Permeability of Laboratory-Formed Hydrate-Bearing Sand (OTC 19536)

Authors: Timothy J. Kneafsey (speaker), Yongkoo Seol, Arvind Gupta, and Liviu Tomutsa

Venue: 2008 Offshore Technology Conference, Houston, Texas, May 5-8, 2008 http://www.spe.org and http://www.smenet.org [external sites]

Abstract: Methane hydrate was formed in moist sand under confining stress in a long, x-ray transparent pressure vessel. Three initial water saturations were used to form three different methane hydrate saturations. X-ray computed tomography (CT) was used to observe location-specific density changes, caused by hydrate formation and flowing water. Gas permeability was measured in each test for dry sand, moist sand, frozen sand, and hydrate-bearing sand. Results of these measurements are presented. Water was flowed through the hydrate-bearing sand, and the changes in water saturation were observed using CT scanning. Inverse modeling will be performed using these data to extend the relative permeability measurements.

Related NETL Project
This presentation is related to the NETL project ESD05-048, “Laboratory Studies in Support of Characterization of Recoverable Resources from Methane Hydrate Deposits.” The overall objective of this proposal is to continue in Fiscal Year 2006 the current studies on the characterization and analysis of recoverable resources from gas hydrate deposits. The research will enhance the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL)-funded programs on Natural Gas Hydrate research and development by bringing new laboratory measurements and evaluation techniques to bear on the difficult problems of characterization and gas recovery from methane hydrate deposits.

Project Contacts
NETL – Robert Vagnetti (Robert.Vagnetti@netl.doe.gov or 304-285-1334)
LBNL – Timothy J. Kneafsey (tjkneafsey@lbl.gov or 510-486-4414)