Rapid Gas Hydrate Formation Processes: Will They Work?

• Main Authors: Brown, T. D., Taylor, C. E., Bernardo, M. P.
• Other Authors: United States. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: National Energy Technology Laboratory (U.S.) 2010
• Subjects: Stability Methane Hydrate Formation Techniques; Increasing Hydrate Formation Rate(S); 36 Materials Science; Dissolution; Formation; Storage; Transportation Of Methane Hydrate; Hydrates; Nucleation; Gas Hydrates; Methane Hydrate Formation Techniques; Crystallization; Rapid Gas Hydrate Formation Techniques; Induction; Methane hydrate
• Online Access: https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc829997/

Researchers at DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) have been investigating the formation of synthetic gas hydrates, with an emphasis on rapid and continuous hydrate formation techniques. The investigations focused on unconventional methods to reduce dissolution, induction, nucleation and crystallization times associated with natural and synthetic hydrates studies conducted in the laboratory. Numerous experiments were conducted with various high-pressure cells equipped with instrumentation to study rapid and continuous hydrate formation. The cells ranged in size from 100 mL for screening studies to proof-of-concept studies with NETL’s 15-Liter Hydrate Cell. Results from this work demonstrate that the rapid and continuous formation of methane hydrate is possible at predetermined temperatures and pressures within the stability zone of a Methane Hydrate Stability Curve (see Figure 1).