Rapid Gas Hydrate Formation Processes: Will They Work?

Thomas D Brown,Charles E Taylor,Mark P Bernardo

doi:10.3390/en3061154

Abstract

Researchers at DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) have been investigating the formation of synthetic gas hydrates, with an emphasis on rapid and continuous hydrate formation techniques. The investigations focused on unconventional methods to reduce dissolution, induction, nucleation and crystallization times associated with natural and synthetic hydrates studies conducted in the laboratory. Numerous experiments were conducted with various high-pressure cells equipped with instrumentation to study rapid and continuous hydrate formation. The cells ranged in size from 100 mL for screening studies to proof-of-concept studies with NETL’s 15-Liter Hydrate Cell. Results from this work demonstrate that the rapid and continuous formation of methane hydrate is possible at predetermined temperatures and pressures within the stability zone of a Methane Hydrate Stability Curve (see Figure 1).

Highlights

Introduction and National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) Development of RapidGas Hydrate Formation ConceptsNatural gas hydrates (NGHs) or methane gas hydrates (MGHs) have the potential to serve as an energy source for the World over the several hundred years
Numerous experiments were performed on a variety of NETL nozzle designs under different operating conditions to investigate and subsequently develop techniques to rapidly and continuously form gas hydrates
While monitoring every temperature and pressure condition and flow rates of both water and methane, calculations have shown methane uptake was greater than 80% during the most successful rapid hydrate formation experiments

Summary

Introduction

Introduction and NETL Development of RapidGas Hydrate Formation ConceptsNatural gas hydrates (NGHs) or methane gas hydrates (MGHs) have the potential to serve as an energy source for the World over the several hundred years. New experiments were designed to acquire/collect information on the formation of hydrate on individual water droplets and methane bubbles at temperatures and pressures (Figure 1 and Table 4)

Results

Conclusion