Field-scale simulation of gas hydrate dissociation behavior in multilayered sediments under different depressurization conditions

Abstract

When a gas hydrate reservoir is depressurized for gas production, the production tendency and dissociation behavior may differ depending on conditions such as the bottom hole pressure and depressurization rate. Gas hydrate dissociation is a complex process that involves the transfer of materials and heat, and on-site analysis based on laboratory-scale results is critical. In the present study, a field-scale numerical analysis was performed to reflect the conditions of the Ulleung Basin in the East Sea of Korea. The dissociation behavior, which varies depending on the conditions in the gas hydrate-bearing sediment, was analyzed under various conditions of bottom hole pressure and depressurization rate. This study also identified the effects of depressurization conditions on gas hydrate saturation. As the bottom hole pressure decreased and the depressurization rate increased, the production rate and cumulative production of gas and water increased, and the radius of the pressure propagation effect at the beginning of production increased. In sediments with a gas hydrate saturation of ≥70%, the pressure propagation was unstable and the dissociation rate was low. These results can serve as preliminary data for the field production of gas hydrates in the Ulleung Basin.