ESD12-011

Goal
The objective of this research is to measure physical, chemical, mechanical, and hydrologic property changes in methane hydrate bearing sediments subjected to injection of carbon dioxide and nitrogen.

Performer
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA 94720

Background
A number of studies have investigated the impact of injecting carbon dioxide (CO₂) and CO₂-nitrogen (N₂) mixtures into methane hydrate for the purpose of sequestering CO₂ and releasing methane (CH₄), and review articles have been published summarizing the literature. Most of these studies have investigated the fundamental physical/chemical nature of the exchange of CO₂ and/or N₂ with CH₄ in the clathrate. These studies have helped identify the limits of the effectiveness of CO₂ injection into methane hydrate for the purposes of methane production and CO₂ sequestration.

Few studies have examined the hydrologic and physical/mechanical property changes that occur during a hydrate composition change. In the few studies that have been conducted, researchers did not measure hydrologic properties; quantification of the effluent gas was crude and performed over a limited range of conditions (mostly dry hydrate) and failed to address important reservoir issues such as pressure increase upon injection and the effect of changes in gas composition in a system where the gas compostion varies..

This research will investigate processes associated with the injection of N₂, CO₂, and mixtures of these gases into methane hydrate-bearing porous media under non-stirred batch and flow-through conditions, and will attempt to quantify the exchange kinetics of the N₂ and CO₂ replacement into methane hydrate using flow-through reactors and breakthrough curve analysis. Permeability will be measured to detect changes, and geophysical property changes will be measured using either the Split Hopkinson Resonant Bar apparatus or a flow-through vessel with p- and s- wave transducers in the end platens.

Impact
The primary benefits of this lab-based research are improved empirical relationships among physical, chemical, mechanical, and hydrologic property changes in methane hydrate-bearing sediments subjected to injection of CO₂ and N₂, which will assist in understanding the results of hydrate production field test data.

Accomplishments

• No accomplishments to date. Work under this FWP is slated to begin in early June 2012.
• For accomplishments from past, related efforts, please see the project page for ESD05-048.

Current Status (May 2012)
Activity under this FWP is slated to begin in early June 2012. Scheduled research includes the following:

• Measurement of kinetics of gas exchange in hydrate
• Investigation of mechanical and hydrologic property changes of methane hydrate-bearing media subjected to N₂ and CO₂ flushing

Project Start: June 1, 2012
Project End: May 31, 2013

Project Cost Information:
DOE Contribution: $100,000; Recipient Contribution: $0

Contact Information:
NETL – Richard Baker (Richard.Baker@netl.doe.gov or 304-285-4714)
LBNL ?Timothy J. Kneafsey (tjkneafsev@lbl.gov or 510-486-4414)
If you are unable to reach the above personnel, please contact the content manager.