Multiscale investigation on CH4 hydrate production and CO2 hydrate storage at marine subsurface
Short abstract
Gas hydrates are crystallized compounds consisting of cage-like structures formed by water molecules and gas molecules such as methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2).
Abundant CH4 hydrates as prospective energy resources are distributed in natural hydrate-bearing sediments.
To recover CH4 gas for energy utilization, it is needed to dissociate solid CH4 hydrates into gas and water. Depressurization as the most economically feasible exploitation method has been implemented in several field tests.
However, it is still a bottleneck to maintain long-term efficient production of CH4 hydrates. Essential properties of hydrate-bearing sediments, e.g. pore surface wettability and gas/water/hydrate saturations/occurrences, are the controlling factors deciding CH4 hydrate formation/dissociation and thus need well understood.
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