天然气水合物储层力学特性研究进展

自然界中的水合物一般产出于深水海底浅层未固结成岩的松散沉积物中和陆域冻土区岩石裂隙或孔隙中。水合物的分解会导致地层胶结强度、孔隙度、地质结构等发生变化，从而引发地质灾害，严重威胁水合物资源的安全开采。本文在大量调研文献的基础上，结合已有的天然气水合物制样、三轴力学测试研究现状和本构模型研究进展，系统分析影响含水合物沉积物的力学特性的主要因素和本构模型的发展趋势，梳理了获得的共识和存在的问题，提出了下一步研究方向，从而为下一步含水合物沉积物力学强度实验、本构模型开发以及储层稳定性研究等提供参考。     

Hoek-Brown准则高应力条件下断续节理岩体复合损伤本构模型及演化特征

针对岩石损伤本构模型中岩石微元强度采用M-C、D-P等强度准则作为判定依据存在的局限性,基于概率统计理论与连续损伤力学理论,采用应力不变式表示的H-B准则来描述岩石微元强度并假设岩石微元强度服从Weibull分布,认为岩石材料承载能力可以分为弹性和损伤两部分,基于Lemaitre应变等效性假设,推导出基于H-B准则的宏细观复合损伤本构模型,并通过预置裂隙粗晶大理岩试样的三轴试验数据验证了其合理性。结果表明,该模型获得的应力应变理论曲线与试验数据吻合较好,宏细观复合损伤演化过程能反映岩石应力随应变的变化过程,优于同类型本构模型的拟合效果;随着围压的增加,试样强度逐渐增加,峰值应力对应的复合损伤值逐渐增大;在围压一定的条件下,节理岩样的宏细观复合损伤在节理倾角为45°左右时最小,这与节理岩体强度随节理倾角的变化规律相一致。     

基于卸围压试验的砂岩卸荷本构模型及其应用

鉴于岩体本构模型受岩样应力路径、加卸载状态等因素的影响,为研究卸荷条件下砂岩的本构模型,采用RMT-150C岩石力学试验系统对宜昌砂岩岩样进行了升轴压峰前卸围压、轴压和围压等量减小两种应力路径下的卸围压试验。结果表明,卸荷应力路径不同时,卸荷变形阶段的应力—应变曲线形态有很大差异,但岩样变形模量随围压降低而劣化的规律一致;岩样卸荷破坏强度特征可用Hoek-Brown准则拟合。由此推导出增量形式的卸荷弹脆塑型本构模型,并以算例分析验证了该模型的正确性。     

“CH4-CO2”置换法开采天然气水合物

天然气水合物作为一种储量巨大的清洁能源,其开采价值已引起越来越多的关注。当前天然气水合物开采技术仍不足以商业化应用,还需进一步的实验研究进行理论支撑。二氧化碳置换开采天然气水合物被认为是能同时实现天然气水合物开采与二氧化碳减排、封存的双赢技术,近年来得到了较广泛的研究。置换过程中,混合天然气水合物的热力学和结构性质是预测含水合物沉积物中的热流和水合物解离所需的热量以及评估水合物储层的CO₂储存能力的关键因素。本综述在调研国内外天然气水合物开采技术研究现状的基础上,围绕CO₂置换开采天然气水合物的热力学特性、微观机理与置换效率等,总结了各研究取得的成果,针对置换研究中存在的问题进行了分析,认为当前置换法开采天然气水合物最关键难点在于提高置换效率,而解决该问题的根本在于从热力学和动力学角度弄清楚置换反应的微观机理及控制性因素,明确置换机理,从而在未来的研究有的放矢。     

天然气水合物储层渗透率研究进展

天然气水合物是清洁、高效、储量巨大的未来最具潜力资源之一,而储层的渗透率是影响水合物资源开采时产气效率的重要参数。目前,国内外对天然气水合物储层的渗透率进行了大量的研究并取得一定进展,本文从数值模拟、储层现场探井、实验研究等方面全面回溯,分析总结了孔隙度、饱和度、应力应变情况等对储层渗透率的影响,讨论目前储层渗透率研究存在人工合成水合物沉积物与自然储层存在差异,不同多孔介质形成的水合物沉积物应力敏感性不同,多相渗流研究不够充分,储层渗透率改造研究不足等问题,对未来的研究方向提出了展望。     

含水合物沉积物的渗透率实验研究

天然气水合物储层的渗透率是影响水合物开采时气、水运移的关键,也是水合物开采潜力评价、资源评价、开采工艺选择等需要了解的关键参数.目前,国内外学者对天然气水合物储层的渗透率进行了一定的研究并有了初步认识.但是,对于围压、轴向压力、水合物饱和度、赋存模式等对水合物沉积物渗透率的影响机制和机理还不清楚.本文在自主设计的水合物...     

天然气水合物开采技术研究进展

天然气水合物以其储量大、能量密度大、分布广的特点被认为是一种非常具有潜力的替代能源。勘测数据表明迄今已至少在全球116个地区发现了天然气水合物。天然气水合物广泛存在于冻土区和海底沉积物中。但目前实现实际试开采的区域仅有四处,分别位于：美国的阿拉斯加北坡地区、俄罗斯的西伯利亚玛索亚哈气田、加拿大西北部的麦肯齐三角洲及日本的南海海槽。目前主要的开采技术研究主要集中于实验室模拟阶段。美国、德国、日本、中国分别建立了自己的水合物模拟开采实验装置并且进行了相关研究。提出了不同的水合物开采方案,并且对水合物开采过程中的关键技术问题进行了研究。     

天然气水合物降压开采储层稳定性模型分析

储层稳定性是天然气水合物开采所面临的关键问题。本文基于多孔介质流体动力学和弹性力学,建立了天然气水合物降压开采储层稳定性数学模型,包括储层沉降和井壁稳定性分析两个方面,并以墨西哥湾某处水合物藏的基本参数为例,进行了水合物降压开采储层稳定性的模拟计算。结果表明,在水合物降压开采的过程中,孔隙流体压力降低导致了储层的沉降,最大的沉降发生在井壁附近,水合物分解会加剧储层的沉降;降低井孔压力会造成井壁破坏的潜在危险,在井壁附近,周向和垂向应力达到最大处容易发生失稳破坏,地层的水平应力差会增加井壁的不稳定性。     

含水合物沉积物力学-声学联合试验设备的开发和初步应用

为开展天然气水合物沉积物力学、声学特性的试验研究，对高压-温控三轴试验设备的管道线路进行重新规划，并引入GCTS超声波测试系统。为了检验仪器性能，利用福建标准砂和甲烷气体制备不同水合物饱和度的沉积物试样，开展不同有效围压下的三轴排水剪切试验。结果表明：设备能稳定制备含水合物试样并进行力学试验，试验全过程可实时测试试样的压缩波速和剪切波速；波速变化与试样内部密实度、颗粒分布的变化等密切相关，可反映试样体积的变化及剪切初期的剪胀特性；通过固结后的波速计算试样的泊松比，在0.16～0.31之间。     

天然气水合物沉积物颗粒影响实验CSCD

通过利用SHW-Ⅲ型水合物岩样声电力学测试装置,以石英砂和棕刚玉作为赋存介质,开展了60%、80%孔隙饱和度下不同颗粒对天然气水合物沉积物基础物性(声波波速、动态力学参数、胶结强度)影响的实验研究。得到纵波波速范围3542.6~4383.7 m/s,横波波速范围2163.9~2572.1 m/s,动态力学参数杨氏模量范围21.995~40.731 GPa,泊松比范围0.156~0.237等实验数据。当前实验条件下研究结果表明:不同颗粒类型、不同颗粒粒径作为天然气水合物沉积物骨架,最终形成的水合物沉积物电阻值相差不大;同一种颗粒粒径下的沉积物孔隙饱和度越高,声波传播速度越快,而相同类型的沉积物声波传播速度随其颗粒粒径的减小而增加;得到适用于60%、80%孔隙饱和度下一定颗粒粒径范围(0.42~1.8 mm)的以石英砂作为赋存介质时合成的天然气水合物沉积物声波波速拟合公式。通过压缩实验发现:天然气水合物沉积物的抗胶结程度随着沉积物颗粒粒径的减小而增强,随着孔隙饱和度的减小而下降。     

Modeling the mechanical response of gas hydrate reservoirs in triaxial stress space

Exploitation of gas from deep-sea methane hydrate-bearing layers might lead to some geological disasters, including marine landslides and excessive settlement of marine ground. The first offshore gas production tests for methane hydrate-bearing sediments were carried out in eastern Nankai Trough. However, knowledge on mechanical behavior of gas hydrate reservoirs with similar gradation and minerology component to the marine sediment is still insufficient. Consequently, proper modeling of geomechanical properties of methane hydrate-bearing sediments is crucial for reservoir simulation and deep ocean ground stability analysis for long-term gas production in the future. This study conducted a series of triaxial shear tests to examine the shear response of methane hydrate-bearing sediments with a similar grading curve and minerology components to the hydrate-rich sediments in Nankai Trough. The test results demonstrated that the presence of hydrate mass between sand grains altered the stress-strain pattern from strain-hardening to postpeak strain-softening. A simple constitutive model based on several empirical relationships of granular materials is proposed to describe the stress-strain relationship of methane hydrate-bearing sediments under triaxial stress condition. This model can reproduce the enhancement of shear strength, initial stiffness, and dilation behavior of methane hydrate-bearing sediments containing different amounts of fines content with a rise in the methane hydrate saturation at a wide range of effective confining pressures. The numerical results indicate that the parameter A associated with initial stiffness of stress-strain curve and the parameter $\text{α}$ related with dilation properties are jointly governed by the confining pressure, fines content, and hydrate saturation.     

Mechanical experiments and constitutive model of natural gas hydrate reservoirs

Natural gas hydrate is a new type of green energy resources and has great development prospects, and it has attracted worldwide attentions. The exploitation of natural gas hydrate may result in a series of geological disasters. Therefore, the constitutive model of natural gas hydrate bearing sediments needs to be established to reveal deformation laws of the reservoir sediments and accurately evaluate mechanical properties of hydrate reservoirs. This is the basic guarantees for the effective exploitation of natural gas hydrate resources. The triaxial compressive tests were conducted on samples of natural gas hydrate sediment. Furthermore, the Duncan-Chang hyperbolic model was modified by considering the influences of hydrate saturation based on the test results to obtain the constitutive model according with the deformation characteristics of natural gas hydrate reservoirs. The results show that the stress-strain curves of natural gas hydrate reservoirs show unobvious compaction stage and peak strength, short elastic stage, long yield stage, and significant strain hardening characteristics. After applying loads on natural gas hydrate bearing sediments, the internal solid particles were dislocated and slid. When the loads were small, the sediments demonstrated elastic deformation. With the increase of loads, plastic flows appeared in the interior, and the hydrate crystals were re-orientated, thus the sediments showing plastic deformation. Initial tangent elastic modulus increased with the effective confining pressures, which had little correlations with hydrate saturation. Furthermore, the damage ratio increases with the increase of effective confining pressures, while slightly decreases with the increase of natural gas hydrate saturation. The predicted results of stress-strain curves of sediments with different hydrate saturations well coincide with the results of triaxial compressive tests, indicting the feasibility and rationality of this model.     

A state-dependent subloading constitutive model with unified hardening function for gas hydrate-bearing sediments

Natural gas hydrate in ocean sediments and permafrost areas may become a significant potential energy resource. Since the hydrate dissociation may affect the stability of production wells and even lead to geological hazards, it is essential to study the mechanical properties of gas hydrate-bearing sediments (GHBS) for the efficient and safe extraction of gas hydrate. This study presents an extended subloading Modified Cam-Clay model for clayey-silty and sandy GHBS. The state-dependent unified hardening function and equivalent skeleton void ratio are newly introduced to consider the coupled effects of stress level, void ratio, dilatancy, and hydrate saturation on the mechanical behavior of GHBS. Based on the theory of hyperelasticity, an elastic constitutive relation accounting for the influences of cementation caused by hydrate formation and sediment structure change caused by hydrate dissociation is established by using a stiffness evolution function related to hydrate saturation. The bonding and debonding law of strength reflecting the hydrate cementation and its degradation are used. The model is applied to simulate different triaxial tests of GHBS, and its performance in predicting the isotropic compression, strain hardening and softening, shear contraction and dilation, and collapse induced by hydrate dissociation is investigated.     

Shear strength and pore pressure characteristics of methane hydrate-bearing soil under undrained condition

Hydrate exploitation requires a deep understanding on the mechanical behavior of methane hydrate-bearing sediment (MHBS). Due to the low permeability of overlying strata, partial MHBS likely exhibit failure behavior under undrained condition. Therefore, it is essential to understand the undrained shear strength and excess pore pressure behavior of MHBS for facilitating the evaluation of the stability of hydrate-bearing layer during methane hydrate recovery. This study conducted several undrained triaxial compression and hydrate dissociation tests on methane hydrate-bearing sand specimen to analyze the shear strength and excess pore pressure characteristics of MHBS under undrained condition. The experimental result shows that hydrate saturation and initial effective confining pressure significantly affect the undrained mechanical behavior of MHBS. Hydrate saturation increases the shear strength and negative excess pore pressure. High initial effective confining pressure also enhances the shear strength but suppressed the negative excess pore pressure. Hydrate saturation has a minimal effect on the undrained internal friction angle but remarkably enhances the undrained cohesion. The effective internal friction angle and cohesion exhibits an increase with the increase in hydrate saturation. Notably, completely different from the common soil, the effective undrained strength indexes are not equivalent to the drained strength indexes for MHBS, which should be careful in evaluating the stability of methane hydrate-bearing layer. In addition, the hydrate dissociation test by thermal stimulation method concludes that hydrate dissociation induces the positive excess pore pressure, axial compression, and volume expansion under undrained condition. The large deviatoric stress enhances volume expansion of MHBS but hinders the generation in excess pore pressure during hydrate dissociation. These findings significantly contribute to the safe exploitation process of methane hydrate.     

Compressional wave velocity of hydrate-bearing bentheimer sediments with varying pore fillings

A potential alternative energy resource to meet energy demands is the vast amount of gas stored in hydrate reserves. However, major challenges in terms of exploration and production surround profitable and effective exploitation of these reserves. The measurement of acoustic velocity is a useful method for exploration of gas hydrate reserves and can be an efficient method to characterize the hydrate-bearing sediments. In this study, the compressional wave velocity (P-wave velocity) of consolidated sediments (Bentheimer) with and without tetrahydrofuran hydrate-bearing pore fillings were measured using the pulse transmission method. The study has found that the P-wave velocity of consolidated sediments increase with increasing hydrate formation and confining pressure. Of the two samples tested, the increase in wave velocity of the dry and hydrate-bearing samples amounted to 27.6% and 31.9%, respectively. Interestingly, at the initial stage of hydrate formation, there was no change in P-wave velocity, which was followed by a steady increase as the hydrate crystals began to agglomerate and then it increased rapidly to a constant value, suggesting that the test solution had converted to a hydrate solid.     

含水合物地层渗流特性实验研究进展及瞬态压力脉冲法适用性分析

调研了含水合物地层渗流特性实验研究进展,归纳总结了现有的缺点与不足;概述了瞬态压力脉冲法的基本原理及其应用现状,分析讨论了该方法应用于含水合物地层渗流特性实验研究的适用性。主要结论如下：保持稳定渗流难、测量耗时长和水合物易扰动是现有实验研究存在的主要不足;瞬态压力脉冲法能够解决上述不足,且测量精度高,具有良好的适用性,特别适用于我国南海含水合物地层。建议开展我国南海水合物成藏与开采过程中地层渗流特性模拟实验研究工作。     

基于宽频复电阻率的含黏土沉积物中水合物饱和度计算方法

天然气水合物沉积物中的黏土成分显著影响沉积物的电学特性以及水合物饱和度的计算模型。以自主设计开发的复电阻率参数测量装置为实验平台,在20 Hz ~ 100 kHz频率范围内测试了黏土条件下含水合物海沙体系的复电阻率,分析了复电阻率的频散特性、黏土影响以及主导的电极化机制,利用泥质修正Archie公式建立了基于宽频复电阻率的水合物饱和度计算模型。研究结果表明：（1）含水合物海沙体系的复电阻率呈现出显著的频散特性,双电层极化和界面极化分别是20 Hz ~ 1 kHz和1 ~ 100 kHz频段主导的极化机制;（2）黏土颗粒表面的双电层发生形变增强了含水合物沉积物双电层极化作用,提高了复电阻率相角和虚部的绝对值;（3）在20 Hz ~ 100 kHz频率范围内泥质修正Archie公式岩性系数较为稳定,而胶结指数和饱和度指数与测试频率之间的关系在20 Hz ~ 1 kHz和1 ~ 100 kHz频段差异显著,因此应分频段建立水合物饱和度计算模型。本研究为探讨含水合物沉积物的低频电学特性和建立含黏土沉积物中水合物饱和度计算模型提供了新的途径。