摘要
We modeled and studied the permeability of methane hydrate bearing formations as a function of methane hydrate concentration by artificially varying the T2 distribution as well as using a tube-sphere model.We varied the proportion of irreducible and movable water as well as the total porosity associated with the T2 distribution and found the normalized permeability as a function of methane hydrate concentration is dependent of these variations.Using a tube-sphere model,we increased the methane hydrate concentration by randomly placing methane hydrate crystals in the pore spaces and computed the permeability using either the Schlumberger T2 relaxation time formula or a direct calculation based on Darcy＇s law assuming Poiseuille flow.Earlier experimental measurements reported in the literature show there is a methane hydrate concentration range where the permeability remains relatively constant.We found that when the Schlumberger T2 relaxation time formula is used the simulation results show a curve of normalized permeability versus methane hydrate concentration quite close to that predicted by the Masuda model with N = 15.When the permeability was directly calculated based on Darcy＇s law,the simulation results show a much higher normalized permeability and only show a trend consistent with the experimental results,i.e.,with a permeability plateau,when the methane hydrate crystals are preferentially placed in the tubes,and the higher the preferential probability,the larger the range where the permeability has a plateau.
本文通过人工变换T2分布和建立管-球模型模拟法研究含水合物地层渗透率与水合物含量之间的关系。首先,在渗透率的模拟试验中,我们改变了束缚水与可动水的比例、总孔隙度以及与之关联的T2分布。试验结果表明,相对渗透率与水合物含量之间的关系受到这些因素的制约。随后,我们用管-球模型表示水合物生长的孔隙空间,并把水合物的生长过程看成是向孔隙空间随机扔小球的过程。在此过程中,采用两种方法计算渗透率,一是Schlumberger'sT2公式(即SDR模型),二是Darcy定律与Poiseuille流动方程相结合的方法。前人的实验研究表明,在一定的水合物含量范围内,渗透率基本保持不变。以此为参考,我们将计算结果与之进行比较。我们发现,采用SDR模型时,渗透率的数值模拟曲线与Masuda模型N=15时的结果相近。而采用Darcy定律时,渗透率模拟值较高,但与实验结果的趋势相一致,都会出现渗透率的平直阶段。尤其,当水合物晶体在孔隙体内优先生成时,优先的概率越高,渗透率的平直范围越大。
基金
funded by National Basic Research Program of China(973Program,No.2009CB219505)
