Relative Permeability Parameter Estimation for Laboratory-Formed Hydrate-Bearing Sediments

Seol, Yongkoo ¹; Kneafsey, Timothy J.^2
1 National Energy Technology Laboratory, Morgantown, WV.
² Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA.

Relative permeability is an essential parameter governing flow of water and gas through hydrate bearing sediments during gas production, and has not been extensively examined. We formed methane hydrate in three different kinds of silica sand (Korean sand, F110 sand, and a mixture of F110 sand and fine silt). Hydrate formation and phase saturation were monitored using temperature and pressure measurements as well as x-ray computed tomography (CT). The van Genuchten model relative permeability parameter, m, (van Genuchten, 1980) was estimated using differential pressure (ΔP) across the sand column under steady state flow and average hydrate saturation measured with CT images. We compared the estimated parameters in terms of hydrate saturations (20-35%) and sand types. Further estimations of the relative permeability parameter are underway using numerical inversion of transient CT measured water saturation data and independently measured capillary pressure.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90090©2009 AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition, Denver, Colorado, June 7-10, 2009