Oceanic Methane Hydrates

Methane hydrates are still a complicated target for today’s oil and gas offshore engineers, particularly the lack of reliable real field test data or obtaining the most recent technology available on the feasibility and challenges surrounding the extraction of methane hydrates. Oceanic Methane Hydrates delivers the solid foundation as well as today’s advances and challenges that remain. Starting with the fundamental knowledge on gas hydrates, the authors define the origin, estimations, and known exploration and production methods. Historical and current oil and gas fields and roadmaps containing methane hydrates around the world are also covered to help lay the foundation for the early career engineer. Lab experiments and advancements in numerical reservoir simulations transition the engineer from research to practice with real field-core sampling techniques covered, points on how to choose producible methane hydrate reservoirs, and the importance of emerging technologies. Actual comparable onshore tests from around the world are included to help the engineer gain clarity on field expectations.

Rounding out the reference are emerging technologies in all facets of the business including well completion and monitoring, economics aspects to consider, and environmental challenges, particularly methods to reduce the costs of methane hydrate exploration and production techniques. Rounding out a look at future trends, Oceanic Methane Hydrates covers both the basics and advances needed for today’s engineers to gain the required knowledge needed to tackle this challenging and exciting future energy source.

• Understand real data and practice examples covering the newest developments of methane hydrate, from chemical, reservoir modelling and production testing
• Gain worldwide coverage and analysis of the most recent extraction production tests
• Cover the full range of emerging technologies and environmental sustainability including current regulations and policy outlook

Petroleum engineering university and institutional researchers; production engineers; offshore engineers; graduate-level oil and gas engineering students

Section 1 Fundamentals and Models

Chapter 1 Fundamentals of Methane Hydrate

1.1. Origin of Hydrates

1.2. Existence of Hydrates

1.3. Methane Hydrate Reservoirs

1.4. Methane Hydrate Explorations and Estimations

1.5. Methane Hydrate Production Methods

2.1. From Oil/Gas Fields to Methane Hydrate Fields

2.2. On-land Explorations and Offshore Explorations

2.3. Historical Developments of Field Techniques

2.3. Roadmaps and Challenges

3.1. Microscopic Structure of Methane Hydrate

3.2. Interfacial Dynamics and Micro-Scale Experiments

3.3. Pore Network Modelling

3.4. Sand Movement in Micro-Scale

4.1. Pore Filling Characters and Chemistry of Sand/Soil Layers

4.2. Permeability Measurements and Comparison

4.3. Relative Permeability Concept

4.4. Hydrate Dissociation Experiments in Core-Scale

4.5. CT and Other Visualization Applications

5.1. Importance and History of Numerical Simulators

5.2. Laboratory Scale Simulations

5.3. Reservoir Scale Simulations

5.4. Recent Developments and Scaling Analysis

5.5. Importance of Geomechanics in Simulations

5.6. Molecular Dynamics Methods

Section 2 Field Practice and Activities

Chapter 6 Real Field Core-Sampling and Analysis

6.1. Geomechanic fundamentals

6.2. Old Core Sampling Techniques

6.3. High Pressurized Core Sampling Techniques

6.4. Core Sample Geochemical Analysis

6.5. Core Sample Visualization Analysis

7.1. Key Points to Choose Producible Methane Hydrate Reservoirs

7.2 Importance of Well Logs to Identify Reservoir

7.3. Real Geological Considerations

8.1. Messoyakha Permafrost Field Test

8.2. Mallik Permafrost Field Test

8.3. Ignik Sikumi Permafrost Field Test

9.1. Offshore Production Tests in Japan

9.2. Offshore Production Test in China

9.3. Implications for Long-Term Production

10.1. Activities in Gulf of Mexico

10.2. Activities in the Black Sea

10.3. Activities in the Mediterranean Sea

10.4. Activities in Persian Gulf

10.5. Activities in the Caspian Sea

10.6. Activities in Other Regions

11.1. Geological Settings

11.2. Technological Routes

11.3. Outcomes and Strategies

12.1. Industry Level Developments

12.2. Exploration Technologies

12.3. Drilling Technologies

12.4. Well Completion Technologies

12.5. Platforms and Production Technologies

13.1. Conventional Hydrocarbon Reserves and Natural Gas Prices

13.2. The methods to reduce the cost of methane hydrate exploration and production techniques

13.3. Environment Issues and Regulations