Dissociation behavior of “dry water” C_3H_8 hydrate below ice point:Effect of phase state of unreacted residual water on a mechanism of gas hydrates dissociation

The results on a dissociation behavior of propane hydrates prepared from "dry water" and contained unreacted residual water in the form of ice inclusions or supercooled liquid water(water solution of gas) were presented for temperatures below 273 K.The temperature ramping or pressure release method was used for the dissociation of propane hydrate samples.It was found that the mechanism of gas hydrate dissociation at temperatures below 273 K depended on the phase state of unreacted water in the hydrate sample.Gas hydrates dissociated into ice and gas if the ice inclusions were in the hydrate sample.The samples of propane hydrates with inclusions of unreacted supercooled water only(without ice inclusions) dissociated into supercooled water and gas below the pressure of the supercooled water-hydrate-gas metastable equilibrium.     

DSC and PVT measurements

The dissociation of gas and model hydrates was studied using a classical thermodynamic method and a calorimetric method, in various aqueous media including pure water, high concentration calcium chloride solutions and water-in-oil emulsions. Methane hydrate dissociation temperatures vs. pressure curves were determined using pressure vs. temperature measurements in a constant volume cell (PVT), and high pressure differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), at 5 to 10 MPa gas pressure and at temperatures ranging from -10 to +12°C. PVT and DSC results are in good agreement, and concordant with data available in literature. From a thermodynamic point of view, there are no measurable differences between bulk solutions and emulsions. From a kinetic point of view, due to the considerable surface of interface between the two phases, emulsions allow the formation of much greater amounts of hydrate than solutions, without any agitation. Model hydrate of trichlorofluoromethane was studied in 9 to 27 mass% calcium chloride solutions in emulsion in oil, using DSC under atmospheric pressure, at temperatures ranging from -20 to +5°C. A diagram of dissociation temperature vs. salt concentration is proposed. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

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.     

Methane hydrate dissociation above 0 °C and below 0 °C

The kinetic data of methane hydrate dissociation at various temperatures and pressures were measured in a sapphire cell apparatus by depressurizing method. When the temperature was higher than 0 °C, the experimental results showed that the hydrate dissociation rate was controlled by intrinsic dissociation reaction. When the temperature was lower than 0 °C, water generated from the hydrate dissociation would transform into ice rapidly at the surface of hydrate crystal. The released gas diffused from the hydrate and ice mixture to the bulk of gas phase. With the hydrate continuous dissociation, the boundary of ice–hydrate moved toward water/ice phase. The hydrate dissociation was controlled by gas diffusion, and the hydrate dissociation process was treated as a moving boundary problem. Corresponding kinetic models for hydrate dissociation were established and good agreements with experimental data were achieved.     

Effect of the Degree of Oil Biodegradation on the Crystallization of Methane Hydrate and Ice in Water-Oil Emulsions

To study the influence exerted by oxidized oil components on the nucleation and growth of gas hydrates the nucleation of methane hydrate and ice in 50 wt % emulsions of oil in native oil and two samples of the same oil subjected to biodegradation for 30 and 60 days (samples N, V30, and V60, respectively) were examined. In the course of measurements, the samples were cooled to–15°C at a constant rate of 0.14 deg min^–1 and then heated to the initial temperature. The initial methane pressure in the system was 15 MPa at 20°C. In the process, the temperatures were recorded at which heat effects corresponding to the formation of hydrate/ice and the melting of these. In the case of emulsion N, no exothermic effects were manifested in the cooling stage. In the heating stage, the endothermic effects of ice melting were found in half of the samples. No effects corresponding to the decomposition of the hydrate were observed. In experiment with V30 samples, the formation of the hydrate and ice was manifested as strong exothermic effects. Ice was formed in all the experiments, and the hydrate, only in 21% of the samples. Finally, in experiments with V60, ice and the hydrate were formed in 54 and 13% of cases, respectively. Their formation was manifested as weak exothermic effects in the cooling stage. Thus, it was demonstrated that the biodegradation level of oil samples affects the nucleation of methane hydrate and ice in emulsions formed on the basis of these samples.

     

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.     

Texture change of ice on anomalously preserved methane clathrate hydrate

We used a confocal scanning microscope to observe growth and texture change of ice due to the dissociation of methane gas clathrate hydrate (CH(4) hydrate). The experiments were done under CH(4) gas atmospheric pressure and isothermal conditions between 170 and 268 K. Above 193 K, the dissociation of CH(4) hydrate resulted in many small ice particles that covered the hydrate surface. These ice particles had roughly the same shape and density between 193 and 210 K. In contrast, above 230 K the ice particles developed into a sheet of ice that covered the hydrate surface. Moreover, the measured release of CH(4) gas decreased when the sheet of ice formed at the surface of the hydrate. These findings can explain the anomalous preservation behavior of CH(4) hydrate; that is, the known increase of storage stability of CH(4) hydrate above 240 K is likely related to the formation of the ice that we observed in the experiments.     

Time-dependent nucleation of methane hydrate in a water-in-oil emulsion: effect of water redistribution

Nucleation is a key step in preventing gas hydrate formation during oil and gas production. Oil can sharply affect the hydrate nucleation with changing the activity of nucleation centers (mainly at the water–oil interface) over time. The spontaneous emulsification of water-in-oil emulsions in the course of aging can lead to a decrease in the size of water drops and, consequently, facilitate the hydrate nucleation and alter hydrate mitigation during the shut-in period     

A computer simulation of the mechanism of self-conservation of gas hydrates

Local density profiles and local component pressure profiles were obtained for two model systems containing methane hydrate and ice by molecular dynamics simulation. The ice matrix with methane hydrate clusters inserted into it was shown to be stable at normal pressure and even at a temperature higher than the temperature of methane hydrate dissociation. Calculations showed that the pressure in such a methane hydrate cluster inserted into ice was higher than in the ice phase. There were, however, no strong structure distortions because of the formation of a network of strong hydrogen bonds between the hydrate and ice phases.     

CO2水合物在砂中生成和分解的核磁共振弛豫响应

Quantification and characterization of hydrate formation and dissociation in sediments are highly important in the study of the physical properties of hydrate-bearing sediments. In this paper, the behavior of CO₂ hydrate formation and dissociation in sand is studied using the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technique. The components of the pore space, including gas, liquid water, and hydrate, were quantified using a convenient method by which the hydration number was determined. No abrupt change in the relaxation behavior of the sample was found during hydrate formation and dissociation. In addition, the value of mean-log T2₂ appeared to be proportional to the liquid water content of the sample with or without the pore hydrate. A straightforward explanation is that the liquid water in the pore space remains in contact with grain surfaces, and relaxation occurs mainly at the grain surface. The results suggest that, rather than coating the grains, the hydrate is pore-filling or cementing.     

Dissociation behavior of C2H6 hydrate at temperatures below the ice point: melting to liquid water followed by ice nucleation

The dissociation of C(2)H(6) hydrate particles by slow depressurization at temperatures slightly below the ice melting point was studied using optical microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Visual observations and Raman measurements revealed that ethane hydrates can be present as a metastable state at pressures lower than the dissociation pressures of the three components: ice, hydrate, and free gas. However, they decompose into liquid water and gas phases once the system pressure drops to the equilibrium boundary for supercooled water, hydrate, and free gas. Structural analyses of obtained Raman spectra indicate that structures of the metastable hydrates and liquid water from the hydrate decay are fundamentally identical to those of the stable hydrates and supercooled water without experience of the hydration. These results imply a considerably high energy barrier for the direct hydrate-to-ice transition. Water solidification, probably induced by dynamic nucleation, was also observed during melting.     

The influence of SO2 and NO2 impurities on CO2 gas hydrate formation and stability

The sequestration of industrially emitted CO(2) in gas hydrate reservoirs has been recently discussed as an option to reduce atmospheric greenhouse gas. This CO(2) contains, despite much effort to clean it, traces of impurities such as SO(2) and NO(2) . Here, we present results of a pilot study on CO(2) hydrates contaminated with 1% SO(2) or 1% NO(2) and show the impact on hydrate formation and stability. Microscopic observations show similar hydrate formation rates, but an increase in hydrate stability in the presence of SO(2). Laser Raman spectroscopy indicates a strong enrichment of SO(2) in the liquid and hydrate phase and its incorporation in both large and small cages of the hydrate lattice. NO(2) is not verifiable by laser Raman spectroscopy, only the presence of nitrate ions could be confirmed. Differential scanning calorimetry analyses show that hydrate stability and dissociation enthalpy of mixed CO(2)-SO(2) hydrates increase, but that only negligible changes arise in the presence of NO(2) impurities. X-ray diffraction data reveal the formation of sI hydrate in all experiments. The conversion rates of ice+gas to hydrate increase in the presence of SO(2), but decrease in the presence of NO(2). After hydrate dissociation, SO(2) and NO(2) dissolved in water and form strong acids.     

Numerical Simulation on the Dissociation,Formation, and Recovery of Gas Hydrates on Microscale Approach

Investigations into the structures of gas hydrates, the mechanisms of formation, and dissociation with modern instruments on the experimental aspects, including Raman, X-ray, XRD, X-CT, MRI, and pore networks, and numerical analyses, including CFD, LBM, and MD, were carried out. The gas hydrate characteristics for dissociation and formation are multi-phase and multi-component complexes. Therefore, it was important to carry out a comprehensive investigation to improve the concept of mechanisms involved in microscale porous media, emphasizing micro-modeling experiments, 3D imaging, and pore network modeling. This article reviewed the studies, carried out to date, regarding conditions surrounding hydrate dissociation, hydrate formation, and hydrate recovery, especially at the pore-scale phase in numerical simulations. The purpose of visualizing pores in microscale sediments is to obtain a robust analysis to apply the gas hydrate exploitation technique. The observed parameters, including temperature, pressure, concentration, porosity, saturation rate, and permeability, etc., present an interrelationship, to achieve an accurate production process method and recovery of gas hydrates.     

多孔介质中甲烷水合物的分解特性

利用定容降压方法测定了在不同多孔介质中甲烷水合物的分解实验数据, 所使用的多孔介质平均孔径分别为9.03, 12.95, 17.96和33.20 nm, 其中孔径为12.95 nm的多孔介质采用了3个粒径范围, 分别为0.105～0.150, 0.150～0.200和0.300～0.450 mm; 其它孔径的多孔介质的粒径范围为0.105～0.150 mm. 在封闭的条件下测定了不同温度与不同初始生成压力下甲烷水合物的分解实验数据(实验温度范围为269.15～278.15 K, 初始生成压力范围为4.1～11.0 MPa), 结果表明, 水合物的分解速度随着初始生成压力的增加和水浴温度的降低而升高, 也随孔径的增加而升高, 但随多孔介质粒径的增大而降低. 在孔径较大和分解温度较低时, 多孔介质中水合物分解引起的温度降低会使水结冰, 从而减缓水合物的分解速度.     

Time-resolved in situ neutron diffraction studies of gas hydrate: transformation of structure II (sII) to structure I (sI).

We report the in situ observation from diffraction data of the conversion of a gas hydrate with the structure II (sII) lattice to one with the structure I (sI) lattice. Initially, the in situ formation, dissociation, and reactivity of argon gas clathrate hydrate was investigated by time-of-flight neutron powder diffraction at temperatures ranging from 230 to 263 K and pressures up to 5000 psi (34.5 MPa). These samples were prepared from deuterated ice crystals and transformed to hydrate by pressurizing the system with argon gas. Complete transformation from D(2)O ice to sII Ar hydrate was observed as the sample temperature was slowly increased through the D(2)O ice melting point. The transformation of sII argon hydrate to sI hydrate was achieved by removing excess Ar gas and exposing the hydrate to liquid CO(2) by pressurizing the Ar hydrate with CO(2). Results suggest the sI hydrate formed from CO(2) exchange in argon sII hydrate is a mixed Ar/CO(2) hydrate. The proposed exchange mechanism is consistent with clathrate hydrate being an equilibrium system in which guest molecules are exchanging between encapsulated molecules in the solid hydrate and free molecules in the surrounding gas or liquid phase.     

Wettability of Freon hydrates in crude oil/brine emulsions

The surface energy of petroleum hydrates is believed to be a key parameter with regard to hydrate morphology and plugging tendency in petroleum production. As of today, the surface energy of natural gas hydrates is unknown, but will depend on the fluids in which they grow. In this work, the wettability of Freon hydrates is evaluated from their behavior in crude oil emulsions. For emulsions stabilized by colloidal particles, the particle wettability is a governing parameter for the emulsion behavior. The transition between continuous and dispersed phases as a function of brine volume in crude oil-brine emulsions containing Freon hydrates has been determined for 12 crude oils. Silica particles are used for comparison. The results show that phase inversion is highly dependent on crude oil properties. Based on the measured points of phase inversion, the wettability of the Freon hydrates generated in each system is evaluated as being oil-wet, intermediate-wet, or water-wet. Generation of oil-wet hydrates correlates with low hydrate plugging tendency. The formation of oil-wet hydrates will prevent agglomeration into large hydrate aggregates and plugs. Hence, it is believed that the method is applicable for differentiating oils with regard to hydrate morphology.     

Hydrate kinetics study in the presence of nonaqueous liquid by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging

The dynamics of methane hydrate growth and decomposition were studied by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and imaging (MRI). Three well-known large molecule guest substances (LMGS) were used as structure H hydrate formers: 2,2-dimethylbutane (NH), methylcyclohexane (MCH), tert-butyl methyl ether (TBME). In addition, the impact of a non-hydrate former (n-heptane/nC7) was studied. The methane diffusion and hydrate growth were monitored by recording the 2H NMR spectra at 253 K and approximately 4.5 MPa for 20 h. The results revealed that methane diffuses faster in TBME and NH, slower in nC7, and slowest in MCH. The TBME system gives the fastest hydrate formation kinetics followed by NH, MCH, and nC7. The conversion of water into hydrate was also observed. The imaging study showed that TBME has a strong affinity toward ice, which is not the case for the NH and MCH systems. The degree of ice packing was also found to affect the LMGS distribution between ice particles. Highly packed ice increases the mass transfer resistance and hence limits the contact between LMGS and ice. It was also found that "temperature ramping" above the ice point improves the conversion significantly. Finally, hydrates were found to dissociate quickly within the first hour at atmospheric pressure and subsequently at a much slower rate. Methane dissolved in LMGS was also seen. The residual methane in hydrate phase and dissolved in LMGS phase explain the faster kinetics during hydrate re-formation.     

Structures of hydrocarbon hydrates during formation with and without inhibitors

The formation of hydrates from a methane-ethane-propane mixture is more complex than with single gases. Using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and high-pressure powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), we have investigated the structural properties of natural gas hydrates crystallized in the presence of kinetic hydrate inhibitors (KHIs), two commercial inhibitors and two biological ice inhibitors, or antifreeze proteins (AFPs). NMR analyses indicated that hydrate cage occupancy was at near saturation for controls and most inhibitor types. Some exceptions were found in systems containing a new commercial KHI (HIW85281) and a recombinant plant AFP, suggesting that these two inhibitors could impact the kinetics of cavity formation. NMR analysis confirmed that the hydrate composition varies during crystal growth by kinetic effects. Strikingly, the coexistence of both structures I (sI) and II (sII) were observed in NMR spectra and PXRD profiles. It is suggested that sI phases may form more readily from liquid water. Real time PXRD monitoring showed that sI hydrates were less stable than sII crystals, and there was a conversion to the stable phase over time. Both commercial KHIs and AFPs had an impact on hydrate metastability, but transient sI PXRD intensity profiles indicated significantly different modes of interaction with the various inhibitors and the natural gas hydrate system.     

Specific features of the growth,composition, and content of natural gas hydrates synthesized in inverted oil emulsions

A study of specific features of the growth, composition, and content of natural gas hydrates formed in a water-in-oil emulsion demonstrated that the process in which hydrates are formed in a water-oil emulsion occurs in stages and depends on the saturation of hydrate growth zones with the hydrate-forming gas via diffusion of natural-gas components across the oil phase. Hydrates enriched in methane are formed in water-oil emulsions, compared with the hydrates grown from distilled water, which is accounted for by the difference in solubility between natural-gas components in oil and water, and also by the presence of a surfactant layer on the surface of emulsified water drops. With increasing fraction of water in an emulsion, the content of hydrates decreases, and the mass of a hydrate being formed is independent of the composition of the water-oil emulsion.