Study on the methane hydrates exploitation by depressurization in a large-scale fan column-shaped reactor

doi:10.11949/0438-1157.20241267

Abstract

Abstract:

The development and utilization of natural gas hydrate resources is the research frontier in the current energy field. At present, related scientific research and new technology development are increasingly relying on large-scale simulation devices. This study, used a large-scale fan-shaped reactor to simulate the depressurization process of methane hydrate exploitation, obtaining the evolution characteristics of the temperature field, pressure field and wave speed, as well as the patterns of hydrate decomposition and fluid production. The results show that during the initial stage of depressurization, the pressure propagation is slow with a pressure difference of 3—4 MPa across a 3 m radial distance. After the whole reservoir pressure stabilizes, the pressure difference narrows to 0.3—0.4 MPa. Here the radial rate of hydrate decomposition varies significantly due to pressure effects. Moreover, there is secondary hydrate generation behavior in the near-well area during the initial stage of depressurization, which has a negative impact on the rate of pressure reduction. Additionally, this study explored the impact of the external environment on the depressurization process through an external constant-pressure water supply system. The results indicate that the continuous seepage of external seawater compensates for the reservoir pressure and has a significant impact on the evolution of temperature/pressure and the production of gas/water.

Key words: hydrate, fan column-shaped reactor, scale-up, depressurization production, multiphase flow

摘要：

天然气水合物资源开发利用是当今能源领域的研究前沿，目前相关科学研究和新技术开发越来越依赖大尺度模拟装置。利用大尺度扇柱形反应釜模拟了甲烷水合物降压开采过程，获取了温度场、压力场、波速演变特征，及水合物分解和气液产出规律。结果表明，降压初期压力传播缓慢，3 m径向的压差可达3~4 MPa，压力稳定后压差缩小至0.3~0.4 MPa；受压力影响，径向水合物分解速率存在显著差异。降压初期近井区域存在水合物二次生成行为，对降压速率具有负面影响。此外，还通过外连恒压补水系统探索了外围环境对降压过程的影响。结果表明，外部盐水持续渗入弥补了储层压力，对温/压变化和气/水产出具有显著影响。

关键词: 水合物, 扇柱形反应釜, 放大, 降压开采, 多相流

CLC Number:

TE 312

Lingban WANG, Yifei SUN, Yuhao BU, Zhenbin XU, Xian SUN, Hanfeng SHAO, Changyu SUN, Guangjin CHEN. Study on the methane hydrates exploitation by depressurization in a large-scale fan column-shaped reactor[J]. CIESC Journal, 2025, 76(6): 2958-2973.

王令颁, 孙漪霏, 卜禹豪, 许振彬, 孙贤, 邵瀚锋, 孙长宇, 陈光进. 大尺度扇柱形反应釜内甲烷水合物降压开采规律研究[J]. 化工学报, 2025, 76(6): 2958-2973.

Figures/Tables 23

Fig.1 Traditional scaling-up approach of cylindrical reactor for hydrate exploitation

Fig.2 Schematic diagram of a large-scale multi-dimensional hydrate reservoir model and the corresponding hydrate exploitation simulator

Fig.3 Photographs of the experimental system and the fan column-shaped reactor

Fig.4 Schematic diagram of the experimental system

Fig.5 Distribution of the pressure measurement points

Fig.6 Distribution of the temperature measurement points

Fig.7 Distribution of the ultrasonic transducers

Fig.8 Particle size of the sediments

Table 1 Summary of information for the cold model experiments

组别	体系类别	进水口	平均补水速率/(L/h)	气动调节阀开度/%
1	封闭	—	—	15
2	封闭	—	—	30
3	封闭	—	—	45
4	封闭	—	—	60
5	封闭	—	—	75
6	开放	阀门17	7	15
7	开放	阀门17	7	30
8	开放	阀门17	7	45
9	开放	阀门17	7	60
10	开放	阀门17	7	75

Table 2 Summary of information for the hydrate formation process

次序	类别	注入量/mol	注入压力和温度/(MPa，℃)	稳定压力和温度/(MPa，℃)
1	注气	85.49	（10.03，8.44）	（5.38，5.29）
2	注气	79.76	（10.13，8.49）	（5.82，5.34）
3	注气	73.44	（10.01，7.70）	（6.38，5.36）
4	注水	253.39	（7.87，6.21）	（6.62，5.34）
5	注水	286.86	（9.79，6.49）	（6.95，5.19）
6	注水	123.67	（9.60，5.64）	（8.13，5.22）

Table 3 Summary of information for the hydrate production experiment

参数	数值
组别	11
体系类别	开放
进水口	阀门17
初始压力/MPa	9.80
初始温度/℃	8.50
开采压力/MPa	3.00
开采时间/min	2700
累计产气量/mol	232.04
累计注水量/L	98.62
累计产水量/L	94.15

Fig.9 Pressure variations within the sediments for the closed system

Fig.10 Pressure distribution at the lower plane of the sediments for the closed system

Fig.11 Variations of pressure difference and cumulative water production for the closed system

Fig.12 Pressure variations within the sediments for the open system

Fig.13 Pressure distribution at the lower plane of the sediments for the open system

Fig.14 Variations of pressure difference and cumulative water production for the open system

Fig.15 Production behaviors during the depressurization process

Fig.16 Pressure changes during the depressurization process for the middle plane

Fig.17 Evolution of pressure fields inside the reservoir

Fig.18 Changes in average temperature at different radii during the depressurization process

Fig.19 Evolution of temperature fields inside the reservoir

Fig.20 Changes in P-wave velocity during the depressurization process

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