Oceanic Methane Hydrates

Oceanic Methane Hydrates: Fundamentals, Technological Innovations, and Sustainability provides fundamental knowledge on gas hydrates, including estimations and known exploration and production methods. Historical and current oil and gas fields and roadmaps containing methane hydrates around the world are covered, along with lab experiments and advancements in numerical reservoir simulations. Comparable onshore tests are included to help engineers gain clarity on field expectations. Finally, emerging technologies in all facets of the business, including well completion, economic aspects, and environmental challenges, particularly methods to reduce the costs of methane hydrate exploration and production techniques are explored.

This book provides both information on the basics and advancements needed for today’s engineer to tackle this challenging and exciting future energy source.

• Helps readers understand real data and practice examples
• Covers the newest developments in methane hydrate, including chemical, reservoir modeling and production testing
• Contains worldwide coverage and analyses of the most recent extraction production tests
• Presents the full range of emerging technologies and environmental sustainability, including current regulations and critical environmental considerations

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

　

Chapter 2 Research and Development in Major Countries

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

　

Chapter 3 Micro-Scale Concepts and Dissociation Dynamics

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

　

Chapter 4 Core-Scale in-lab Experiments

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

　

Chapter 5 Advancement in Numerical Simulations in Methane Hydrate Reservoirs

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

　

Chapter 7 Reservoir-Scale Considerations and Methods

7.1. Key Points to Choose Producible Methane Hydrate Reservoirs

7.2 Importance of Well Logs to Identify Reservoir

7.3. Real Geological Considerations

　

Chapter 8 Real Onshore Tests in Russia, Canada and USA

8.1. Messoyakha Permafrost Field Test

8.2. Mallik Permafrost Field Test

8.3. Ignik Sikumi Permafrost Field Test

　

Chapter 9 Real Offshore Tests in Japan and China

9.1. Offshore Production Tests in Japan

9.2. Offshore Production Test in China

9.3. Implications for Long-Term Production

　

Chapter 10 Activities in the Mid-East, Europe and Other Regions

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

　

Chapter 11 Comparisons of Field Activities in Different Worldwide Sites

11.1. Geological Settings

11.2. Technological Routes

11.3. Outcomes and Strategies

　

Section 3 Emerging Technologies and Environmental Sustainability

Chapter 12 Emerging Technologies

12.1. Industry Level Developments

12.2. Exploration Technologies

12.3. Drilling Technologies

12.4. Well Completion Technologies

12.5. Platforms and Production Technologies

　

Chapter 13 Economic Aspect and Environmental Issues

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

　

Chapter 14 Policy Assessment and Outlook for Future