Effect of Relative Permeability Characteristics and Gas/Water Flow on Gas-Hydrate Saturation Distribution

Abstract The descent of the base of gas hydrate stability zone (BGHSZ) through gas accumulated in a sediment is analyzed. A mechanistic model enables estimating hydrate saturation from initial distribution of gas phase saturation in sediment with known grain size distribution. The initial gas phase saturation is estimated from the profile of capillary entry-pressure with depth. The latter is estimated from grain size variations. A mechanistic model is proposed to determine the relative rates of methane and water transport into the HSZ during hydrate formation. The gas accumulation is assumed to be isolated so that methane transport occurs only within it. If water transport occurs only by co-current flow of gaseous and aqueous phases up to the hydrate stability zone (HSZ), it is not possible to create large hydrate saturations from large initial gas saturations due to limitations on water flux imposed by typical relative permeability curves. Thus the observed large hydrate saturations, such as that observed in Mt. Elbert, Alaska and Mallik, NW Territories and deep Indian Ocean, above the BGHSZ suggest another form of water flow: water moves down through accumulated hydrate from above. This requires the aqueous phase to remain connected within the hydrate-bearing sediment. The ratio of aqueous phase permeability in the hydrate-bearing sediment to the aqueous phase relative permeability at residual gas saturation determines hydrate saturation profile. The model is validated against field data from a hydrate-bearing sand unit in Mt. Elbert.