A simplified isotropic compression model for methane hydrate-bearing sediment

Analyzing the mechanical deformation of the hydrate-bearing layer during hydrate exploitation requires the establishment of a robust model for the isotropic compression behavior of methane hydrate-bearing sediment (MHBS), which is of utmost importance. However, few research involves developing the isotropic compression model. In this paper, a novel simplified isotropic compression model of MHBS is developed according to the isotropic compression characteristics of MHBS. To address the effect of temperature and pore pressure condition (P-T condition) on the isotropic compression curve (ICC) of MHBS, the phase state parameter, as a representative for P-T condition, is used to characterize the ICC of MHBS with varying P-T condition. The fact that the predicted and measured ICCs display a strong agreement indicates that the simplified compression model developed in this study can effectively capture the isotropic compression behavior of MHBS under various hydrate saturation, temperature, and pore pressure conditions.