ABSTRACT: Production in Gas Hydrate Zones and Its Potential Problems

Rodney D. Malone, William F. Lawson, Hema J. Siriwardne

Gas hydrate is an attractive energy resource in view of the large amount of gas that potentially can be produced. Research over the past 5 yr has resulted in an understanding of the formation of gas hydrates through laboratory research and an understanding of the geological environment within which gas hydrate deposits occur. Vast amounts of natural deposits of hydrates have been identified and a number of conceptual models have been developed for recovery of this resource. In the development of extraction technology for gas hydrates, it is necessary to have an understanding of the geomechanical behavior of reservoir materials.

Numerous technical production problems are anticipated in producing gas from hydrate fields. These problems include the lack of knowledge for determining the vertical and horizontal continuity of the hydrate deposits, determining the amount of heat loss to the overburden and underburden sediments, predicting the actual dissociation front of the hydrate, and evaluating the potential for problems associated with subsidence within the permafrost.

This report provides conceptual designs for hydrate production and information relative to the potential subsidence associated with hydrate production. The studies were performed to establish possible variation expected for different reservoir conditions. The results from this investigation can be useful in estimating the magnitude of ground movement problems associated with hydrate production.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91003©1990 AAPG Annual Convention, San Francisco, California, June 3-6, 1990