Submarine Gas Hydrate Reservoir Simulations - A Gas/Liquid Fluid Flow Model for Gas Hydrate Containing Sediments

S. Schlüter[1], T. Hennig[1], G. Janicki[1], G. Deerberg[1]
[1]Fraunhofer UMSICHT, Oberhausen, Germany
Published in 2014

In the medium term, gas hydrate reservoirs in the subsea sediment are intended as deposits for carbon dioxide (CO2) from fossil fuel consumption. This idea is supported by the fact, that CO2 hydrates are more stable than methane hydrates at certain conditions. The potential of producing methane by depressurization and/or by injecting CO2 is studied in the frame of the research project SUGAR. Here, a numerical model for the production of natural gas from submarine gas hydrate reservoirs based on a 2-phase Darcy flow in a sediment/hydrate matrix is described. Simulation cases discussed are the depressurization of a methane hydrate bearing reservoir at varied layer disposals and a depressurization with simultaneous injection of CO2 by a second injection well.