Numerical solution for natural gas production from methane hydrate dissociation

This paper describes a one-dimensional model for natural gas production from the dissociation of methane hydrate in a confined reservoir by a depressurizing well. The approach accounts for the heat released by hydrate dissociation and convection - conduction heat transfer in the gas and hydrate zone. The system of governing equations is solved using a finite-difference scheme. For different well pressures and reservoir temperatures, the gas flow, the pressure and temperatures conditions in the reservoir are simulated. Distributions of temperature and pressure in the hydrate and gas regions and time evolutions of natural gas output also are evaluated. It is shown that the gas production rate is a sensitive function of well pressure. In addition, both heat conduction and convection in the hydrate zone is important. The simulation results are compared with the linearization approach and the shortcomings of the earlier approach are discussed. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.