Onsite Research
Methane Hydrate Laboratory
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.
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