Numerical modeling of methane hydrates dissociation in the submarine permafrost

Abstract

In this study, we evaluate the sensitivity of gas hydrate reservoirs associated with submarine permafrost conditions to changes in global climate. We apply numerical simulations to assess the timings of methane hydrate dissociation on the East Siberian Arctic Shelf after flooding the shelf with the seawater. The modeling combines a model of submarine permafrost evolution with a model of methane hydrate dissociation that accounts for the consumption of latent heat during hydrate dissociation. Based on the analysis of the performed experiments, we found that the endothermic reaction is a significant mechanism for slowing hydrate dissociation in frozen sediments. As a result, it additionally increases the lag of the subsea permafrost and hydrates stability zone response to glacial cycles.