Laboratory electrical conductivity of marine gas hydrate

Geophysical Research Letters
By: , and 

Links

Abstract

Methane hydrate was synthesized from pure water ice and flash frozen seawater, with varying amounts of sand or silt added. Electrical conductivity was determined by impedance spectroscopy, using equivalent circuit modeling to separate the effects of electrodes and to gain insight into conduction mechanisms. Silt and sand increase the conductivity of pure hydrate, we infer by contaminant NaCl contributing to conduction in hydrate, to values in agreement with resistivities observed in well logs through hydrate The addition of silt and sand lowers the conductivity of hydrate synthesized from seawater by an amount consistent with Archie's Law. All samples were characterized using cryogenic scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy, which show good connectivity of salt and brine phases. Electrical conductivity measurements of pure hydrate and hydrate mixed with silt during pressure‐induced dissociation supports previous conclusions that sediment increases dissociation rate.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Laboratory electrical conductivity of marine gas hydrate
Series title Geophysical Research Letters
DOI 10.1029/2020GL087645
Volume 47
Issue 16
Year Published 2020
Language English
Publisher American Geophysical Union
Contributing office(s) Earthquake Science Center
Description e2020GL087645, 8 p.
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details