Distribution and reformation characteristics of gas hydrate during hydrate dissociation by thermal stimulation and depressurization methods

Xuan Kou, Xiao-Sen Li, Yi Wang, Yu Zhang and Zhao-Yang Chen

Applied Energy, 2020, vol. 277, issue C, No S0306261920310874

Abstract: Pore-scale distribution and reformation characteristics of gas hydrate in porous sediments can provide invaluable information on macroscale production behaviors. In this work, the X-ray computed tomography (X-ray -CT) has been conducted to detect distribution characteristics of the hydrate-bearing sample during hydrate formation and dissociation. Experimental results indicate that, during hydrate formation, mass and heat transfer can lead to the transformation of grain-attaching (grain-cementing and grain-contacting) hydrate to pore-filling hydrate, as well as the heterogeneous distribution of gas hydrate in pores. During hydrate dissociation, whether the thermal stimulation stage or the depressurization stage, the hydrate decomposition initiates from the ablation of the hydrate-gas interface, and the grain-cementing hydrate remains intact until the hydrate cracks into particles and collapses. In addition, during the thermal stimulation stage, the migration of “memory water” under the equilibrium hydrate formation condition leads to the hydrate reformation, and the hydrate reformation promotes the homogeneous distribution of gas hydrate in pores. During the depressurization stage, gas hydrate is reformed below the hydrate “dissociation front” because of the endothermic process of hydrate dissociation and the pressure-driven fluid flow. The reformed grain-cementing hydrate provides fluid flow channels instead of plugging the pores and throats. However, the shut-in time after the depressurization-induced gas production should not be too long to prevent the pore plugging by the further growth of the reformed hydrate. Additionally, the depressurization process finally leads to the grain migration and may reduce the sediment strength under the loose grain filling condition.

Keywords: X-ray CT; Gas hydrate; Distribution; Hydrate decomposition; Hydrate reformation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (24)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261920310874
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:appene:v:277:y:2020:i:c:s0306261920310874

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/bibliographic
http://www.elsevier. ... 405891/bibliographic

DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.115575

Access Statistics for this article

Applied Energy is currently edited by J. Yan

More articles in Applied Energy from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().