An optimal approach of pure/mixed CO2 sequestration with producing hydrated natural gas: Physical insights and validation

Abstract

In this contribution, an optimal approach is developed to sequestrate pure/mixed CO2 by dislodging the hydrated natural gas, the cleanest fossil fuel, thereby catching two birds by one stone. For depicting its intricacies, a transient thermo-kinetic swapping model is developed with considering first time the effect of permeability and water saturation, along with porosity involved in sediments of hydrate reservoir. The formulation takes into account various fundamental issues having practical relevance, like porous particles with uneven size and shape, surface dynamics involved in phase transformation, non-unity reaction order (i.e., nth order), among others. A mixed-integer nonlinear multi-objective sequential optimization (MOSO) problem is articulated within the framework of a robust global optimizer (i.e., nondominated sorting genetic algorithm II) to deal with two conflicting objectives, concerning minimization of absolute average relative deviation and maximization of swapping efficiency. This optimal approach is validated with laboratory and field data, showing its outperformance over the latest models at diverse geological conditions. The proposed model framework is employed for lab-scale cases to identify the optimal guest gas (CO2/N2) ratio that secures the maximum swapping efficiency. Simulation results suggest that the presented theoretical model is rigorous in interpreting these swapping dynamics in hydrates.