EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES OF THE SATURATION LEVEL OF METHANE HYDRATE IN THE EASTERN NANKAI TROUGH SEDIMENTS

• Main Authors: Kawasaki, Tatsuji, Fujii, Tetsuya, Nakamizu, Masaru, Lu, Hailong, Ripmeester, John A.
• Other Authors: University of British Columbia. Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, International Conference on Gas Hydrates (6th : 2008 : Vancouver, B.C.)
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: English
• Published: 2008
• Subjects: Methane hydrate; Saturation; Sediment types; Particle size; Specific surface area
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2429/1095

The pore saturation of natural gas hydrate in sediments is a key parameter for estimating hydrate resources in a reservoir. For a better understanding of gas hydrate distribution, the experimental study of the pore saturation of methane hydrate in sediments from a hydrate reservoir in the Eastern Nankai Trough have been carried out. In total, eleven samples, comprising sand, silty sand, silt, and representative of the main sediment types identified in the Eastern Nankai trough, were tested. The results obtained clearly indicate a particle size and clay content dependent trend: almost 100% of pores were saturated with methane hydrate in sand when little silt and clay were present, decreasing to ~ 13% in silty sand (sand 54%, silt 41% and clay 5%), and ~ 4% in clayey silt. These results are generally consistent with NMR logging results for high-saturation samples, but somewhat different for samples with medium or low saturation levels. Non UBC Unreviewed