Numerical Modeling of Gas Migration and Hydrate Formation in Heterogeneous Marine Sediments
The formation of marine gas hydrates is controlled by gas migration and accumulation from lower sediments and by the conditions of the hydrate stability zone. Permeability and porosity are important factors to evaluate the gas migration capacity and reservoir sealing capacity, and to determine the d...
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doaj-0f815dfeddc24c8689e0f32b7c407d902021-04-02T06:31:51ZengMDPI AGJournal of Marine Science and Engineering2077-13122019-10-0171034810.3390/jmse7100348jmse7100348Numerical Modeling of Gas Migration and Hydrate Formation in Heterogeneous Marine SedimentsKeqi Bei0Tianfu Xu1Songhua Shang2Zilin Wei3Yilong Yuan4Hailong Tian5Key Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, ChinaKey Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, ChinaKey Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, ChinaKey Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, ChinaKey Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, ChinaKey Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, ChinaThe formation of marine gas hydrates is controlled by gas migration and accumulation from lower sediments and by the conditions of the hydrate stability zone. Permeability and porosity are important factors to evaluate the gas migration capacity and reservoir sealing capacity, and to determine the distribution of hydrates in the stable region. Based on currently available geological data from field measurements in the Shenhu area of Baiyun Sag in the northern South China Sea, numerical simulations were conducted to estimate the influence of heterogeneities in porosity and permeability on the processes of hydrate formation and accumulation. The simulation results show that: (1) The heterogeneity of the hydrate stability zone will affect the methane migration within it and influence the formation and accumulation of hydrates. This is one of the reasons for the formation of heterogeneous hydrates. (2) When the reservoir is layered heterogeneously, stratified differences in gas lateral migration and hydrate formation will occur in the sediment, and the horizontal distribution range of the hydrate in a high porosity and permeability reservoir is wider. (3) To determine the dominant enrichment area of hydrate in a reservoir, we should consider both vertical and lateral conditions of the sedimentary layer, and the spatial coupling configuration relationships among the hydrate stability region, reservoir space and gas migration and drainage conditions should be considered comprehensively. The results are helpful to further understand the rules of hydrate accumulation in the Shenhu area on the northern slope of the South China Sea, and provide some references for future hydrate exploration and the estimation of reserves.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/7/10/348natural gas hydrateformation and accumulationnumerical simulationheterogeneitynorthern south china seashenhu area |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Keqi Bei Tianfu Xu Songhua Shang Zilin Wei Yilong Yuan Hailong Tian |
spellingShingle |
Keqi Bei Tianfu Xu Songhua Shang Zilin Wei Yilong Yuan Hailong Tian Numerical Modeling of Gas Migration and Hydrate Formation in Heterogeneous Marine Sediments Journal of Marine Science and Engineering natural gas hydrate formation and accumulation numerical simulation heterogeneity northern south china sea shenhu area |
author_facet |
Keqi Bei Tianfu Xu Songhua Shang Zilin Wei Yilong Yuan Hailong Tian |
author_sort |
Keqi Bei |
title |
Numerical Modeling of Gas Migration and Hydrate Formation in Heterogeneous Marine Sediments |
title_short |
Numerical Modeling of Gas Migration and Hydrate Formation in Heterogeneous Marine Sediments |
title_full |
Numerical Modeling of Gas Migration and Hydrate Formation in Heterogeneous Marine Sediments |
title_fullStr |
Numerical Modeling of Gas Migration and Hydrate Formation in Heterogeneous Marine Sediments |
title_full_unstemmed |
Numerical Modeling of Gas Migration and Hydrate Formation in Heterogeneous Marine Sediments |
title_sort |
numerical modeling of gas migration and hydrate formation in heterogeneous marine sediments |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
issn |
2077-1312 |
publishDate |
2019-10-01 |
description |
The formation of marine gas hydrates is controlled by gas migration and accumulation from lower sediments and by the conditions of the hydrate stability zone. Permeability and porosity are important factors to evaluate the gas migration capacity and reservoir sealing capacity, and to determine the distribution of hydrates in the stable region. Based on currently available geological data from field measurements in the Shenhu area of Baiyun Sag in the northern South China Sea, numerical simulations were conducted to estimate the influence of heterogeneities in porosity and permeability on the processes of hydrate formation and accumulation. The simulation results show that: (1) The heterogeneity of the hydrate stability zone will affect the methane migration within it and influence the formation and accumulation of hydrates. This is one of the reasons for the formation of heterogeneous hydrates. (2) When the reservoir is layered heterogeneously, stratified differences in gas lateral migration and hydrate formation will occur in the sediment, and the horizontal distribution range of the hydrate in a high porosity and permeability reservoir is wider. (3) To determine the dominant enrichment area of hydrate in a reservoir, we should consider both vertical and lateral conditions of the sedimentary layer, and the spatial coupling configuration relationships among the hydrate stability region, reservoir space and gas migration and drainage conditions should be considered comprehensively. The results are helpful to further understand the rules of hydrate accumulation in the Shenhu area on the northern slope of the South China Sea, and provide some references for future hydrate exploration and the estimation of reserves. |
topic |
natural gas hydrate formation and accumulation numerical simulation heterogeneity northern south china sea shenhu area |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/7/10/348 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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