One-dimensional approaches for methane hydrate production by CO2/N2 gas mixture in horizontal and vertical column reactor

Abstract

The recovery of methane gas from methane hydrate bearing sediments was investigated by using a continuous stream of a CO2 and N2 gas mixture. A long cylindrical high-pressure reactor was designed to demonstrate the recovery of methane from methane hydrate bearing sediments, and the injection rate of the gas mixture was controlled to monitor the amount of recovered methane from methane hydrates. The recovery efficiency of methane gas from methane hydrates is inversely proportional to the flow rate of the CO2 and N2 gas mixture. Methane hydrates were synthesized by using two different sediments, having particle size distributions of 75 to 150 μm and 45 to 90 μm with the same porosity, and the recovery efficiency of methane from methane hydrates was also monitored. We confirmed that there is no significant difference in the replacement characteristics by using these two different sediments. Horizontal and vertical flows of the CO2 and N2 gas mixture were applied to monitor the effect of flow direction on replacement characteristics. We also confirmed that a similar amount of methane was recovered in horizontal and vertical flows of the CO2 and N2 gas mixture at the same flow rate. The present study may help in establishing the process variables for recovering methane gas from methane hydrate bearing sediments in offshore conditions.