Pore-scale water–gas distribution and gas permeability of natural gas hydrate reservoirs in the South China Sea
Challenges in water drainage within natural gas hydrate reservoirs in the Shenhu area of the South China Sea, characterized by high clay content and strong hydrophilicity, significantly hinder natural gas recovery. Examining the effects of gas pressure and liquid/gas saturation on gas permeability r...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-07-01
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| Series: | Geoscience Frontiers |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987124000409 |
| _version_ | 1797260017828626432 |
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| author | Yuxuan Xia Derek Elsworth Jianchao Cai Cheng Lu Chao Ma |
| author_facet | Yuxuan Xia Derek Elsworth Jianchao Cai Cheng Lu Chao Ma |
| author_sort | Yuxuan Xia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Challenges in water drainage within natural gas hydrate reservoirs in the Shenhu area of the South China Sea, characterized by high clay content and strong hydrophilicity, significantly hinder natural gas recovery. Examining the effects of gas pressure and liquid/gas saturation on gas permeability reveals essential insights for increasing gas production potential. We report gas displacement experiments on clayey-silt sediment samples, alongside X-ray computed tomography imaging, that reveal critical findings: a notable increase in flow rate and permeability as displacement pressure nears compaction pressure, highlighting the role of pressure management in enhancing recovery; water displacement from varying pore sizes under different pressures, highlighting the influence of pore size on fluid dynamics, and structural changes, including microfracture formation and a significant fracture that enlarges total pore space by about 15%, which collectively suggest methods to improve gas flow and recovery. Moreover, our analysis identifies average throat length, fractal dimension, and succolarity as principal controls on gas permeability, indicating the substantial impact of microstructural properties on extraction efficiency. These outcomes offer valuable strategies for optimizing natural gas hydrate reservoir development in the South China Sea, emphasizing the need for meticulous pressure and saturation control and in applying a deep understanding of microstructural dynamics. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T23:18:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-90c57dfade674a1cb7ad13700b4d4420 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1674-9871 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T23:18:38Z |
| publishDate | 2024-07-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geoscience Frontiers |
| spelling | doaj.art-90c57dfade674a1cb7ad13700b4d44202024-03-17T07:53:07ZengElsevierGeoscience Frontiers1674-98712024-07-01154101816Pore-scale water–gas distribution and gas permeability of natural gas hydrate reservoirs in the South China SeaYuxuan Xia0Derek Elsworth1Jianchao Cai2Cheng Lu3Chao Ma4National Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, ChinaDepartment of Energy and Mineral Engineering, G3 Center and Energy Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802, PA, United StatesNational Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China; Corresponding author.Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, China Geological Survey, Guangzhou 510075, China; Center of Oil & Natural Gas Resource Exploration, China Geological Survey, Beijing 100083, ChinaGuangzhou Marine Geological Survey, China Geological Survey, Guangzhou 510075, ChinaChallenges in water drainage within natural gas hydrate reservoirs in the Shenhu area of the South China Sea, characterized by high clay content and strong hydrophilicity, significantly hinder natural gas recovery. Examining the effects of gas pressure and liquid/gas saturation on gas permeability reveals essential insights for increasing gas production potential. We report gas displacement experiments on clayey-silt sediment samples, alongside X-ray computed tomography imaging, that reveal critical findings: a notable increase in flow rate and permeability as displacement pressure nears compaction pressure, highlighting the role of pressure management in enhancing recovery; water displacement from varying pore sizes under different pressures, highlighting the influence of pore size on fluid dynamics, and structural changes, including microfracture formation and a significant fracture that enlarges total pore space by about 15%, which collectively suggest methods to improve gas flow and recovery. Moreover, our analysis identifies average throat length, fractal dimension, and succolarity as principal controls on gas permeability, indicating the substantial impact of microstructural properties on extraction efficiency. These outcomes offer valuable strategies for optimizing natural gas hydrate reservoir development in the South China Sea, emphasizing the need for meticulous pressure and saturation control and in applying a deep understanding of microstructural dynamics.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987124000409Natural gas hydrateClayey-silt sedimentsGas saturationGas permeabilityMicrostructure |
| spellingShingle | Yuxuan Xia Derek Elsworth Jianchao Cai Cheng Lu Chao Ma Pore-scale water–gas distribution and gas permeability of natural gas hydrate reservoirs in the South China Sea Geoscience Frontiers Natural gas hydrate Clayey-silt sediments Gas saturation Gas permeability Microstructure |
| title | Pore-scale water–gas distribution and gas permeability of natural gas hydrate reservoirs in the South China Sea |
| title_full | Pore-scale water–gas distribution and gas permeability of natural gas hydrate reservoirs in the South China Sea |
| title_fullStr | Pore-scale water–gas distribution and gas permeability of natural gas hydrate reservoirs in the South China Sea |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pore-scale water–gas distribution and gas permeability of natural gas hydrate reservoirs in the South China Sea |
| title_short | Pore-scale water–gas distribution and gas permeability of natural gas hydrate reservoirs in the South China Sea |
| title_sort | pore scale water gas distribution and gas permeability of natural gas hydrate reservoirs in the south china sea |
| topic | Natural gas hydrate Clayey-silt sediments Gas saturation Gas permeability Microstructure |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987124000409 |
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