NETL: Methane Hydrates - DOE/NETL Projects

The National Methane Hydrates R&D Program
DOE/NETL Methane Hydrate Projects

Gulf of Mexico Gas Hydrates Joint Industry Project (JIP) Characterizing Natural Gas Hydrates in the Deep Water Gulf of Mexico - Applications for Safe Exploration and Production

Last Reviewed 5/15/2012

DE-FC26-01NT41330

Goal:
The goal of this project is to develop technology and collect data to assist in the characterization of naturally occurring gas hydrates in the deep water Gulf of Mexico (GoM). The intent of the project is to create a better understanding of the impact of hydrates on safety and seafloor stability as well as to provide data that can be used by scientists in their study of climate change and assessment of the feasibility of marine hydrate as a potential future energy resource.

The Semi-Submersible Helix Q4000 used on the 21 day JIP Leg II Drilling and Logging Expedition

Performers / Contributors / JIP Members:

Chevron Energy Technology Company ? JIP partner, project management, Drilling and Coring team lead
Schlumberger Oilfield Services ? JIP member
Halliburton Energy Services ? JIP member
ConocoPhillips Inc. ? JIP member
Total ? JIP member
Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation ? JIP member
Reliance Industries Ltd. ? JIP member
StatoilHydro - JIP Member
Korean National Oil Company (KNOC) - JIP Member
Minerals Management Service ? non-cost-share JIP member
Naval Research Lab ? pre-cruise site geochemical and thermal investigation
US Geological Survey ? variety of contributions to the overall science program
Rice University - Geologic Modeling
Aumann & Associates Inc. - pressure coring tool evaluation and design
Scripps Institute of Oceanography ? Science lead
Georgia Institute of Technology ? Laboratory studies; development of ship-based sampling equipment
AOA Geophysics - contribution to seismic evaluation and field site selection and characterization
GeoTek Ltd ? pressure core analysis and transfer device development

Background:
This project is developing technology and collecting data to assist in the characterization of gas hydrates in the deep water GoM. The efforts undertaken in Phases 1 and 2 of the project reflect industry?s desire to more fully understand the safety issues related to conventional oil and gas operations in areas prone to hydrate occurrence. These goals necessitate utilization of advanced seismic processing, collection of samples to improve the validity of the assumptions that drive seismic interpretations, the determination of impact on wellbore stability, and the development of field sampling methods capable of providing the needed data.

The emphasis of activities under Phase 3 of the project has shifted to research on the characterization of concentrated, reservoir relevant, gas hydrate occurrence in coarse-grained intervals. This work will help to quantify the seismic and geologic hydrate prediction methodologies developed as a part of the project, while also providing valuable insight into the behavior of concentrated hydrate occurrence. This activity will also help to advance the major program goals of assessing the marine hydrate reservoir and determining the technical recoverability of marine hydrates.

Impacts
Information resulting from this project has the potential to increase understanding of risks and appropriate operational procedures for conducting traditional oil/gas activities in areas of hydrate occurrence; advance techniques and technologies used to assess gas hydrates in field and laboratory settings; contribute to scientific understanding of gas hydrate?s role in the global climate; characterize gas hydrate occurrence in the GoM, and serve as vital step in determining the commercial viability of marine hydrate accumulations.

Accomplishments:
Phase 3 (to date)

Completed the Chevron Leg III safety assessment process and gained preliminary acceptance of a Leg III operational plan that focuses on shipboard logging and pressure core collection to be followed by analyses of cores from a shore-based facility.
Gave a presentation on project activity, status and results to date at the 7th International Conference on Gas Hydrates in Edinburgh, Scotland.
The JIP proposal was accepted for publication in the Journal of Marine and Petroleum Geology as a special thematic volume detailing the JIP Leg II Scientific results.
Began design and construction of a new pressure coring tool, pressure core storage, and sampling analysis and transfer devices for use in the planned Leg III coring expedition. The completion of construction of these systems is anticipated by July 2011.
Completed selection of Leg III science staff and definition of scientific targets and objectives.
Public release of initial Leg II scientific results via the NETL website in March 2010.
Successfully completed the 21 day JIP Leg II GoM Hydrate Drilling and Logging Expedition.
- Seven wells were drilled and logged at three different locations (WR313, GC955, and AC21).
  
  Well logs from the WR313 H well
- Demonstrated the occurrence of gas hydrates at high saturations in reservoir-quality sands in the GoM.
- Found hydrate deposits in close accordance with pre-drill predictions, demonstrating the validity of the hydrate exploration and appraisal tools and techniques used in finding, delineating, and characterizing targeted accumulations.
- Logging featured the use of an advanced suite of logging-while-drilling tools that provided unprecedented 3-D images of the hydrate-bearing sediments.
- Wells drilled at WR313 represent the deepest gas hydrate research wells in the world to date.
- Discovered some of the most promising marine hydrate accumulations in the world.
Completed a detailed site evaluation and selection for the Leg II (Phase 3A) drilling and logging expedition resulting in potential drilling targets within GoM lease blocks WR313, GC955, AC21/65, EB990/992, and GC781/825.

Phase 1 and 2

Activities under Phases 1 and 2 have been completed.
Published scientific results of the 2005 Leg I (Phase 2) expedition as a dedicated volume of the Journal of Marine and Petroleum Geology (November 2008).
Conducted a series of workshops to set the criteria for selection and recommend possible sites for Leg II and Leg III field sites.
Furthered the development of pressure core capabilities by supporting the analysis of pressure cores taken during the Indian government's summer 2006 expedition.
Produced and field tested new tools to enable ship-based handling and analyses of field samples from marine hydrate expeditions.
In May 2005, conducted the first hydrate drilling, logging, and coring expedition in the GoM.
- Five wells at two distinct GoM locations (AV13/14, KC151)
- Collected an outstanding suite of well-logs and borehole seismic through the hydrate stability zone
- Collected over 200 m of core
- Identified a 60m thick interval of significant hydrate saturation
- Demonstrated the viability of pre-drill techniques and technologies used for hydrate identification and characterization
- Demonstrated the ability to safely drill / operate in areas of GoM hydrate occurrence
Completed an extensive array of laboratory studies on the physical and mechanical properties of fine-grained, hydrate-bearing sediments.

Current Status (May 2012)
Phase 3A is complete, with Leg II scientific results slated for release as a special volume of Marine and Petroleum Geology in June 2012.

A Chevron drilling and safety assessment of the planned Leg III logging and coring expedition resulted in recommendations including the adoption of an industry-style coring operation, use of a Chevron-controlled drill ship, and conducting a number of short duration, one well expeditions rather than a long duration multi-well expedition. The impacts of those recommendations on the structure, cost, and ability to conduct planned Leg III activities are still being considered by the project team.

Primary project activities continue to focus on development, construction, and testing of pressure coring and pressure core analysis tools. As part of the Chevron drilling assessment mentioned above, the use of large diameter drilling casing (rather than traditional drill pipe) for the coring operation has been ruled out. The previous design for the high-pressure coring system assumed the use of drilling casing, and as such, the project team is revisiting options for a fully compatible system design, which could include reworking the current system, or the use of an alternative design. Design, construction, and fit-up testing of the redesigned Pressure Core Analysis and Transfer System (PCATS) have been completed. The design of several tools for use in manipulation and analysis of never-depressurized core sub-samples (after analysis with the PCATS system) is complete, with construction expected to be wrap up by late summer 2012.

Project Start: September 30, 2001
Project End: : December 31, 2012

Planned Total Project Cost Information:
Phase 1: DOE Contribution:$1,504,855, Recipient Contribution: $3,260,772
Phase 2: DOE Contribution:$10,992,620, Recipient Contribution: $5,613,664
Planned Phase 3: DOE Contribution:$27,718,408, Recipient Contribution: $5,878,557

Planned Total Funding (if project continues through all project phases):
DOE Contribution: $40,215,883 (to date $34,751,964); Performer Contribution: $14,752,993

Contact Information:
NETL – Skip Pratt (skip.pratt@netl.doe.gov or 304-285-4396)
Chevron Energy Technology Company ? John Balczewski (jbalczewski@chevron.com or 925-842-0102)
If you are unable to reach the above personeel, please contact the content manager.

Additional Information:
In addition to the information provided here, a full listing of project related publications and presentations as well as a listing of funded students can be found in the Methane Hydrate Program Bibliography [PDF].

Semi-Annual Report April - September 2012 [PDF-1.98MB]

Semi-Annual Report October 2011 - March 2012 [PDF-1.19MB]

Semi-Annual Report April - September 2011 [PDF-1.79MB]

Semi-Annual Report October 2010 - March 2011 [PDF-1.02MB]

Semi-Annual Report April - September 2010 [PDF-352KB]

Initial Scientific Results of the Gulf of Mexico Gas Hydrates Joint Industry Project Leg II

Semi-Annual Report October 2009 - March 2010 [PDF-137KB]

2008 ICGH Paper - Designing a Reservoir Flow Rate Experiment for the GOM Hydrate JIP Leg II LWD Drilling [PDF]

2008 ICGH Paper - Site Selection for DOE/JIP Gas Hydrates Drilling in the Northern Gulf of Mexico [PDF]

2008 ICGH Paper - Subsurface Characterization of the Hydrate Bearing Sediments Near Alaminos Canyon 818 [PDF]

2008 ICGH Paper - Observed Gas Hydrate Morphologies in Marine Sediment [PDF]

2008 ICGH Paper - Constraining Gas Hydrate Occurrence in the Northern Gulf of Mexico Continental Slope: Fine Scale Analysis of Grain-Size in Hydrate-Bearing Sediments [PDF]