NETL's methane hydrate laboratory pursues the data, technology, and knowledge needed to produce methane from hydrate deposits. Hydrate view cells are an important tool used to determine the physical properties of hydrates synthesized in the laboratory and of hydrate samples recovered during coring operations in deepwater and permafrost sediments. Methane hydrate is a crystalline combination of a natural gas and water. It looks like ice but burns if exposed to fire. It has been estimated that the energy locked up in methane hydrate deposits is more than twice the global reserves of all conventional gas, oil, and coal deposits combined.

The 15 liter view cell, designed and constructed at NETL, is the second largest in the United States. The 15L cell includes seven sapphire window view ports, each an inch and a half in diameter. The hydrates inside are studied at 1,500 psi. Ongoing research includes permeability and capillary pressure experiments.

The High-Pressure, Variable-Volume View Cells (HVVC) are used to study hydrates at pressures up to 10,000 psi. One of the HVVCs is used to study the thermophysical properties of hydrates. It contains a new type of cup assembly that incorporates a transient plane source (TPS) element to determine thermal properties of unconsolidated methane hydrate. The TPS technique allows for thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity values to be obtained from one measurement.

Computational studies on hydrate formation provide additional data for modeling efforts. Early modeling results show that the thermal properties of hydrate-bearing sediments strongly influence hydrate decomposition and production.

Using hydrate reservoir simulator modules, researchers are developing a comprehensive comparison of hydrate resource characteristics and abilities. Through these efforts, an “open-source” simulator will be available through NETL, which will promote a better understanding of the potential gas production resource from the vast U.S. reserves of methane hydrates.

For more information contact Charles Taylor.