Volume 2: Innovative Solutions for Energy Transitions: Part I

Production Characteristics Investigation of Natural Gas Hydrate by Combination Method of Thermal Stimulation and Water Flow Erosion In Marine Sediment Bingbing Chen, Huiru Sun, Dayong Wang, Yongchen Song, Mingjun Yang

Abstract

Natural gas hydrates (NGHs) are considered as an alternative and potential energy. Three classes of NGHs deposits are classified according to the layers present around. Studies on appropriate method for different classes of NGHs deposit was extremely important. Considering the huge seawater source, and its higher temperature than the hydrate deposit, the combination mode of seawater flow erosion and thermal simulation was investigated in this study. The results indicated that the combination mode will provide great driving force for methane hydrate (MH) decomposition with the higher temperature and higher seawater flow velocity. Via the combination mode, there are three obvious stages for hydrate decomposition: a) water saturation; b) residual gas displacement and sudden hydrate formation/ decomposition; c) continuous hydrate decomposition. What’s more, the seawater flow process has more obvious promotion effect for hydrate decomposition than temperature increase, due to the plenty heat-loss. In short, the huge seawater source has already decided the great potential of this combination method for actual hydrate production.

Keywords natural gas hydrate, marine sediment, production characteristics, seawater flow erosion, thermal stimulation