Experimental Study of Methane Hydrate Decomposition Kinetics

Experimental investigations of methane hydrate dissociation kinetics were performed. The test rig consists of a stirred reactor equipped with particle size analysis. The observed dissociation rates were found to be about one order of magnitude faster than previously reported by others. A mass transfer control of the dissociation process is proposed to dominate in the proximity of a dispersed hydrate-liquid interface. The results are relevant for the design of processes employing dispersed gas hydrates in chemical engineering and the production of natural gas from dispersed deposits.