Methane hydrate formation in partially water-saturated Ottawa sand
American Mineralogist
By: W.F. Waite, W.J. Winters, and D.H. Mason
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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 |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |