Abstract
The problem of methane hydrate decomposition in a reservoir saturated with a gas and hydrate mixture is investigated numerically. The results of the numerical simulation and an analytic solution obtained in the linear approximation are compared. It is shown that for high-permeability rocks the convective heat transfer in the near-well space of the reservoir predominates over the conductive transfer. This makes the use of intra-well heaters ineffective. It is found that an increase in the reservoir and well pressures and a decrease in the permeability suppress the formation of an extended hydrate dissociation region. Critical diagrams of existence of the frontal decomposition regime are constructed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
G. G. Tsypkin, “Occurrence of two moving phase transition boundaries in the dissociation of gas hydrates in reservoirs,” Dokl. Ros. Akad. Nauk, 323, No. 1, 52–57 (1992).
V. I. Vasiliev and V. V. Popov, “Mathematical modelling of decomposition of hydrates in porous medium,” in: Proc. 2nd Int. Conf. Finite-Difference Methods: Theory and Application. Minsk, 1998, Vol. 3, pp. 127–131.
G. G. Tsypkin, “Mathematical model of gas hydrates dissociation in porous media,” Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., 912, 428–436 (2000).
V. I. Vasil’ev, V. V. Popov, and T. C. Timofeeva, Computational Methods in Oil-and Gas-Field Development [in Russian], Press of the Siberian Branch of the RAS, Novosibirsk (2000).
N. Goel, M. Wiggins, and S. Shah, “Analytical modeling of gas recovery from in situ hydrate dissociation,” J. Petrol. Sci. and Eng., 29, No. 2, 115–127 (2001).
G. G. Tsypkin, “Mathematical model of the dissociation of gas hydrates coexisting with gas in reservoirs,” Dokl. Ross. Akad. Nauk, 381, No. 1, 56–59 (2001).
G. G. Tsypkin, “Regimes of dissociation of gas hydrates coexisting with gas in natural reservoirs, ” Inzh.-Fiz. Zh., 74, No. 5, 24–28 (2001).
C. Ji, G. Ahmadi, and D. H. Smith, “Constant rate natural gas production from a well in a hydrate reservoir,” Energy Conversation and Management, 44, No. 15, 2403–2423 (2003).
G. Ahmadi, C. Ji, and D. H. Smith, “Numerical solution for natural gas production from methane hydrate dissociation,” J. Petrol. Sci. and Eng., 41, No. 4, 269–285 (2004).
G. J. Moridis, T. S. Collet, S. R. Dallimore, T. Satoh, S. Hancock, and B. Weatherill, “Numerical studies of gas production from several H2O hydrate zones at Malik site, Mackenzie Delta, Canada,” J. Petrol. Sci. and Eng., 43, No. 3/4, 219–238 (2004).
G. G. Tsypkin, “Effect of decomposition of a gas hydrate on the gas recovery from a reservoir containing hydrate and gas in the free state,” Fluid Dynamics, 40, No. 1, 117–125 (2005).
V. I. Vasil’ev, A. M. Maksimov, E. E. Petrov, and G. G. Tsypkin, Heat and Mass Transfer in Freezing and Thawing Soils [in Russian], Nauka, Fizmatlit, Moscow (1997).
Additional information
__________
Translated from Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Academii Nauk, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 4, 2006, pp. 127–134.
Original Russian Text Copyright © 2006 by Vasil’ev, Popov, and Tsypkin.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Vasil’ev, V.I., Popov, V.V. & Tsypkin, G.G. Numerical investigation of the decomposition of gas hydrates coexisting with gas in natural reservoirs. Fluid Dyn 41, 599–605 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10697-006-0078-z
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10697-006-0078-z