3D DEM investigation on macro-meso mechanical responses of gas hydrate-bearing sediments in process of unloading confining pressure

Well drilling, gas production, and reservoir stimulation can disrupt stress states of gas hydrate-bearing sediments (GHBSs) surrounding wellbores, potentially inducing wellbore instability due to confining pressure unloading. Therefore, it is very important to know about the macro-meso mechanical responses of GHBSs under an unloading confining pressure path (UCPP). Herein, a discrete element method (DEM) was used to perform triaxial tests on three-dimensional numerical GHBSs under the UCPP and a conventional drained path (CDP) to bridge the knowledge gap. Results show that GHBSs under the UCPP are more prone to failure and dilatation than under the CDP, due to the reduced bearing capacity of contact force chains, relatively unstable particle assembly, and rapid cementation breakage development. Additionally, the stress path has little effect on the cohesion and friction angle of GHBSs. Furthermore, under the UCPP, the failure and dilatation risk of GHBSs are positively correlated with unloading confining pressure rate, inversely related to hydrate saturation and initial effective confining pressure. The grey relational analysis illustrates that compared to hydrate saturation and initial effective confining pressure, the unloading confining pressure rate minimally affects the unloading confining pressure effect. These findings can serve for experimental studies and field applications (e.g., optimizing drilling mud density, sand production rate, and fracturing fluid flowback rate) concerning the unloading confining pressure responses of GHBSs.