Multi-phase retrieval of methane hydrate in natural sediments by cryogenic x-ray computed tomography

• Published in: The Journal of Chemical Physics
• Main Authors: Takeya, Satoshi, Hachikubo, Akihiro, Sakagami, Hirotoshi, Minami, Hirotsugu, Yamashita, Satoshi, Hirano, Keiichi, Hyodo, Kazuyuki, Yoneyama, Akio
• Other Authors: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science London
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: AIP Publishing 2024
• Subjects: Physical and Theoretical Chemistry; General Physics and Astronomy; Okhotsk; Methane hydrate; okhotsk sea
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0189025; https://pubs.aip.org/aip/jcp/article-pdf/doi/10.1063/5.0189025/18297203/024201_1_5.0189025.pdf

In this study, we observed natural methane (CH4) hydrate sediments, which are a type of unconventional natural gas resources, using x-ray computed tomography (CT). Because CH4 hydrates are formed by hydrogen bonding of water molecules with CH4, material decomposition becomes challenging when CH4 hydrates coexist with liquid or solid water in natural sediments. Tri-contrast (absorption, refraction, and scattering) imaging was performed via diffraction enhanced x-ray CT optics using monochromatic synchrotron x rays. The quantitative characterization of the contrast changes successfully enabled the decomposition of CH4 hydrates coexisting with frozen seawater (ice) in natural sediments obtained from the Okhotsk Sea. This study reveals complementary structural information about the microtexture and spatial relation among CH4 hydrates, ice, and pores by utilizing the distinct physical properties of x rays when passing through the materials. These results highlight the exceptional capabilities of high-resolution multicontrast x-ray tomography in materials science and geoscience applications.