Low-field MRI study of the 1H distribution and migration in porous sediments during natural gas conversion from methane hydrate

Abstract

Gas hydrates, crystalline compounds formed from water and guest molecules like methane, are gaining attention as a promising clean energy source. While research has extensively focused on the extraction and transport of natural gas hydrates from offshore marine sediments, the dynamic processes in the porous sediments remain under explored. This study employs low-field Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to investigate the in-situ formation and dissociation of methane hydrate within a partially saturated stack of glass beads. By integrating advanced MRI techniques, including 1D dhk SPRITE, bulk T1 distribution, and 2D spatial T2 imaging, this research provides a comprehensive analysis of fluid distribution and migration during phase transitions in the porous sediments. Three key findings emerged from the study. First, SE-SPI measurements successfully quantified hydrate and residual water saturation, aligning with previous X-ray CT and high-field MRI studies and validating low-field MRI for hydrate research. Secondly, this study introduced a volumetric approach to T1 and T2 measurements, distinguishing between free and bound water, with characteristic relaxation times for each, confirming the technique's capability to differentiate types of residual water. Finally, spatially resolved T2 relaxation time distributions revealed vertical fluid migration within the pore spaces, identifying an equilibrium zone where inflow and outflow rates were balanced. Overall, this study underscores the effectiveness of low-field MRI as a noninvasive tool for analyzing hydrate-bearing sediments. The findings lay the groundwork for further exploration of hydrate in porous sediments, enhancing our understanding of gas production dynamics in hydrate-rich environments.