Thermal Properties of Methane Hydrate by Experiment and Modeling and Impacts on Technology

Thermal properties of pure methane hydrate, under conditions similar to naturally occurring hydrate-bearing sediments being considered for potential production, have been determined both by a new experimental technique and by advanced molecular dynamics simulation (MDS). A novel single-sided, Transi...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Warzinski, R.P., Gamwo, I.K., Rosenbaum, E.M., Jiang, Hao, Jordan, K.D., English, N.J., Shaw, D.W.
Language:unknown
Published: 2018
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/936333
https://www.osti.gov/biblio/936333
https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119066354.ch66
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Summary:Thermal properties of pure methane hydrate, under conditions similar to naturally occurring hydrate-bearing sediments being considered for potential production, have been determined both by a new experimental technique and by advanced molecular dynamics simulation (MDS). A novel single-sided, Transient Plane Source (TPS) technique has been developed and used to measure thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity values of low-porosity methane hydrate formed in the laboratory. The experimental thermal conductivity data are closely matched by results from an equilibrium MDS method using in-plane polarization of the water molecules. MDS was also performed using a non-equilibrium model with a fully polarizable force field for water. The calculated thermal conductivity values from this latter approach were similar to the experimental data. The impact of thermal conductivity on gas production from a hydrate-bearing reservoir was also evaluated using the Tough+/Hydrate reservoir simulator.