In this paper, we present the results of our recent study of quantitative estimation of gas hydrates in Alaminos Canyon block 818, Gulf of Mexico. The study was conducted as a part of the JIP Gulf of Mexico gas hydrates project. Sizable high concentration gas hydrates zones were detected as a result of the study, with hydrates saturation as high as 80% of the pore space. Comparison of the seismic prediction with estimation from one available shallow well shows high level of consistency, adding further to the reliability of the seismic prediction. Based on our findings, multiple wells are planned for drilling through the high concentration anomaly zones by JIP in the summer of 2008. The confirmation of our prediction through drilling will lead to the discovery of the first major gas hydrate accumulation in the Gulf of Mexico.

Nonspherical large cages in structure I (sI) clathrates impose non-uniform motion of nonspherical guest molecules and anisotropic lineshapes in NMR spectra of the guest. In this work, we calculate the lineshape anisotropy of the linear CO2 molecule in large sI clathrate cages based on molecular dynamics simulations of this inclusion compound. The methodology is general and does not depend on the temperature and type of inclusion compound or guest species studied. The nonspherical shape of the sI clathrate hydrate large cages leads to preferential alignment of linear CO2 molecules in directions parallel to the two hexagonal faces of the cages. The angular distribution of the CO2 guests in terms of a polar angle θ and azimuth angle  and small amplitude vibrational motions in the large cage are characterized by molecular dynamics simulations at different temperatures in the stability range of the CO2 sI clathrate. These distributions are used to calculate the NMR powder spectrum of CO2 at different temperatures. The experimental 13C NMR lineshapes of CO2 guests in the large cages show a reversal of the skew between the low temperature (77 K) and the high temperature (238 K) limits of the stability of the clathrate. Good agreement between experimental lineshapes and calculated lineshapes is obtained. No assumptions regarding the nature of the guest motions in the cages are required.

This paper presents results of a seismic tomography experiment carried out at the Bullseye cold vent site offshore Vancouver Island. In the experiment, a seismic air gun survey was recorded on an array of five ocean bottom seismometers (OBS) deployed around the vent. The locations of the shots and the OBSs were determined to high accuracy by an inversion based on the shot travel times. A three-dimensional tomographic inversion was then carried out to determine the velocity structure around the vent, using the localized source and receiver positions. The inversion indicates a relatively uniform velocity field around and inside the vent. The velocities are close to the values expected for sediments containing no hydrate, which supports previous claims that the bulk concentrations of gas hydrates are low at the site. However, the largest resolved velocity anomalies of + 25 m/s are spatially within the limits of the acoustic blank zone seen in multichannel seismic data near the Bullseye vent. The velocity inversion is consistent with zones of high concentration (15-20 % of the pore space) in the top 50-100 m of sediment.

The aim of this work is to model the thermal evolution inside a hydrate forming system which is submitted to an imposed steady cooling. The study system is a cylindrical thin film of aqueous solution at 19 Mpa, the methane is the hydrate forming molecule and it is assumed that methane is homogeneously dissolved in the aqueous phase. The model in this work takes into account two factors involved in the hydrate crystallization: 1) the stochastic nature of crystallization that causes sub-cooling and 2) the heat source term due to the exothermic enthalpy of hydrate formation. The model equation is based on the resolution of the continuity equation in terms of a heat balance. The crystallization of the methane hydrate occurs at supercooling conditions (Tcryst < TF), besides, the heat released during crystallization interferes with the imposed condition of steady decrease of temperature around the system. Thus, the inclusion of the heat source term has to be considered in order to take into account the influence of crystallization. The rate of heat released during the crystallization is governed by the probability of nucleation J(T ). The results provided by the model equation subjected to boundary conditions allow depict the evolution of temperature in the dispersed phase. The most singular point in the temperature–time curve is the onset time of hydrate crystallization. Three time intervals characterize the temperature evolution during the steady cooling: (1) linear cooling, (2) hydrate formation with a release of heat, (3) a last interval of steady cooling.

In this study, Tetrahydrofuran (THF) hydrates were formed in-situ in the Zetasizer Nano ZS90. With various concentrations of SDS, we attempted to characterize the SDS adsorption on the surface of the hydrate particles. In doing so, we tried to correlate the adsorption of SDS to THF hydrate induction times with respect to SDS concentration (0 – 3.47 mM), to determine whether the fast nucleation of THF hydrates is due to the adsorption of SDS. The measured ζ-potential for pure THF hydrates was -100 ± 10 mV, indicating anion adsorption. An adsorption curve was observed where there is saturation leveling. Correlating this data to the hydrate induction times, we see that when the saturation level is reached, a significant reduction in induction time can be seen.

Gas hydrates are crystalline solids (clathrates) in which gas molecules are encaged within lattices of hydrogen bonded water molecules. Hydrates are stable at low temperatures and high pressures; and dissociation takes place at temperatures and pressures outside the stability zone. Modeling the dissociation behavior of hydrates in porous soil media requires attention be paid to the geomechanics of hydrate dissociation. This paper addresses the issue of coupling the hydrate dissociation problem with the soil deformation problem and constructs the mathematical framework. Thermally stimulated dissociation process under undrained conditions is considered with conduction heat transfer.

Nonadhesive hydrate slurries have been shown to exhibit low viscosities in a field-scale flow loop when formed under appropriate conditions. The factors that favor formation of low-viscosity hydrate slurries include high Reynolds Number and Capillary Number, and high mass transfer and heat transfer rates. High liquid loading and high superficial fluid velocities are found to be conducive to the formation of low viscosity hydrate slurries. Dispersed bubble flow has been observed to facilitate flowable hydrate slurry production. Alternatively, the formation of nonadhesive hydrates at moderate superficial velocity is possible when a static mixer is used upstream of the hydrate formation location. For certain fields, low-viscosity hydrate slurry technology could eliminate the need for insulation and hydrate inhibitor chemicals (revised version of ICGH 2008 paper 5818) .

It was proposed that erosion of subsea ridges on the Hikurangi margin may be linked to a fluctuating level of the top of gas hydrate stability in the ocean. Since publication of this hypothesis, three field campaigns were conducted in the study area. Here we summarize relevant results from these cruises. We found that water temperature fluctuations occur at lower frequencies and higher amplitudes than previously thought, making it more likely that temperature changes reach sub-seafloor gas hydrates. Dredge samples encountered numerous consolidated mudstones. We speculate that gas hydrate “freeze-thaw” cycles may lead to dilation of fractures in mudstones due to capillary forces, weakening the seafloor. Ubiquitous gas pockets beneath the ridge may lead to overpressure that may also contribute to seafloor fracturing.

Monitoring of the seafloor for gas hydrate dissociation around boreholes during hydrocarbon production is likely to involve seismic methods because of the strong sensitivity of P-wave velocity to gas in sediment pores. Here, based on geomechanical models, we apply commonly used rock physics modeling to predict the seismic response to gas hydrate dissociation with a focus on P-impedance and performed sensitivity tests. For a given initial gas hydrate saturation, the mode of gas hydrate distribution (cementation, frame-bearing, or pore-filling) has the strongest effect on P-impedance, followed by the mesoscopic distribution of gas bubbles (evenly distributed in pores or “patchy”), gas saturation, and pore pressure. Of these, the distribution of gas is likely to be most challenging to predict. Conceptual 2-D FD wave-propagation modeling shows that it could be possible to detect gas hydrate dissociation after a few days.

The recent development and deployment of HYACINTH and IODP PCS pressure cores on the JOIDES Resolution during Expedition 1 of the Indian National Gas Hydrate Program (NGHP-1) has provided some of the first “undisturbed” samples of gas hydrate in fine grained marine sediments. Some samples, once recovered from the seafloor, were subject to rapid depressurization and subsequent immersion in liquid nitrogen, at approximately -196oC, for use in subsequent laboratory test programs. This paper describes the techniques used at Southampton University, the difficulties encountered, and the results obtained from geotechnical testing of these samples. The original intention had been to pressurize and unfreeze the material before testing it in the Gas Hydrate Resonant Column (GHRC) Apparatus. Initial CT scanning of the samples showed that the sample quality might be too poor for such testing, and this proved to be the case. Instead a suite of geotechnical testing was carried out, the results of which are reported and interpreted in this paper.