characteristics. In this paper, experimental simulations of gas hydrate decomposition are carried out on an artificial core to investigate the effects of initial pressure and temperature, particle size and pore size. The experiments show that the characteristics of gas hydrate decomposition in sediments differ completely from those in a pure water system. The decomposition rate of hydrate sediments increases with the initial pressure increasing and decreasing temperatures. Furthermore, the decomposition rate of hydrate sediments decreases with decreasing particle size and increasing pore size.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Wu C Z, Zhao K B, Li X S, et al. Current research in natural gas hydrate production. Geol Sci and Tech Info, 2008, 27: 47–52
Yousif M H, Abass H H, Selim M S, et al., Experimental and theoretical investigation of methane gas hydrate dissociation in porous media. SPE Reservoir Eng, 1991, 6: 69–76
Kamath V A. A perspective on gas production from hydrate. The JNOC’s Methane Hydrate International Symposium. Chiba City: Japan National Oil Corporation, 1998. 87–92
Li G, Li X S, Chen Q, et al. Numerical simulation of gas production from gas hydrate zone in Shenhu Area, South China Sea. Acta Chim Sin, 2010, 68: 1083–1092
Bai Y H, Li Q P. Simulation of gas production from hydrate reservoir by the combination of warm water flooding and depressurization. Sci China Tech Sci, 2010, 53: 2469–2476
Li X S, Zhang Y, Li G, et al. Gas hydrate equilibrium dissociation conditions in porous media using two thermodynamic approaches. J Chem Thermodyn, 2008, 40: 1464–1474
Yang X, Sun C Y, Yuan Q, et al. Experimental study on gas production from methane hydrate-bearing sand by hot-water cyclic injection. Energy Fuels, 2010, 24: 5912–5920
Kim H C, Bishnoi P R, Heidemann R A, et al. Kinetics of methane hydrate decomposition. Chem Eng Sci, 1987, 42: 1645–1653
Clarke M A, Bishnoi P R. Determination of the intrinsic rate of ethane gas hydrate decomposition. Chem Eng Sci, 2000, 55: 4869–4883
Clarke M A, Bishnoi P R. Determination of the activation energy and intrinsic rate constant of methane gas hydrate decomposition. Can J Chem Eng, 2001, 79: 143–147
Clarke M A, Bishnoi P R. Measuring and modelling the rate of decomposition of gas hydrates formed from mixtures of methane and ethane. Chem Eng Sci, 2001, 55: 4715–4724
Liang M Y, Chen G J, Sun C Y, et al. Experimental and modeling study on decomposition kinetics of methane hydrate in different media. J Phys Chem B, 2005, 109: 19034–19041
Yousif M H, Sloan E D. Experimental investigation of hydrate formation and dissociation in consolidated porous media. SPE Reservoir Eng, 1991, 6: 452–458
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Yu, X., Li, G., Li, Q. et al. Experimental simulation of gas hydrate decomposition in porous sediment. Sci. China Earth Sci. 56, 588–593 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-012-4549-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-012-4549-2