Phase equilibrium study of methane hydrate

• Main Author: Shukla, Rahul
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: The Research Repository @ WVU 2002
• Subjects: Chemical engineering; Psi; Methane hydrate
• Online Access: https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/1261; https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2264&context=etd

Gas hydrates are solid metastable ice like compounds formed when gas comes in contact with water and have the ability to form at low temperatures. In this study, methane gas hydrates were formed in a Berea sandstone core, which was saturated with brine and then pressurized with methane gas. The formation temperatures were 34°F, 36°F and 40°F and the initial pressures were in the range of 1000--1200 psi. Variation of the methane pressure was monitored with time during the formation run. Dissociation experiments were then carried out and the pressure profile along the core with time was recorded. The volume of gas produced during dissociation was recorded with time. Equilibrium pressures were found to be 540 psi, 544 psi and 620 psi for 34°F, 36°F and 40°F, respectively. From the initial rate constants for formation, the activation energy was found to be 79 kJ/mole. The formation of hydrate usually takes 45 hrs while the dissociation takes less than 2 hrs.