Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Natural Gas Hydrates in The Alaskan Arctic PDF
Natural Gas Hydrates in The Alaskan Arctic PDF
Summary. The occu~rence of in-situ natural gas hydrates in the arctic North Slope of Alaska is governed by several thermo-
dynamic and geologic parameters, such as mean annual surface temperature, geothermal gradients above and below the base of the
permafrost,pore-fluid salinity, permafrost base depth and temperature, subsurface pressure, and composition. Accurate knowledge
of these parameters is necessary to determine the depths and thicknesses of zones of potential hydrate occurrences. The role of the
parameters is discussed in this paper. To determine the hydrate-stability zone, a nomogram has been developed and has been used
for several Alaskan wells. For further delineation of gas hydrates, the neutron-transit-time crossplots have served as a. valuable
tool. To quantify gas hydrate deposits in terms of thickness, porosity, and saturation; use of neutron- and sonic-porosity-correction
factors and Pickett crossplots is recommended.
ture 14 and thus reduce the hydrate-stability zone. The salinity gen atom density in water with respect to hydrates. The ratio of
values for the North Slope region vary between 5,000 and 14,000 hydrogen present in.l cm 3 of water is compared to the hydrogen
ppm. The reduction in the hydrate-stability zone is about 2.3 % for present in 1 cm 3 of Structure I hydrate, which is 0.93 and could
every 1,000 ppm increase in salinity, An increase in mean annual be used as a correction factor to the neutron porosity within the
surface temperature and geothermal gradients lowers the hydrate- hydrate zone. It is necessary to use a compensated neutron log to
stability zone, whereas an increase in permafrost base temperature. minimize the effect of increased borehole. In addition, the increased
and depth increases the hydrate-stability zone. wellbore resulting from thawing might contain drilling fluids and
Gas composition strongly influences hydrate stability conditions, free gas, and hence should be carefully considered. The porosity
and hence accurate gascompositlons need to be known in any measurements in cased holes should be considered only semiquan-
hydrate-stability-zone calculations. The effect of gas composition titative.
on hydrate sta1;lility is illustrated in Fig. 2. Additions of ethane, A transit time porosity correction factor similar to the neutron
propane, and isobutane increasingly affect methane-hydrate stability. porosity correction factor was outlined by Collett et al. 8 The com~
CO 2 will have an effect similar to that of ethane. Fig. 2 is con- pressional and shear wave velocities of a formation are a function
structed for mean values of the parameters for Kuparuk field, which of matrix and its constituents as well as the temperature of the for-
are listed in Table 1. Similar figures can be constructed for given mation and the salinity of pore fluids. Collett et al. 8 have shown
parameters to correct the hydrate-stability zone for gas composition. that the ratio of compressional velocity in Boise core saturated with
Structure I hydrate (23°F [-5°C]) to compressional velocity in
Log Evaluation Boise core saturated with ice at 23°F [-5°C] is 1.18-e.g., an ap-
Collett and Ehlig-Economides5 have reviewed the use of well logs parent porosity of 0.33 in hydrate-saturated zones would be cor-
in the detection of hydrates. Collett et al. 8 have presented a tech- rected as 0.39. These corrections should be considered only
nique for confirming the distinction between ice and hydrate as well approximate and might fail to give reasonable results.
as for quantification of hydrate deposits. This. technique involves Collett et al. 8 have evaluated a series of neutron porosities and
the use of a neutron porosity transit time crossplot along with a . sonic velocities for 18 units in a Kuparuk B-1 production well. Fig.
Pickett crossplot. They presented a correction factor based on hydro- 3 shows a crossplot of correcte9 neutron porosity and corrected
SALINITY
1l'P"'
o
I000O
lOGO
100
_ aoooo
ao
15
::- _ t--t--f--i--t-+--1-+--t
e"
z"
~
0 1000
I
zo:x'
t
t
,
:1000
I
I
I : - ,
.-
&. I-I--t--~I---+--+--+---+--t--t
10
Z I I ' :
I I I I I
.... ..,.
'I I I
I. __ .1;. _ ._.'" '"'_._ .1-•. __ •
5
" I I:
~~ I I I
", I.... __.... 1 __ .-1-.-'
-~ :)
~.:: .. 0
o 4000 I
.. _--:---- .. .!
,
\,
-------- .... ..,. .
..... I ~
, I
I a 0
I
I z c
.... _ _ 0
J+--r----r-+-+--+--+-.....-1
o lIlOO 2000 _ -
15-
1·0 ,..,
CH.4
.,. M
A A
o·a+------J..-----'--...!.-------'\
o·a
..., 201- •
0·5 0'6 0'7 . >-
&AS &RAVITY -
~
..
en
0 251-
Fig. 2-Effect of gas gravity for binary hydrocarbon mixtures GIl
on the hydrate-stability zone. 0
At