Experimental approaches to figure out Gas Hydrate Production behavior in unconsolidated sediment

Abstract:

National research program has been launched from 2005 for the production of Gas Hydrate in deep sea sediments in Korea. From the 2 times of deep drilling cruise, the presence of gas hydrate in the Ulleung basin has been confirmed, and the hydrate-bearing sandy layers were found in the basin. In-situ physical properties and the reservoir behavior during depressurization have been intensively characterized for conducting a production test in this area. In this presentation, laboratory studies conducted in KIGAM (Korea Institute of Geosciences and Mineral Resources) and newly constructed experimental systems will be introduced. The presentation will be mainly focused on the introduction of KIPED (Korean In-situ Production Experimental Devices), a three-dimensional m-scaled pressure vessel systems, that can simulate flow and geotechnical behavior in deep sea gas hydrate deposit and the study plans for the KIPED.