Numerical Simulation of Hydrate Formation in the LArge-Scale Reservoir Simulator (LARS)

Li, Zhen; Spangenberg, Erik; Schicks, Judith M.; Kempka, Thomas

doi:10.3390/en15061974

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 86 publications

(168 reference statements)

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“…The feed gas (thermogenic CH 4 ) transport mechanism proposed in this study has been validated with regard to its dissolved migration state and highly dipping faults as migration pathways. Simultaneously, our simulations prove the general feasibility of the previously addressed laboratory-scale CH 4 hydrate formation method [71] at field scale for the sub-permafrost GH accumulations at the Mallik site. 2.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 66%

“…A framework of equations of state (EOS) for equilibrium CH 4 hydrate formation has been integrated with the flow and transport simulator TRANSE [70], referred to as T plus H (TRANSE + Hydrate) in a previous study [71]. In the current study, an EOS module describing the reversible processes of water-freezing and ice-thawing [10] has been implemented and integrated with T plus H to investigate the interactive processes of permafrost formation and degradation, as well as sub-permafrost GH formation.…”

Section: Numerical Model Implementation 231 Mathematical Model and Mo...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The assumptions proposed by Li et al [71] are considered, while temperature (−20-45 °C) and pressure ranges (0-20 MPa) were extended in the updated EOS. Volume changes during ice-fluid and vice versa phase transitions are neglected; 2.…”

Section: Numerical Model Implementation 231 Mathematical Model and Mo...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The mass balance, energy balance and continuity equations employed in the scope of the present numerical simulation are presented by Li et al [71] and Kempka [70]. With introducing the frozen state of pore fluid (i.e., ice) as an additional component, the following equations of state (EOS) were integrated into TRANSE.…”

Section: Appendix A2 Governing Equations Describing Water-ice Thermal...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Numerical Simulation of Coastal Sub-Permafrost Gas Hydrate Formation in the Mackenzie Delta, Canadian Arctic

Spangenberg

Schicks

et al. 2022

Energies

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The Mackenzie Delta (MD) is a permafrost-bearing region along the coasts of the Canadian Arctic which exhibits high sub-permafrost gas hydrate (GH) reserves. The GH occurring at the Mallik site in the MD is dominated by thermogenic methane (CH4), which migrated from deep conventional hydrocarbon reservoirs, very likely through the present fault systems. Therefore, it is assumed that fluid flow transports dissolved CH4 upward and out of the deeper overpressurized reservoirs via the existing polygonal fault system and then forms the GH accumulations in the Kugmallit–Mackenzie Bay Sequences. We investigate the feasibility of this mechanism with a thermo–hydraulic–chemical numerical model, representing a cross section of the Mallik site. We present the first simulations that consider permafrost formation and thawing, as well as the formation of GH accumulations sourced from the upward migrating CH4-rich formation fluid. The simulation results show that temperature distribution, as well as the thickness and base of the ice-bearing permafrost are consistent with corresponding field observations. The primary driver for the spatial GH distribution is the permeability of the host sediments. Thus, the hypothesis on GH formation by dissolved CH4 originating from deeper geological reservoirs is successfully validated. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that the permafrost has been substantially heated to 0.8–1.3 °C, triggered by the global temperature increase of about 0.44 °C and further enhanced by the Arctic Amplification effect at the Mallik site from the early 1970s to the mid-2000s.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 66%

Section: Numerical Model Implementation 231 Mathematical Model and Mo...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Numerical Model Implementation 231 Mathematical Model and Mo...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Appendix A2 Governing Equations Describing Water-ice Thermal...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Numerical Simulation of Coastal Sub-Permafrost Gas Hydrate Formation in the Mackenzie Delta, Canadian Arctic

Spangenberg

Schicks

et al. 2022

Energies

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Numerical simulation of spatial temperature and salinity distribution in the Waiwera geothermal reservoir, New Zealand

Kempka,

Kühn

2023

Grundwasser - Zeitschrift der Fachsektion Hydrogeologie

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The geothermal reservoir in Waiwera was not sustainably managed for many decades. Hence, the responsible authority introduced a water management concept, whereby various independent models were developed and calibrated using observations. As these models were not yet able to reproduce all observations, constant model revisions are critical for efficient reservoir management. Results of a recent field campaign were used for the current model revision, considering two new main structural geological findings to reconstruct the natural reservoir state. Our simulation results demonstrate that a recently proven north-south trending fault in the study area plays a key role in improving the model. Further analysis suggests the presence of a not yet confirmed additional west-east aligned geologic fault in the north, since thermal convection is observed inland. Additional field campaigns are needed to acquire more information on the main geological fault zones as well as additional data on temperature and salinity distributions.

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Geologic controls on the genesis of the Arctic permafrost and sub-permafrost methane hydrate-bearing system in the Beaufort–Mackenzie Delta

Chabab

Spangenberg

et al. 2023

Front. Earth Sci.

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The Canadian Mackenzie Delta exhibits a high volume of proven sub-permafrost gas hydrates that naturally trap a significant amount of deep-sourced thermogenic methane (CH4) at the Mallik site. The present study aims to validate the proposed Arctic sub-permafrost gas hydrate formation mechanism, implying that CH4-rich fluids were vertically transported from deep overpressurized zones via geologic fault systems and formed the present-day observed GH deposit since the Late Pleistocene. Given this hypothesis, the coastal permafrost began to form since the early Pleistocene sea-level retreat, steadily increasing in thickness until 1 Million years (Ma) ago. Data from well logs and 2D seismic profiles were digitized to establish the first field-scale static geologic 3D model of the Mallik site, and to comprehensively study the genesis of the permafrost and its associated GH system. The implemented 3D model considers the spatially heterogeneously distributed hydraulic properties of the individual lithologies at the Mallik site. Simulations using a proven thermo-hydro-chemical numerical framework were employed to gain insights into the hydrogeologic role of the regional fault systems in view of the CH4-rich fluid migration and the geologic controls on the spatial extent of the sub-permafrost GH accumulations during the past 1 Ma. For >87% of the Mallik well sections, the predicted permafrost thickness deviates from the observations by less than 0.8%, which validates the general model implementation. The simulated ice-bearing permafrost and GH interval thicknesses as well as sub-permafrost temperature profiles are consistent with the respective field observations, confirming our introduced hypothesis. The spatial distribution of GHs is a result of the comprehensive interaction between various processes, including the source-gas generation rate, subsurface temperature, and the hydraulic properties of the structural geologic features. Overall, the good agreement between simulations and observations demonstrates that the present study provides a valid representation of the geologic controls driving the complex permafrost-GH system. The model’s applicability for the prediction of GH deposits in permafrost settings in terms of their thicknesses and saturations can provide relevant contributions to future GH exploration and exploitation.

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Numerical Simulation of Hydrate Formation in the LArge-Scale Reservoir Simulator (LARS)

Cited by 5 publications

References 86 publications

Numerical Simulation of Coastal Sub-Permafrost Gas Hydrate Formation in the Mackenzie Delta, Canadian Arctic

Numerical Simulation of Coastal Sub-Permafrost Gas Hydrate Formation in the Mackenzie Delta, Canadian Arctic

Numerical simulation of spatial temperature and salinity distribution in the Waiwera geothermal reservoir, New Zealand

Geologic controls on the genesis of the Arctic permafrost and sub-permafrost methane hydrate-bearing system in the Beaufort–Mackenzie Delta

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