A large-scale experimental simulator for natural gas hydrate recovery and its experimental applications
Yang Ge,
Qingping Li,
Xin Lv,
Mingqiang Chen,
Bo Yang,
Benjian Song,
Jiafei Zhao,
Yongchen Song
Affiliations
Yang Ge
State Key Laboratory of Natural Gas Hydrates, Beijing, 100028, China; Key Laboratory of Ocean Energy Utilization and Energy Conservation of Ministry of Education, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China; China National Offshore Oil Corporation Research Institute Co. Ltd, Beijing, 100028, China; Corresponding author.
Qingping Li
State Key Laboratory of Natural Gas Hydrates, Beijing, 100028, China; China National Offshore Oil Corporation Research Institute Co. Ltd, Beijing, 100028, China; Corresponding author.
Xin Lv
State Key Laboratory of Natural Gas Hydrates, Beijing, 100028, China; China National Offshore Oil Corporation Research Institute Co. Ltd, Beijing, 100028, China
Mingqiang Chen
State Key Laboratory of Natural Gas Hydrates, Beijing, 100028, China; China National Offshore Oil Corporation Research Institute Co. Ltd, Beijing, 100028, China
Bo Yang
State Key Laboratory of Natural Gas Hydrates, Beijing, 100028, China; China National Offshore Oil Corporation Research Institute Co. Ltd, Beijing, 100028, China
Benjian Song
State Key Laboratory of Natural Gas Hydrates, Beijing, 100028, China; China National Offshore Oil Corporation Research Institute Co. Ltd, Beijing, 100028, China
Jiafei Zhao
State Key Laboratory of Natural Gas Hydrates, Beijing, 100028, China; Key Laboratory of Ocean Energy Utilization and Energy Conservation of Ministry of Education, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China
Yongchen Song
State Key Laboratory of Natural Gas Hydrates, Beijing, 100028, China; Key Laboratory of Ocean Energy Utilization and Energy Conservation of Ministry of Education, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China
To facilitate the recovery of natural gas hydrate (NGH) deposits in the South China Sea, we have designed and developed the world's largest publicly reported experimental simulator for NGH recovery. This system can also be used to perform CO2 capture and sequestration experiments and to simulate NGH recovery using CH4/CO2 replacement. This system was used to prepare a shallow gas and hydrate reservoir, to simulate NGH recovery via depressurization with a horizontal well. A set of experimental procedures and data analysis methods were prepared for this system. By analyzing the measurements taken by each probe, we determined the temperature, pressure, and acoustic parameter trends that accompany NGH recovery. The results demonstrate that the temperature fields, pressure fields, acoustic characteristics, and electrical impedances of an NGH recovery experiment can be precisely monitored in real time using the aforementioned experimental system. Furthermore, fluid production rates can be calculated at a high level of precision. It was concluded that (1) the optimal production pressure differential ranges from 0.8 to 1.0 MPa, and the wellbore will clog if the pressure differential reaches 1.2 MPa; and (2) during NGH decomposition, strong heterogeneities will arise in the surrounding temperature and pressure fields, which will affect the shallow gas stratum.
