P-T stability conditions of methane hydrate in sediment from South China Sea

For reasonable assessment and safe exploitation of marine gas hydrate resource, it is important to determine the stability conditions of gas hydrates in marine sediment. In this paper, the seafloor water sample and sediment sample (saturated with pore water) from Shenhu Area of South China Sea were used to synthesize methane hydrates, and the stability conditions of methane hydrates were investigated by multi-step heating dissociation method. Preliminary experimental results show that the dissociation temperature of methane hydrate both in seafloor water and marine sediment, under any given pressure, is depressed by approximately -1.4 K relative to the pure water system. This phenomenon indicates that hydrate stability in marine sediment is mainly affected by pore water ions.     

Kinetics and stability of CH4-CO2 mixed gas hydrates during formation and long-term storage.

The formation of CH4-CO2 mixed gas hydrates was observed by measuring the change of vapor-phase composition using gas chromatography and Raman spectroscopy. Preferential consumption of carbon dioxide molecules was found during hydrate formation, which agreed well with thermodynamic calculations. Both Raman spectroscopic analysis and the thermodynamic calculation indicated that the kinetics of this mixed gas hydrate system was controlled by the competition of both molecules to be enclathrated into the hydrate cages. However, the methane molecules were preferentially crystallized in the early stages of hydrate formation when the initial methane concentration was much less than that of carbon dioxide. According to the Roman spectra, pure methane hydrates first formed under this condition. This unique phenomenon suggested that methane molecules play important roles in the hydrate formation process. These mixed gas hydrates were stored at atmospheric pressure and 190 K for over two months to examine the stability of the encaged gases. During storage, CO2 was preferentially released. According to our thermodynamic analysis, this CO2 release was due to the instability of CO2 in the hydrate structure under the storage conditions.     

Water transfer characteristics in the vertical direction during methane hydrate formation and dissociation processes inside non-saturated media

In order to study water transfer characteristics inside non-saturated media during methane hydrate formation and dissociation processes, water changes on the top, middle and bottom locations of experimental media during the reaction processes were continuously followed with a novel apparatus with three pF-meter sensors. Coarse sand, fine sand and loess were chosen as experimental media. It was experimentally observed that methane hydrate was easier formed inside coarse sand and fine sand than inside loess. Methane hydrate formation configuration and water transfer characteristics during methane hydrate formation processes were very different among the different non-saturated media, which were important for understanding methane hydrate formation and dissociation mechanism inside sediments in nature.     

An experimental and molecular simulation study of the adsorption of carbon dioxide and methane in nanoporous carbons in the presence of water

The adsorption of carbon dioxide and methane in nanoporous carbons in the presence of water is studied using experiments and molecular simulations. For all amounts of adsorbed water molecules, the adsorption isotherms for carbon dioxide and methane resemble those obtained for pure fluids. The pore filling mechanism does not seem to be affected by the presence of the water molecules. Moreover, the pressure at which the maximum adsorbed amount of methane or carbon dioxide is reached is nearly insensitive to the loading of preadsorbed water molecules. In contrast, the adsorbed amount of methane or carbon dioxide decreases linearly with the number of guest water molecules. Typical molecular configurations obtained using molecular simulation indicate that the water molecules form isolated clusters within the host porous carbon due to the nonfavorable interaction between carbon dioxide or methane and water.     

Comparison of the water change characteristics between the formation and dissociation of methane hydrate and the freezing and thawing of ice in sand

Hydrate formation and dissociation processes are always accompanied by water migration in porous media, which is similar to the ice. In our study, a novel pF-meter sensor which could detect the changes of water content inside sand was first applied to hydrate formation and dissociation processes. It also can study the water change characteristics in the core scale of a partially saturated silica sand sample and compare the differences of water changes between the processes of formation and dissociation of methane hydrate and freezing and thawing of ice. The experimental results showed that the water changes in the processes of formation and dissociation of methane hydrate were basically similar to that of the freezing and thawing of ice in sand. When methane hydrate or ice was formed, water changes showed the decrease in water content on the whole and the pF values rose following the formation processes. However, there were very obvious differences between the ice thawing and hydrate dissociation.     

活性炭中甲烷水合物的分解动力学

在封闭体系内,在初始分解压力0.1 MPa,温度范围276～265 K之间,测定了 五组甲烷水合物在活性炭中的解动力学数据。分析了甲烷水合物在活性炭中分解的 物理过程,提出了以微分方程表达的宏观分解动力学模型。使用单步积分的吉尔（ Gear)方法解得微分方程的数值解,结合单纯形最优化方法拟合模型参数,模型计 算值与实验值符合良好。     

On the thermodynamic stability and structural transition of clathrate hydrates

Gas mixtures of methane and ethane form structure II clathrate hydrates despite the fact that each of pure methane and pure ethane gases forms the structure I hydrate. Optimization of the interaction potential parameters for methane and ethane is attempted so as to reproduce the dissociation pressures of each simple hydrate containing either methane or ethane alone. An account for the structural transitions between type I and type II hydrates upon changing the mole fraction of the gas mixture is given on the basis of the van der Waals and Platteeuw theory with these optimized potentials. Cage occupancies of the two kinds of hydrates are also calculated as functions of the mole fraction at the dissociation pressure and at a fixed pressure well above the dissociation pressure.     

氯盐溶液中甲烷水合物高压分解条件及影响因素

向水合物储层注入盐类溶液是水合物常规开采技术之一,所以必须掌握储层压力条件下盐类溶液中水合物分解条件及其影响因素.本文研究了NaCl、MgCl2、CaCl2氯盐溶液中甲烷水合物分解条件,结果表明NaCl(2.0、1.0、0.5 mol·L-1)、MgCl2 (1.0、0.5 mol·L-1)和CaCl2 (1.0、0.5 mol·L-1)溶液中甲烷水合物的分解温度比纯水中分别降低了(4.8、2.4、1.0 K (NaCl))、(5.3、1.5 K (MgCl2))和(4.3、1.8 K (CaCl2)).以van der Waals 和Platteeuw 热力学模型为基础,结合电解质溶液中水的活度方程(Pitzer-Mayorga 方程),给出了氯盐溶液中水合物分解条件热力学模型,进而比较了模型计算值与实验值,结果显示两者非常吻合.分析表明,氯盐溶液中离子静电作用产生的水分子溶剂化效应和盐析效应降低了水的活度而导致水合物分解温度降低.     

Gas hydrates of methane, ethane, propane, and carbon dioxide in the presence of single NaCl, KCl, and CaCl2 aqueous solutions: Experimental measurements and predictions of dissociation conditions

Experimental dissociation data for methane, ethane, propane, and carbon dioxide simple hydrates in the presence of NaCl, KCl, and CaCl₂ aqueous solutions with different concentrations of single salt are reported in this communication. The experimental data were generated using a reliable isochoric technique. Some of the experimental hydrate dissociation data measured in this study are compared with some selected experimental data from the literature and the agreements are generally found acceptable, which is a guarantee for the reliability of our experimental technique and the data generated here. All the experimental data are finally compared with the predictions of a general correlation and a thermodynamic model and good agreements between the experimental and predicted data are generally observed.     

Molecular-dynamics simulations of methane hydrate dissociation

Nonequilibrium molecular-dynamics simulations have been carried out at 276.65 K and 68 bar for the dissolution of spherical methane hydrate crystallites surrounded by a liquid phase. The liquid was composed of pure water or a water-methane mixture ranging in methane composition from 50% to 100% of the corresponding theoretical maximum for the hydrate and ranged in size from about 1600 to 2200 water molecules. Four different crystallites ranging in size from 115 to 230 water molecules were used in the two-phase systems; the nanocrystals were either empty or had a methane occupation from 80% to 100% of the theoretical maximum. The crystal-liquid systems were prepared in two distinct ways, involving constrained melting of a bulk hydrate system or implantation of the crystallite into a separate liquid phase. The breakup rates were very similar for the four different crystal sizes investigated. The method of system preparation was not found to affect the eventual dissociation rates, despite a lag time of approximately 70 ps associated with relaxation of the liquid interfacial layer in the constrained melting approach. The dissolution rates were not affected substantially by methane occupation of the hydrate phase in the 80%-100% range. In contrast, empty hydrate clusters were found to break up significantly more quickly. Our simulations indicate that the diffusion of methane molecules to the surrounding liquid layer from the crystal surface appears to be the rate-controlling step in hydrate breakup. Increasing the size of the liquid phase was found to reduce the initial delay in breakup. We have compared breakup rates computed using different long-range electrostatic methods. Use of the Ewald, minimum image, and spherical cut-off techniques led to more rapid dissociation relative to the Lekner method.     

Methane hydrate stability in the presence of water-soluble hydroxyalkyl cellulose

The effect of low-dosage water-soluble hydroxyethyl cellulose (approximate MW～90,000 and 250,000) as a member of hydroxyalkyl cellulosic polymer group on methane hydrate stability was investigated by monitoring hydrate dissociation at pressures greater than atmospheric pressure in a closed vessel. In particular, the influence of molecular weight and mass concentration of hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) was studied with respect to hydrate formation and dissociation. Methane hydrate formation was performed at 2℃ and at a pressure greater than 100 bar. Afterwards, hydrate dissociation was initiated by step heating from -10℃ at a mild pressure of 13 bar to 3℃, 0℃ and 2℃. With respect to the results obtained for methane hydrate formation/dissociation and the amount of gas uptake, we concluded that HEC 90,000 at 5000 ppm is suitable for long-term gas storage and transportation under a mild pressure of 13 bar and at temperatures below the freezing point.     

Experimental and modeling study on decomposition kinetics of methane hydrates in different media

The decomposition kinetic behaviors of methane hydrates formed in 5 cm3 porous wet activated carbon were studied experimentally in a closed system in the temperature range of 275.8-264.4 K. The decomposition rates of methane hydrates formed from 5 cm3 of pure free water and an aqueous solution of 650 g x m(-3) sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) were also measured for comparison. The decomposition rates of methane hydrates in seven different cases were compared. The results showed that the methane hydrates dissociate more rapidly in porous activated carbon than in free systems. A mathematical model was developed for describing the decomposition kinetic behavior of methane hydrates below ice point based on an ice-shielding mechanism in which a porous ice layer was assumed to be formed during the decomposition of hydrate, and the diffusion of methane molecules through it was assumed to be one of the control steps. The parameters of the model were determined by correlating the decomposition rate data, and the activation energies were further determined with respect to three different media. The model was found to well describe the decomposition kinetic behavior of methane hydrate in different media.     

Stabilization of methane hydrate by pressurization with He or N2 gas

The behavior of methane hydrate was investigated after it was pressurized with helium or nitrogen gas in a test system by monitoring the gas compositions. The results obtained indicate that even when the partial pressure of methane gas in such a system is lower than the equilibrium pressure at a certain temperature, the dissociation rate of methane hydrate is greatly depressed by pressurization with helium or nitrogen gas. This phenomenon is only observed when the total pressure of methane and helium (or nitrogen) gas in the system is greater than the equilibrium pressure required to stabilize methane hydrate with just methane gas. The following model has been proposed to explain the observed phenomenon: (1) Gas bubbles develop at the hydrate surface during hydrate dissociation, and there is a pressure balance between the methane gas inside the gas bubbles and the external pressurizing gas (methane and helium or nitrogen), as transmitted through the water film; as a result the methane gas in the gas bubbles stabilizes the hydrate surface covered with bubbles when the total gas pressure is greater than the equilibrium pressure of the methane hydrate at that temperature; this situation persists until the gas in the bubbles becomes sufficiently dilute in methane or until the surface becomes bubble-free. (2) In case of direct contact of methane hydrate with water, the water surrounding the hydrate is supersaturated with methane released upon hydrate dissociation; consequently, methane hydrate is stabilized when the hydrostatic pressure is above the equilibrium pressure of methane hydrate at a certain temperature, again until the dissolved gas at the surface becomes sufficiently dilute in methane. In essence, the phenomenon is due to the presence of a nonequilibrium state where there is a chemical potential gradient from the solid hydrate particles to the bulk solution that exists as long as solid hydrate remains.     

Experimental and modeling study on hydrate formation in wet activated carbon

The formation of methane hydrate in wet activated carbon was studied. The experimental results demonstrated that the formation of methane hydrate could be enhanced by immersing activated carbon in water. A maximum actual storage capacity of 212 standard volumes of gas per volume of water was achieved. The apparent storage capacity of the activated carbon + hydrate bed increased with the increasing of mass ratio of water to carbon until reaching a maximum, then decreased drastically as the bulk water phase emerged above the wet carbon bed. The highest apparent storage capacity achieved was 140 v/v. A hydrate formation mechanism in the wet activated carbon was proposed and a mathematical model was developed. It has been shown that the proposed model is adequate for describing the hydrate formation kinetics in wet activated carbon. The kinetic model and the measured kinetic data were used to determine the formation conditions of methane hydrate in wet carbon, which are in good agreement with literature values and demonstrate that hydrate formation in wet carbon requires lower temperature or higher pressure than in the free water system.     

Enthalpy of dissociation and hydration number of methane hydrate from the Clapeyron equation

The enthalpies of the reactions in which methane hydrate is dissociated to methane vapor and either (1) water, or (2) ice are determined by a new analysis using the Clapeyron equation. The difference in enthalpies of the two reactions is used to infer the hydration number at the quadruple point where hydrate, ice, liquid water, and methane vapor coexist. By appropriate corrections, the hydration number at points removed from the quadruple point is also determined. The most important feature of the new analysis is the direct use of the Clapeyron equation. The method avoids the use of certain simplifying assumptions that have compromised the accuracy of previous analyses in which the Clausius-Clapeyron equation was used. The analysis takes into account the finite volumes of all phases, the non-ideality of the vapor phase, and the solubility of methane in water. The results show that the enthalpy of dissociation and hydration number are constant within experimental error over the entire (hydrate, liquid, vapor) coexistence region. The results are more accurate than but entirely consistent with almost all previous studies.     

Effective control of gas hydrate dissociation above the melting point of ice

Direct measurements of the dissociation behaviors of pure methane and ethane hydrates trapped in sintered tetrahydrofuran hydrate through a temperature ramping method showed that the tetrahydrofuran hydrate controls dissociation of the gas hydrates under thermodynamic instability at temperatures above the melting point of ice.     

Molecular dynamics study of carbon dioxide hydrate dissociation

We present results from a molecular dynamics study of the dissociation behavior of carbon dioxide (CO(2)) hydrates. We explore the effects of hydrate occupancy and temperature on the rate of hydrate dissociation. We quantify the rate of dissociation by tracking CO(2) release into the liquid water phase as well as the velocity of the hydrate-liquid water interface. Our results show that the rate of dissociation is dependent on the fractional occupancy of each cage type and cannot be described simply in terms of overall hydrate occupancy. Specifically, we find that hydrates with similar overall occupancy differ in their dissociation behavior depending on whether the small or large cages are empty. In addition, individual cages behave differently depending on their surrounding environment. For the same overall occupancy, filled small and large cages dissociate faster in the presence of empty large cages than when empty small cages are present. Therefore, hydrate dissociation is a collective phenomenon that cannot be described by focusing solely on individual cage behavior.     

Kinetics of hydrate formation using gas bubble suspended in water

An innovative experimental technique, which was devised to study the effects of temperature and pressure on the rate of hydrate formation at the surface of a gas bubble suspended in a stagnant water phase, was adapted in this work. Under such conditions, the hydrate-growth process is free from dynamic mass transfer factors. The rate of hydrate formation of methane and carbon dioxide has been systematically studied. The measured hydrate-growth data were correlated by using the molar Gibbs free energy as driving force. In the course of the experiments, some interesting surface phenomena were observed.     

Study of the permeability characteristics of porous media with methane hydrate by pore network model

The permeability in the methane hydrate reservoir is one of the key parameters in estimating the gas production performance and the flow behavior of gas and water during dissociation. In this paper, a three-dimensional cubic pore-network model based on invasion percolation is developed to study the effect of hydrate particle formation and growth habit on the permeability. The variation of permeability in porous media with different hydrate saturation is studied by solving the network problem. The simulation results are well consistent with the experimental data. The proposed model predicts that the permeability will reduce exponentially with the increase of hydrate saturation, which is crucial in developing a deeper understanding of the mechanism of hydrate formation and dissociation in porous media.     

Influence of sodium chloride on the melting of ice and crystallization and dissociation of CCl3F hydrate in water in oil emulsion

Trichlorofluoromethane (CCl₃F) and water form clathrate hydrate which melts at 8.5 °C under atmospheric pressure. By DSC and X rays analysis we could distinguish between hydrate and ice formed in emulsion containing NaCl and show that quantity of hydrate formed and its dissociation temperature are dependent on solution concentration. The equilibrium curve hydrate-NaCl solution is displaced towards higher temperatures with respect to corresponding ice curve. Consequently solid–liquid equilibrium can not be established in presence of both solids. Growth of hydrate crystals at the expense of ice was evidenced. Role of salt in hydrate growth and ice melting is examined.