Effect of gas hydrate formation and decomposition on flow properties of fine-grained quartz sand sediments using X-ray CT based pore network model simulation

Experiments are performed to study the closed-loop effect of gas hydrate formation and decomposition on the flow properties of a fine-grained quartz sand specimen. The high resolution X-ray CT images of the test specimen at different experimental stages are acquired. In order to elucidate the changes in pore structure of the test specimen, topologically representative pore networks are established. The evolution of the flow properties during gas hydrate formation and decomposition is further evaluated. The results show that, gas hydrates occupancy in pore space exhibit different modes; they grow mainly as the grain-cementing mode except some intermediate stages, where pore- filling or load-bearing hydrates are observed. It is also found that the formation and decomposition of gas hydrates can cause the pore structure and flow properties changed. Increase of gas hydrate saturation results in a sharp decline in water relative permeability, larger irreducible water saturation and smaller gas-water percolation zone, while gas relative permeability does not exhibit obvious changing law. The decomposition of gas hydrates will exert a greater influence on the flow properties described above than gas hydrate formation does. The increase in frequency percentage of 10-20 mu m pores within the fine-grained test specimen after experiments might be caused by gas hydrate decomposition induced damage of pore structure.