Methane hydrate formation in partially water-saturated Ottawa sand

American Mineralogist
By: , and 

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Abstract

Bulk properties of gas hydrate-bearing sediment strongly depend on whether hydrate forms primarily in the pore fluid, becomes a load-bearing member of the sediment matrix, or cements sediment grains. Our compressional wave speed measurements through partially water-saturated, methane hydrate-bearing Ottawa sands suggest hydrate surrounds and cements sediment grains. The three Ottawa sand packs tested in the Gas Hydrate And Sediment Test Laboratory Instrument (GHASTLI) contain 38(1)% porosity, initially with distilled water saturating 58, 31, and 16% of that pore space, respectively. From the volume of methane gas produced during hydrate dissociation, we calculated the hydrate concentration in the pore space to be 70, 37, and 20% respectively. Based on these hydrate concentrations and our measured compressional wave speeds, we used a rock physics model to differentiate between potential pore-space hydrate distributions. Model results suggest methane hydrate cements unconsolidated sediment when forming in systems containing an abundant gas phase.
Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Methane hydrate formation in partially water-saturated Ottawa sand
Series title American Mineralogist
DOI 10.2138/am-2004-8-906
Volume 89
Issue 8-9
Year Published 2004
Language English
Publisher Mineralogical Society of America
Contributing office(s) Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Description 6 p.
Larger Work Type Article
Larger Work Subtype Journal Article
Larger Work Title American Mineralogist
First page 1202
Last page 1207
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