Numerical simulation of CH4 hydrate formation in fractures

Fracture-hosted methane hydrate deposits exist at many sites worldwide. The growth behavior of CH4 hydrate in fractured media was simulated by TOUGH + HYDRATE (T + H) code. The effects of fracture size, initial condition, and salinity on the growth behavior of hydrate in fractures were investigated. In general, the hydrate layer grew from the two ends and gradually covered on the surface of the fracture. With the formation of hydrate in fractures, the temperature increased sharply since the hydrate acted as a thermal insulation layer. In longer fractures, fast growth of hydrate at the ends of the fracture led to the formation of hydrate plugs with high saturation (called as stopper). In narrower fractures, hydrate dissociation occurred in the middle of the fracture during hydrate growing in the whole fracture due to the cutoff of gas supply by the stopper at the ends. At a low initial subcooling, hydrate formed both on the surface and in the micropores of the media, which was different from that at higher subcooling. In salt solution, the formation of hydrate stopper was inhibited by the salt-removing effect of hydrate formation and the growth of hydrate was more sustainable.