Pore Geometry Research Articles

Correlating Capillary Pressure and Resistivity Index for Carbonate Reservoir

Capillary pressure is a significant parameter in characterizing and modeling petroleum reservoirs. However, costly laboratory measurements may not be sufficiently available in some cases. The problem amplifies for carbonate reservoirs because relatively enormous capillary pressure curves are required for reservoir study due to heterogeneity. In this work, the laboratory measurements of capillary pressure and formation resistivity index were correlated as both parameters are functions of saturation. Forty-one core samples from an Iraqi carbonate reservoir were used to develop the correlation according to the hydraulic flow units concept. Flow zone indicator (FZI) and Pore Geometry and Structure (PGS) approaches were used to identify the reservoir hydraulic flow units. The experimentally derived correlations can be used to predict capillary pressure from resistivity, which is widely available from well-logs. FZI and PGS rock typing methods were applied to characterize the reservoir rock types. For both methods, the log-log plot of Leverett J-function and capillary pressure versus resistivity index for each rock type represent a power-law model relationship between these parameters. Despite the good permeability-porosity prediction results, the FZI approach did not yield a good correlation between J and I. PGS resulted in a better performance in terms of both permeability-porosity prediction and Pc with I correlation because PGS honors the pore geometry and structure relationship with the mean hydraulic radius more than FZI. This work introduces a new correlating approach that aims to assist in reservoir characterization and simulation.

Hydrodynamic Porosity: A New Perspective on Flow through Porous Media, Part I

Pore-scale flow velocity is an essential parameter in determining transport through porous media, but it is often miscalculated. Researchers use a static porosity value to relate volumetric or superficial velocities to pore-scale flow velocities. We know this modeling assumption to be an oversimplification. The variable fraction of porosity conducive to flow, what we define as hydrodynamic porosity, θmobile, exhibits a quantifiable dependence on the Reynolds number (i.e., pore-scale flow velocity) in the Laminar flow regime. This fact remains largely unacknowledged in the literature. In this work, we quantify the dependence of θmobile on the Reynolds number via numerical flow simulation at the pore scale for rectangular pores of various aspect ratios, i.e., for highly idealized dead-end pore spaces. We demonstrate that, for the chosen cavity geometries, θmobile decreases by as much as 42% over the Laminar flow regime. Moreover, θmobile exhibits an exponential dependence on the Reynolds number, Re = R. The fit quality is effectively perfect, with a coefficient of determination (R2) of approximately 1 for each set of simulation data. Finally, we show that this exponential dependence can be easily fitted for pore-scale flow velocity through use of only a few Picard iterations, even with an initial guess that is 10 orders of magnitude off. Not only is this relationship a more accurate definition of pore-scale flow velocity, but it is also a necessary modeling improvement that can be easily implemented. In the companion paper (Part 2), we build upon the findings reported here and demonstrate their applicability to media with other pore geometries: rectangular and non-rectangular cavities (circular and triangular).

Flow unit classification and characterization with emphasis on the clustering methods: a case study in a highly heterogeneous carbonate reservoir, eastern margin of Dezful Embayment, SW Iran

Previous attempts to classify flow units in Iranian carbonate reservoirs, based on porosity and permeability, have faced challenges in correlating the rock's pore size distribution with the capillary pressure profile. The innovation of this study highlights the role of clustering techniques, such as Discrete Rock Type, Probability, Global Hydraulic Element, and Winland's Standard Chart in enhancing the reservoir's rock categorization. These techniques are integrated with established flow unit classification methods. They include Lucia, FZI, FZI*, Winland R35, and the improved stratigraphic modified Lorenz plot. The research accurately links diverse pore geometries to characteristic capillary pressure profiles, addressing heterogeneity in intricate reservoirs. The findings indicate that clustering methods can identify specific flow units, but do not significantly improve their classification. The effectiveness of these techniques varies depending on the flow unit classification method employed. For instance, probability-based methods yield surpassing results for low-porosity rocks when utilizing the FZI* approach. The discrete technique generates the highest number of flow unit classes but provides the worst result. Not all clustering techniques reveal discernible advantages when integrated with the FZI method. In the second part, the study creatively suggests that rock classification can be achieved by concurrently clustering irreducible water saturation (SWIR) and porosity in unsuccessful flow unit delineation cases. The SWIR log was estimated by establishing a smart correlation between porosity and SWIR in the pay zone, where water saturation and SWIR match. Then, the estimated saturation was dispersed throughout the reservoir. Subsequently, the neural network technique was employed to cluster and propagate the three finalized flow units. This methodology is an effective recommendation when conventional flow unit methods fail. The study also investigates influential factors causing the failure of flow unit classification methods, including pore geometry, oil wettability, and saturation in heterogeneous reservoirs.

On the Pore Geometry and Structure Rock Typing.

Rock typing is a vital step in oil and gas reservoir development to achieve predictions of hydrocarbon reserves, recovery, and underground storage capacity for CO2 or hydrogen. To address inaccurate initial hydrocarbon-in-place prediction and improper rock property distribution in a reservoir model, a recent rock typing method, pore geometry and structure (PGS), has revealed a more accurate prediction on connate water saturation and better grouping of capillary pressure. However, the current state still needs physical interpretations of the PGS rock typing. We have compiled thousands of experimentally measured hydraulic properties, such as permeability k within 12 orders of magnitude, porosity ϕ up to 0.9, specific surface area S S within 4 orders of magnitude, and pore size R ranges around 3 orders of magnitude. We conduct the first-ever holistic physical interpretations of the PGS rock typing using gathered data combined with analytical theory and the Kozeny-Carman equation. Surprisingly, our physics-inspired data-driven study reveals advanced findings on the PGS rock typing. These include (i) why PGS method prevails over the hydraulic flow unit rock typing, (ii) explanations to distinguish between causality and indirect relationships among hydraulic properties, rock type number, and electrical resistivity, (iii) a proposed novel method: permeability prediction from the resistivity and rock type number relationship, and (iv) a suggestion and criticism on how to avoid a recursive prediction on permeability.

Solute transport in unsaturated porous media with spatially correlated disorder

Solute transport in unsaturated porous media is of interest in many engineering and environmental applications. The interplay between small-scale, local forces and the porous microstructure exerts a strong control on the transport of fluids and solutes at the larger, macroscopic scales. Heterogeneity in pore geometry is intrinsic to natural materials across a large range of scales. This multiscale nature, and the intricate links between two-phase flow and solute transport, remain far from well understood, by and large. Here, we use high-resolution direct simulation to quantify solute mixing and dispersion behavior within correlated porous media during drainage under an unfavorable viscosity ratio. Through analysis of flow and transport at multiple realizations, we find that increasing spatial correlations in pore sizes increase the size of the required Representative Elementary Volume (REV). We show that increasing the correlation length enhances solute dispersivity through its impact on the spatial distribution of low-velocity (diffusion-dominated) and high-velocity (advection-dominated) regions. Fluid saturation is shown to directly affect diffusive mass flux among high- and low-velocity zones. Another indirect effect of correlated heterogeneity on solute transport is through its control of the drainage patterns via repeated alteration in the connectivity of flowing pathways. Our findings improve quantitative understanding of solute mixing and dispersion under two-phase conditions, highly relevant to some of our most urgent environmental problems.

Sculpting conducting nanopore size and shape through de novo protein design.

Transmembrane β-barrels have considerable potential for a broad range of sensing applications. Current engineering approaches for nanopore sensors are limited to naturally occurring channels, which provide suboptimal starting points. By contrast, de novo protein design can in principle create an unlimited number of new nanopores with any desired properties. Here we describe a general approach to designing transmembrane β-barrel pores with different diameters and pore geometries. Nuclear magnetic resonance and crystallographic characterization show that the designs are stably folded with structures resembling those of the design models. The designs have distinct conductances that correlate with their pore diameter, ranging from 110 picosiemens (~0.5 nanometer pore diameter) to 430 picosiemens (~1.1 nanometer pore diameter). Our approach opens the door to the custom design of transmembrane nanopores for sensing and sequencing applications.

Comparative Pore Structure and Dynamics for Bacterial Microcompartment Shell Protein Assemblies in Sheets or Shells.

Bacterial microcompartments (BMCs) are protein-bound organelles found in some bacteria that encapsulate enzymes for enhanced catalytic activity. These compartments spatially sequester enzymes within semipermeable shell proteins, analogous to many membrane-bound organelles. The shell proteins assemble into multimeric tiles; hexamers, trimers, and pentamers, and these tiles self-assemble into larger assemblies with icosahedral symmetry. While icosahedral shells are the predominant form in vivo, the tiles can also form nanoscale cylinders or sheets. The individual multimeric tiles feature central pores that are key to regulating transport across the protein shell. Our primary interest is to quantify pore shape changes in response to alternative component morphologies at the nanoscale. We used molecular modeling tools to develop atomically detailed models for both planar sheets of tiles and curved structures representative of the complete shells found in vivo. Subsequently, these models were animated using classical molecular dynamics simulations. From the resulting trajectories, we analyzed the overall structural stability, water accessibility to individual residues, water residence time, and pore geometry for the hexameric and trimeric protein tiles from the Haliangium ochraceum model BMC shell. These exhaustive analyses suggest no substantial variation in pore structure or solvent accessibility between the flat and curved shell geometries. We additionally compare our analysis to hydroxyl radical footprinting data to serve as a check against our simulation results, highlighting specific residues where water molecules are bound for a long time. Although with little variation in morphology or water interaction, we propose that the planar and capsular morphology can be used interchangeably when studying permeability through BMC pores.

Tuning MOF/polymer interfacial pore geometry in mixed matrix membrane for upgrading CO2 separation performance.

The current paradigm considers the control of the MOF/polymer interface mostly for achieving a good compatibility between the two components to ensure the fabrication of continuous mixed-matrix metal-organic framework (MMMOF) membranes. Here, we unravel that the interfacial pore shape nanostructure plays a key role for an optimum molecular transport. The prototypical ultrasmall pore AlFFIVE-1-Ni MOF was assembled with the polymer PIM-1 to design a composite with gradually expanding pore from the MOF entrance to the MOF/polymer interfacial region. Concentration gradient-driven molecular dynamics simulations demonstrated that this pore nanostructuring enables an optimum guided path for the gas molecules at the MOF/polymer interface that decisively leads to an acceleration of the molecular transport all along the MMMOF membrane. This numerical prediction resulted in the successful fabrication of a [001]-oriented nanosheets AlFFIVE-1-Ni/PIM-1 MMMOF membrane exhibiting an excellent CO2 permeability, better than many MMMs, and ideally associated with a sufficiently high CO2/CH4 selectivity that makes this membrane very promising for natural gas/biogas purification.

Prediction of the dynamic pressure drop of filter media loaded with water mists based on the deposited droplet mass distributions and pore network model

Predicting the pressure drop of a filter is necessary, especially regarding the jump in the dynamic pressure drop of a filter without pre-filters when clogged by rain or fog droplets. However, the efficient prediction method for the pressure drop in cylinder filters loading with water mists in the pore network faces limitations due to the high requirements for microscopic images of materials and the need to consider for the increasing holding droplet capacity of filters. In this study, a systematic method that takes into account the distributions of the deposited droplet mass within the water-absorbed filter medium layers in the pore network model (PNM) was developed. The pore geometry and distributions were determined from 2D microstructure images, and the dynamic deposited droplet mass and water-absorbing capacity of fibers were combined with the changing saturation to optimize the PNM for calculating the dynamic pressure drop of the filter media. Specifically, the empirical equation of the self-defined equivalent single fiber filtration efficiency (ESFFE) describes the relationship between the changing single fiber filtration efficiency and the deposited droplet mass. The optimized PNM is suitable for predicting the behavior of bibulous wood cellulose fiber filter media. The dynamic pressure drop shows a slight increase before surging, following the typical “channel and jump” model. Although the calculations deviate slightly from the experimental results with 25 % deviations, this systematic method effectively predict the jump in pressure drop of the tested filter medium. Therefore, this systematic method for predicting pressure drop of filters holds promise in anticipating unsafe pressure drop jumps in filters installed in coastal areas.

Exploring the influence of pore shape on conductance and permeation

There are increasing numbers of ion channel structures featuring heteromeric subunit assembly, exemplified by synaptic α1βB glycine and α4β2 nicotinic receptors. These structures exhibit inherent pore asymmetry, but the relevance of this to function is unknown. Furthermore, molecular dynamics simulations performed on symmetrical homomeric channels often lead to thermal distortion whereby conformations of the resulting ensemble are also asymmetrical. When functionally annotating ion channels, researchers often rely on minimal constrictions determined via radius-profile calculations performed with computer programs, such as HOLE or CHAP, coupled with an assessment of pore hydrophobicity. However, such tools typically employ spherical probe particles, limiting their ability to accurately capture pore asymmetry. Here, we introduce an algorithm that employs ellipsoidal probe particles, enabling a more comprehensive representation of the pore geometry. Our analysis reveals that the use of nonspherical ellipsoids for pore characterization provides a more accurate and easily interpretable depiction of conductance. To quantify the implications of pore asymmetry on conductance, we systematically investigated carbon nanotubes with varying degrees of pore asymmetry as model systems. The conductance through these channels shows surprising effects that would otherwise not be predicted with spherical probes. The results have broad implications not only for the functional annotation of biological ion channels but also for the design of synthetic channel systems for use in areas such as water filtration. Furthermore, we make use of the more accurate characterization of channel pores to refine a physical conductance model to obtain a heuristic estimate for single-channel conductance. The code is freely available, obtainable as pip-installable python package and provided as a web service.

Greedy Kernel Methods for Approximating Breakthrough Curves for Reactive Flow from 3D Porous Geometry Data

Greedy Kernel Methods for Approximating Breakthrough Curves for Reactive Flow from 3D Porous Geometry Data

Pore analysis of dendritic mesoporous silica nanoparticles by STEM tomography and nitrogen sorption

Dendritic mesoporous silica nanoparticles (DMSN) provide a high diversity and complexity regarding their pore structure. Herein, we present results related to electron tomographic reconstruction and nitrogen sorption analysis of DMSNs with different pore structures obtained through variation of the surfactant concentration in the synthesis. The tomograms revealed that at all DMSNs exhibit a highly porous shell structure and a denser porous core with smaller pores. The shell generally consists of dendritic silica walls forming a disordered pore system of center radially aligned mesopores. At the highest surfactant concentration these mesopores had a roughly conical geometry, providing a highly accessible pore network. Nitrogen sorption revealed a broad pore size distribution, in agreement with this conical mesopore shape. The mesopore dimensions obtained through reconstruction were in good agreement with the pore size distribution obtained by nitrogen sorption. For intermediate and low surfactant concentrations, different pore geometries were observed in the reconstruction with increasing restriction of the pore volume towards the outer surface of the particles by branching of large pores into smaller ones. Nitrogen sorption analyses support these observations by featuring an increasing hysteresis with decreasing surfactant concentration in the synthesis, which indicates that the accessible pore volume is restricted by smaller mesopores towards the rim of the particles.

Coupled effect of MWCNTs concentration and induced pore structures on compressive performance and elastic modulus of ultra-high toughness cementitious composites: Experimental and theoretical studies

Due to the superior mechanical properties and electrical conductivity of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), their integration into cementitious composites can improve compressive strength and self-sensing capabilities. However, balancing high mechanical strength with high conductivity is challenging as high MWCNT dosages can impede strength development. We addressed this by studying the effect of MWCNTs concentration (0–1.1 wt% of cementitious binders) and induced pore structures on the compressive performance and elastic modulus of ultra-high toughness cementitious composites (UHTCC), both experimentally and theoretically. It was found that as the MWCNTs concentration increased, the porosity continued to increase, while the compressive strength fluctuated. Two failure patterns were identified, i.e., quasi-brittle failure and ductile failure. Analysis showed MWCNTs could promote cement binder hydration, increasing matrix density but the strength development was curbed by increased porosity. A balance was achieved at 0.7 wt% MWCNTs. Further investigations using the Eshelby-Mori-Tanaka method discussed how MWCNT concentration, mechanical properties, distribution, porosity, and pore geometry influenced the elastic modulus. Ultimately, we developed a UHTCC-MWCNT composite with 1.1 wt% MWCNTs, which exhibited substantial improvements in compressive strength (44.85 MPa) and conductivity (9.78✕10−3 S/m), showing increases of 22.18 % and 18,132.6 % respectively, compared to the reference group.

A unified macroscopic equation for creeping, inertial, transitional, and turbulent fluid flows through porous media

Over the course of several decades, numerous model equations of the macroscopic fluid flow through porous media have been proposed. The application of such equations is, however, often complicated due to the requirement of variant specifications of parameters and empirical factors for different flow regimes. It is, therefore, necessary and desirable to have a unified fundamental equation that is capable of predicting porous media flows for the entire spectrum of flow regimes that are practically encountered. This work aims to fulfill that requirement. With the aid of a hypothesis-based analysis, finite-element simulations, and published experimental data, a new macroscopic transport equation has been proposed to predict statistically stationary single-phase incompressible flows through a non-deformable stationary porous medium. The new model may be written as a drag law associated with a dimensionless resistance parameter that is a function of the porous medium geometry and the flow forces. Though complex, this resistance parameter may be modeled as a power function in terms of three predictable parameters. Overall, the proposed transport equation has been found to be a more extensive form of other key models in existence. Using approximately 6000 analytical, numerical, and experimental data points, the equation has been validated as an excellent model for creeping, inertial, transitional, and turbulent porous media flows. The results show that the proposed equation is applicable to simple and complex porous media of 30%–90% porosity. Moreover, a dimensionless group in terms of the equation's resistance parameter has been established as useful for scaling.

Low-frequency non-reciprocal sound propagation features in thermoacoustic waveguide.

Thermoacoustic waveguides are systems of hollow tubes and thermally graded porous segments that can operate as active materials where acoustic waves receive energy from an external heat source. This work demonstrates that by adjusting the pore geometry several unique low-frequency propagation features arise from the complex-valued band structure of periodic thermoacoustic waveguides that reflect into the acoustic pressure field within finite-length systems. Numerical methods have been employed to model waveguides with porous segments constituted by cylindrical inclusions (parallel pins). In periodic structures, a critical frequency emerges where the sign of the refractive index in one direction of propagation changes, thus zero- and negative-unidirectional refractive index, unidirectional energy transport, and amplification/attenuation crossover effects may take place. On the other hand, the study of the acoustic pressure field shows that, for wave packets with either direction of propagation, finite-length waveguides may behave as active acoustic metamaterials with zero- or negative-refractive index. The acoustic pressure field in the waveguide, generated by an upstream source, may exhibit increasing amplitude and phase recovery farther away from the source, mimicking the field created by a downstream source, propagating upstream in a non-active medium.

Zwitterionic nanospheres engineered co-polymer composite membrane for precise protein-protein separation via dynamic self-assembly micelle deposition

The accurate protein-protein separation is important but technically challenging. Achieving such a precise separation using membrane requires the selective channels with appropriate pore geometry structure and high anti-fouling property. In this study, polyethersulfone-b-poly(sulfobetaine methyl methacrylate) (PES-b-PSBMA) was synthesized and engineered onto polysulfone (PSF) ultrafiltration (UF) membrane to fabricate zwitterionic nanospheres engineered co-polymer (ZN-e-CoP) composite membrane via dynamic self-assembly micelle deposition. On the one hand, self-assembly zwitterionic nanospheres were used as blocks to construct hydrophilic layers with size-dependent sieving channels, endowing ZN-e-CoP composite membranes with enhanced permselectivity and protein-protein separation abilities, meanwhile zwitterionic groups from nanospheres reinforced the structure stability of nanospheres/nanospheres and nanospheres/membrane via multiple intermolecular interactions. On the other hand, zwitterionic nanospheres can induce to produce the hydration layer enveloping themselves by binding water molecules, where hydration layer acts as a protective barrier on the membrane surface, impeding the protein adhesion. Hence, ZN-e-CoP_1a composite membrane exhibited superior separation properties with Lysozyme/Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) separation factor of 18.1 and 95.4 % rejection against BSA, 10.1 and 2.3 times, respectively, higher these of pristine PSF membrane (1.8 and 42.1 %), without obviously sacrificing water flux. Simultaneously, hydration layer enables the ZN-e-CoP_1a membrane with enhanced anti-fouling performance and durability during the long-term operations. The proposed approach opens new pathways to fabricate excellent anti-fouling membranes for precise protein-protein separation.

An Alkyne-Bridged Covalent Organic Framework Featuring Interactive Pockets for Bromine Capture.

The high degree of corrosivity and reactivity of bromine, which is released from various sources, poses a serious threat to the environment. Moreover, its coexistence with iodine forming an equilibrium compound, iodine monobromide (IBr) necessitates the selective capture of bromine from halogen mixtures. The electrophilicity of halogens to π-electron rich structures enabled us to strategically design a covalent organic framework for halogen capture, featuring a defined pore environment with localized sorption sites. The higher capture capacity of bromine (4.6 g g-1) over iodine by ~41 % shows its potential in selective capture. Spectroscopic results uncovering the preferential interaction sites are supported by theoretical investigations. The alkyne bridge is a core functionality promoting the selectivity in capture by synergistic physisorption, rationalized by the higher orbital overlap of bromine due to its smaller atomic size as well as reversible chemical interactions. The slip stacking in the structure has further promoted this phenomenon by creating clusters of molecular interaction sites with bromine intercalated between the layers. The inclusion of unsaturated moieties, i.e. triple bonds and the complementary pore geometry offer a promising design strategy for the construction of porous materials for halogen capture.

Eine Alkin‐verbrückte kovalent organische Gerüstverbindung mit interaktiven Bindungstaschen für das Einfangen von Brom

AbstractDie hohe Korrosivität und Reaktivität von Brom, welches aus verschiedenen Quellen freigesetzt wird, stellt eine ernsthafte Gefahr für die Umwelt dar. Darüber hinaus erfordert seine Koexistenz mit Iod und die daraus resultierende Gleichgewichtsverbindung Iodmonobromid (IBr) die selektive Abtrennung von Brom aus Halogengemischen. Die Elektrophilie von Halogenen gegenüber π‐elektronenreichen Strukturen ermöglichte uns die strategische Entwicklung einer kovalent organischen Gerüstverbindung für die Halogenaufnahme, die eine definierte Porenumgebung mit lokalisierten Sorptionsstellen aufweist. Die um ~41 % höhere Aufnahmekapazität von Brom (4,6 g g−1) gegenüber Iod zeigt das Potenzial für die selektive Aufnahme. Die spektroskopischen Ergebnisse, welche die bevorzugten Wechselwirkungsstellen aufzeigen, werden durch theoretische Untersuchungen gestützt. Die Alkin‐Brücke ist eine Kernfunktionalität, die die Selektivität bei der Aufnahme durch synergistische Physisorption fördert, was durch die höhere Orbitalüberlappung von Brom aufgrund seiner geringeren atomaren Größe, sowie durch reversible chemische Wechselwirkungen begründet ist. Das sogenannte „slip stacking“ in der Struktur hat dieses Phänomen weiter gefördert, indem Cluster molekularer Interaktionsstellen mit zwischen den Schichten eingelagertem Brom geschaffen wurden. Die Einführung ungesättigter Einheiten, d. h. Dreifachbindungen, und die komplementäre Porengeometrie bieten eine vielversprechende Designstrategie für die Konstruktion poröser Materialien für die Halogenaufnahme.

Numerical Analysis of the Porous Structure of Activated Carbons Derived from Synthetic Polymers.

This paper presents original results from the unique analysis of the porous structure of activated carbons (ACs) produced through the chemical activation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyacrylonitrile (PAN), as well as from a physical mixture of both polymers. An advanced method of adsorbent surface analysis-more specifically, the new method of numerical clustering-based adsorption analysis regarding the surface heterogeneity, pore geometry and adsorption energy distribution parameters-allowed us to obtain information about the porous structure of the ACs from the synthetic polymers mentioned above. As the results showed, ACs obtained with PAN were characterised by a first adsorbed layer with the highest volume. When the surface heterogeneity, highly desirable in most advanced adsorption processes, is taken into account, the materials with the best surface properties in both potassium carbonate (K2CO3) and potassium hydroxide (KOH) activation processes were the ACs obtained with a mass proportion of PET to PAN of 1:3, which were characterised by a low degree of surface heterogeneity and a first adsorbed layer presenting a relatively large volume.

Application of coupled hydrodynamic and thermal Lattice–Boltzmann simulation on permeability estimation of hydrate-bearing sediment during hydrate dissociation processes

Natural gas hydrates, which are plentifully distributed in ocean floor sediments and permafrost regions, are considered a promising unconventional energy resource. The current hydrate production approaches aim at breaking the thermodynamic equilibrium state to stimulate hydrate dissociation that releases methane and water molecules, which causes formation porosity and permeability alteration. Efficient estimation of permeability during hydrate dissociation is essential to evaluate the economic feasibility for gas production from hydrate-bearing sediment. In this paper, we developed a coupled hydrodynamic and thermal Lattice–Boltzmann (LB) method to rigorously model the coupled processes of mass transfer, conjugate heat transfer, and fluid flow during the hydrate dissociation. We then carried out numerical simulation on the dissociation processes of hydrate formation with the three most common hydrate distribution morphologies, pore-filling, grain-coating and dispersed, under two production approaches that are depressurization, and depressurization with thermal intervention. Our simulation results indicated that the coupling of gas transport and heat transfer has significant impact on pore geometry evolution, especially pore connectivity, during hydrate dissociation processes due to the endothermic nature of the dissociation processes. Therefore, it is vital to consider the coupling effects for estimation of hydrate formation permeability through numerical simulations.