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Comprehensive pressure core analysis for hydrate-bearing sediments from Gulf of Mexico Green Canyon Block 955, including assessments of geomechanical viscous behavior and nuclear magnetic resonance permeability

July 19, 2022

Quantifying the petrophysical and geomechanical properties of gas hydrate reservoirs is essential for understanding the natural hydrate system and predicting gas production behavior for future resource development. Pressure-core analysis tools were used to characterize methane hydrate–bearing sediments recovered from the Gulf of Mexico Green Canyon Block 955, under an international collaboration with The University of Texas and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology. Pressure-core samples were successfully transferred from Austin, Texas to Sapporo, Japan. Index property measurements (grain size, grain density, hydration number, gas composition, thermal conductivity), along with triaxial compression, consolidation, and permeability tests with a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyzer were conducted. Compression tests at different strain rates confirmed a strain rate dependence for hydrate-bearing sediment, and an equation for predicting strength as a function of hydrate saturation and strain rate is proposed. Compression and swelling indices were obtained from high-effective stress consolidation tests. Furthermore, secondary compression coefficients for hydrate-bearing sediments were obtained, suggesting that hydrate exhibits creeping behavior on timescales of minutes to hours. A relatively high initial permeability of a few millidarcys was confirmed. In addition, the first NMR signal measurement was performed on a hydrate-bearing pressure core to acquire the NMR transverse or spin-spin (T2) distribution. Results confirm that the Schlumberger Doll Research model and Timur-Coates model predictions underestimate permeability measured directly via fluid flow. Permeability estimated using specific surface values derived from NMR T2 distributions is in good agreement with flow test results. Finally, an extended Timur-Coates model was proposed and predicts intrinsic permeability with high accuracy.

Publication Year 2022
Title Comprehensive pressure core analysis for hydrate-bearing sediments from Gulf of Mexico Green Canyon Block 955, including assessments of geomechanical viscous behavior and nuclear magnetic resonance permeability
DOI 10.1306/04272120204
Authors Jun Yoneda, Yusuke Jin, Michihiro Muraoka, Motoi Oshima, Kiyofumi Suzuki, William F. Waite, Peter Flemings
Publication Type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Series Title AAPG Bulletin
Index ID 70233201
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
USGS Organization Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
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