Mathematical model of hydrate formation from microbial methane in marine sediments

A mathematical model of gas hydrate formation from microbial methane in marine sediments is proposed. An analytical solution of the problem is obtained, determining dimensionless parameters are distinguished, and numerical investigation is performed. In the region of main parameters a critical diagram of hydrate existence is plotted. It is shown that at small sediment accumulation rates microbial methane disperses due to diffusion of dissolved gas which does not reach saturation. If the sediment accumulation is intense, the region of possible hydrate formation falls within the region of stable thermodynamic states only at large depths. Correspondingly, in these cases, the probability of formation of hydrate-containing sediment layers is small. The most probable hydrate formation regime is realized at moderate sediment accumulation rates corresponding to Péclet numbers of the order of unity.