Experimental investigation into methane production from hydrate-bearing clayey sediment by CO₂/N₂ replacement

Abstract

The replacement of gas hydrate in clayey sediment by a CO 2 /N 2 (20:80) gas mixture injection was experimentally studied to explore the influence of clay on the gas exchange behaviours in the gas hydrate. Clay (montmorillonite) and silica sand were mixed in three different proportions (clay mass ratios of 10%, 30% and 50%) to simulate the host sediments of natural gas hydrate while pure silica sand sediment was selected for comparison. Experimental results showed that clay hindered gas diffusion during the initial replacement stage and thus reduced the methane recovery rate. In the later stage, the gas exchange between CO 2 /N 2 and methane in the hydrate structure might be subject to thermodynamic inhibition and geometric constraints of the clay interlayer. Moreover, the CO 2 sequestration ratio was lowered significantly in the sediment with a 50% clay mass ratio. Therefore, it was determined that clay has an inhibitory effect on gas hydrate replacement by CO 2 /N 2 .