A state-dependent critical state model for methane hydrate-bearing sand

Methane hydrate exists in the pores of methane hydrate-bearing sand (MHBS) and is considered to be a potentially significant source of methane and thus energy for mankind. However, before conducting a large-scale extraction of methane from MHBS, it is crucial to simulate the mechanical behaviour of MHBS and evaluate its stability during drilling and methane production. In this paper, a state-dependent critical state model for MHBS is presented. The critical state of MHBS is discussed, and critical state line formulations are introduced as functions of hydrate saturation. A simple nonlinear bonding and linear debonding law is incorporated considering the cementing mechanism of hydrate. A modified state-dependent dilatancy is proposed to account for the effects of stress level, internal state (density), bonding strength and hydrate saturation. Determination of the model parameters is described in detail. The proposed model is employed to predict results of drained triaxial compression tests on MHBS. Satisfactory performance is demonstrated, i.e., the model can adequately capture the stress–strain and volume change behaviours of MHBS over a wide range of hydrate saturations, confining pressures and densities using a unified set of parameters.     

考虑水合物胶结厚度的深海能源土粒间胶结模型研究

天然气水合物被公认是解决当前能源危机的潜在新型能源而备受关注。含水合物的海底土体称为深海能源土。水合物在能源土中有不同的赋存形式（如填充型水合物和胶结型水合物等）,由于胶结型水合物对整体强度的贡献比其他存在形式更大,尤其是饱和度较低的情况。针对于胶结型水合物的赋存形式进行研究,水合物作为胶结物质存在于土颗粒之间,胶结厚度会在一定范围内变化。为真实地反映此现象,通过对能源土试样的电镜扫描图片整理分析,获得水合物饱和度与粒间胶结厚度的函数关系。基于前期已经完成的不同粒间胶结厚度下胶结力学特性的试验研究成果,为探究胶结厚度变化对能源土体宏观力学特性的影响,建立了考虑水合物胶结厚度的能源土粒间胶结模型,并介绍此模型中相关胶结参数及其确定方法。     

DEM simulations of methane hydrate exploitation by thermal recovery and depressurization methods

Methane hydrate (MH, also called fiery ice) exists in forms of pore filling, cementing and load-bearing skeleton in the methane hydrate bearing sediment (MHBS) and affects its mechanical behavior greatly. To study the changes of macro-scale and micro-scale mechanical behaviors of MHBS during exploitation by thermal recovery and depressurization methods, a novel 2D thermo-hydro-mechanical bonded contact model was proposed and implemented into a platform of distinct element method (DEM), PFC2D. MHBS samples were first biaxially compressed to different deviator stress levels to model different in-situ stress conditions. With the deviator stress maintained at constant, the temperature was then raised to simulate the thermal recovery process or the pore water pressure (i.e. confining pressure for MH bond) was decreased to simulate the depressurization process. DEM simulation results showed that: during exploitation, the axial strain increased with the increase of temperature (in the thermal recovery method) or decrease of pore water pressure (in the depressurization method); sample collapsed during MH dissociation if the deviator stress applied was larger than the compression strength of a pure host sand sample; sample experienced volume contraction but its void ratio was slightly larger than the pure host sand sample at the same axial strain throughout the test. By comparison with the laboratory test results, the new model was validated to be capable of reproducing the exploitation process by thermal recovery and depressurization methods. In addition, some micro-scale parameters, such as contact distribution, bond distribution, and averaged pure rotation rate, were also analyzed to investigate their relationships with the macroscopic responses.     

孔隙填充型能源土的宏微观力学特性真三轴试验离散元分析

天然气水合物沉积物因其作为绿色新型能源且具有广阔的开发前景而备受全球瞩目。水合物在水合物沉积物（俗称能源土试样）中有不同的赋存型式,如孔隙填充型和胶结型等。针对孔隙填充型水合物的赋存形态,生成特定饱和度的能源土试样。开展了同一 平面上不同中主应力系数（b = 0、0.25、0.50、0.75、1.00）的真三轴排水试验的三维离散元模拟,将微观参数接触组构及剪切滑移率的演化规律与材料的宏观力学响应相结合,分析了中主应力对孔隙填充型能源土的宏微观力学响应的影响。结果表明：强接触处组构张量的大、中、小主值随b的变化规律与大、中、小主应力及大、中、小主应变随b的变化规律表现出良好的相关性。三向应力状态下的破坏强度接近Lade-Duncan破坏准则。能源土试样剪切滑移率随着中主应力系数的增大而增大;当处于三轴拉伸状态时,试样的剪切滑移率最大。     

三维离散元单轴试验模拟甲烷水合物宏观三轴强度特性

填充型水合物的砂性能源土试样可视为特殊的散粒体材料,即砂粒和水合物颗粒混合物,具有明显的非连续特征。为研究填充型水合物的能源土力学特性,初步探索了甲烷水合物在不同温度、反压条件下加荷模式的离散元模拟方法。离散元模拟中,将水合物块体视为由大量颗粒通过强胶结作用凝聚而成的整体,室内试验中的内部孔隙水压作用转化为水合物颗粒间的胶结力,故需要合理确定颗粒间胶结模型参数来实现反压的影响作用。通过参数反演建立了宏观强度、刚度参数与平行胶结模型的微观胶结参数间的宏、微观关系,基于已有室内甲烷水合物三轴试验资料,确定了给定温度和反压条件下的微观胶结参数取值,随后进行离散元单轴压缩试验。离散元单轴压缩试验模拟获得的水合物强度特性,与室内三轴试验结果符合较好;通过建立的宏、微观参数间的关系,实现了不同温度、反压下的水合物加荷模式的模拟。为进一步提出深海能源土离散元数值试验成样方法--孔隙填充水合物生成技术,形成含填充型水合物的能源土试样,研究其力学和变形特性奠定基础。     

A bond contact model for methane hydrate‐bearing sediments with interparticle cementation

While methane hydrates (MHs) can be present in various forms in deep seabeds or permafrost regions, this paper deals with MH‐bearing sediments (MHBS) where the MH has formed bonds between sand grains. A bond model based on experimentally validated contact laws for cemented granules is introduced to describe the mechanical behavior of the MH bonds. The model parameters were derived from measured values of temperature, water pressure and MH density. Bond width and thickness adopted for each bond of the MHBS were selected based on the degree of MH saturation. The model was implemented into a 2D distinct element method code. A series of numerical biaxial standard compression tests were carried out for various degrees of MH saturation. A comparison with available experimental data shows that the model can effectively capture the essential features of the mechanical behavior of MHBS for a wide range of levels of hydrate saturation under drained and undrained conditions. In addition, the analyses presented here shed light on the following: (1) the relationship between level of cementation and debonding mechanisms taking place at the microscopic level and the observed macro‐mechanical behavior of MHBS and (2) the relationship between spatial distribution of bond breakages and contact force chains with the observed strength, dilatancy and deformability of the samples. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A constitutive mechanical model for gas hydrate bearing sediments incorporating inelastic mechanisms

Gas hydrate bearing sediments (HBS) are natural soils formed in permafrost and sub-marine settings where the temperature and pressure conditions are such that gas hydrates are stable. If these conditions shift from the hydrate stability zone, hydrates dissociate and move from the solid to the gas phase. Hydrate dissociation is accompanied by significant changes in sediment structure and strongly affects its mechanical behavior (e.g., sediment stiffenss, strength and dilatancy). The mechanical behavior of HBS is very complex and its modeling poses great challenges. This paper presents a new geomechanical model for hydrate bearing sediments. The model incorporates the concept of partition stress, plus a number of inelastic mechanisms proposed to capture the complex behavior of this type of soil. This constitutive model is especially well suited to simulate the behavior of HBS upon dissociation. The model was applied and validated against experimental data from triaxial and oedometric tests conducted on manufactured and natural specimens involving different hydrate saturation, hydrate morphology, and confinement conditions. Particular attention was paid to model the HBS behavior during hydrate dissociation under loading. The model performance was highly satisfactory in all the cases studied. It managed to properly capture the main features of HBS mechanical behavior and it also assisted to interpret the behavior of this type of sediment under different loading and hydrate conditions.     

Study of mechanical behavior and strain localization of methane hydrate bearing sediments with different saturations by a new DEM model

This paper presents a numerical investigation into mechanical behavior and strain localization in methane hydrate (MH) bearing sediments using the distinct element method (DEM). Based on the results of a series of laboratory tests on the bonded granules idealized by two glued aluminum rods and the available experimental data of methane hydrate samples, a pressure and temperature dependent bond contact model was proposed and implemented into a two-dimensional (2D) DEM code. This 2D DEM code was then used to numerically carry out a series of biaxial compression tests on the MH samples with different methane hydrate saturations, whose results were then compared with the experimental data obtained by Masui et al. [9]. In addition, stress, strain, void ratio and velocity fields, the distributions of bond breakage and averaged pure rotation rate (APR) as well as the evolution of strain localization were examined to investigate the relationships between micromechanical variables and macromechanical responses in the DEM MH samples. The numerical results show that: (1) the shear strength increases as methane hydrate saturation S_MH increases, which is in good agreement with the experimental observation; (2) the strain localization in all the DEM MH samples develops with onset of inhomogeneity of void ratio, velocity, strain, APR, and distortion of stress fields and contact force chains; and (3) the methane hydrate saturation affects the type of strain localization, with one shear band developed in the case of 40.9% and 67.8% methane saturation samples, and two shear bands formed for 50.1% methane saturation sample.     

Sediment–well interaction during depressurization

Depressurization gives rise to complex sediment–well interactions that may cause the failure of wells. The situation is aggravated when high depressurization is imposed on sediments subjected to an initially low effective stress, such as in gas production from hydrate accumulations in marine sediments. Sediment–well interaction is examined using a nonlinear finite element simulator. The hydro-mechanically coupled model represents the sediment as a Cam-Clay material, uses a continuous function to capture compressibility from low to high effective stress, and recognizes the dependency of hydraulic conductivity on void ratio. Results highlight the critical effect of hydro-mechanical coupling as compared to constant permeability models: A compact sediment shell develops against the screen, the depressurization zone is significantly smaller than the volume anticipated assuming constant permeability, settlement decreases, and the axial load on the well decreases; in the case of hydrates, gas production will be a small fraction of the mass estimated using a constant permeability model. High compressive axial forces develop in the casing within the production horizon, and the peak force can exceed the yield capacity of the casing and cause its collapse. Also tensile axial forces may develop in the casing above the production horizon as the sediment compacts in the depressurized zone and pulls down from the well. Well engineering should consider: slip joints to accommodate extensional displacement above the production zone, soft telescopic/sliding screen design to minimize the buildup of compressive axial force within the production horizon, and enlarged gravel pack to extend the size of the depressurized zone.     

一个深海能源土弹塑性本构模型

天然气水合物赋存在低温高压环境中,会在土颗粒间形成胶结从而增大深海能源土抗剪强度。基于损伤力学理论,将结构性砂土本构模型推广应用于深海能源土分析中,模拟计算了三轴固结排水剪切试验,再根据应力-应变曲线关系定量反演初始屈服系数与水合物饱和度之间的函数关系,并修正了原有的结构性砂土破损规律,建立了深海能源土弹塑性本构模型。另外,根据该模型模拟了另外一组深海能源土三轴剪切试验和等向固结压缩试验。计算结果表明：新建立的深海能源土本构模型可以有效模拟深海能源土剪切强度随水合物饱和度之间的增长关系;随着水合物饱和度的增加,三轴压缩试验中深海能源土峰值强度及割线模量(E50)逐渐增加,等向固结压缩试验中屈服强度增加,与试验结果有较好的一致性,表明了该模型的合理性。     

不同开采方法下深海能源土离散元模拟

天然气水合物以胶结及孔隙填充等形式存在于深海能源土中,开采时因其分解会劣化地层力学特性进而引发海底事故,使得人们对能源土开采过程进行中力学特性的变化愈发重视。在前期室内试验的基础上,将一个温度-水压-力学二维微观胶结模型引入离散元商业软件PFC2D中,通过对排气、排水性较好的土体进行升温及降压法开采进行数值模拟,并将模拟结果与相同条件下的室内试验结果对比,验证了该胶结模型的适用性。进一步分析了颗粒接触分布与颗粒平均纯转动率（averaged pure rotation rate, APR）在水合物分解时的变化情况。升温分解过程中随温度升高,颗粒总接触分布各向异性程度增大;胶结接触逐渐减少并始终保持主方向为水平方向,无胶结接触增多并始终保持主方向为竖直方向;APR值逐渐增大且正负值分布逐渐趋于集中。降压分解过程中随反（水）压降低,颗粒总接触由各向同性分布逐渐发展为主方向为竖直方向的各向异性,APR值较小且分布均匀;恢复反压后,试样进一步破坏,颗粒总接触各向异性更加明显,APR值增大且正负值呈集中分布。     

非饱和土的水力和力学特性及其弹塑性描述

简单回顾了非饱和土本构模型研究的发展历程,总结了近几年非饱和土弹塑性本构模型最新研究成果,重点介绍了能统一模拟非饱和土水力性状和力学性状耦合的弹塑性本构模型。通过对建立模型过程中的几个核心问题讨论,较详细地说明该类模型的结构、性能以及相关问题。非饱和土水力性状的滞回性用假定存在饱和度弹性区间的弹塑性过程来模拟;该类耦合模型不仅考虑了吸力对非饱和土水力性状和力学性状的影响,还考虑了饱和度对应力-应变关系和强度的影响以及土体变形对土-水特征曲线的影响。用同一套模型参数,耦合模型可统一预测在吸力控制或含水率控制下沿各种应力路径下非饱和土的水力-力学特性,并简单介绍了膨胀性非饱和土的弹塑性本构模型以及耦合模型在有限元数值计算中的应用。     

气饱和含CO2水合物砂的三轴压缩试验

在改造的高压低温三轴仪中采用过量气法制备了气饱和状态的含CO2水合物砂样,并进行了三轴压缩试验。以水合物饱和度为指标对过量气制样法的可重复性进行分析后发现,受孔隙阻隔效应的影响,虽然利用高的初始水饱和度的砂样可以制成高的水合物饱和度的含水合物砂,但是制样的可重复性低;试验表明,采用过量气法制取水合物饱和度低于40%的含水合物试样的可重复性较好。三轴试验结果表明,含水合物砂的剪切和变形特性与水合物饱和度和净围压密切相关：随净围压的增大,试样的强度、刚度、塑性和压缩性都增大,随水合物饱和度的增加,试样的强度和刚度增加,塑性和压缩性降低;黏聚力随水合物饱和度的增加而增加,但摩擦角并没有明显的变化。     

天然气水合物地层渗透率研究进展

天然气水合物开采涉及传热、水合物分解相变、多相渗流和地层变形4个物理过程。多相渗流过程伴随着对流传热,影响传热效率;多相渗流过程影响孔隙压力的消散速率,引起有效应力改变而影响地层变形;多相渗流过程影响传热的效率和孔隙压力的消散速率,使温度和压力条件发生变化,影响水合物的分解。多相渗流过程中,某相流体的有效渗透率不仅与该相流体的饱和度有关,还与地层绝对渗透率有关。地层绝对渗透率是多相渗流过程的关键参数之一。概述不同贮存状态水合物、地层孔隙率、水合物饱和度和地层有效应力对地层绝对渗透率影响的研究内容。以国内外天然气水合物地层绝对渗透率研究成果为基础,将来的研究重点主要包括粉细砂、黏土类地层和各向异性地层多相渗流研究,以及地层有效应力对绝对渗透率影响研究。     

Hydro-mechanical hypoplastic models for unsaturated soils under isotropic stress conditions

The current work presents two hypoplastic models to predict the hydraulic and mechanical behavior of the unsaturated soils. The hydraulic model is capable to reproduce the observed hysteretic behavior for the drying and wetting processes and incorporates the void ratio dependence. The mechanical model is written in terms of the Bishop effective stress and is limited only to isotropic states. It incorporates a normal consolidation line that depends on the degree of saturation. Both models were developed under the hypoplastic framework and therefore are capable to simulate the observed behavior without defining a yield surface. Simulations of some experiments performed with Pearl clay suggest that the models accurately predict its hydro-mechanical behavior.     

Deformation and stresses upon drainage of an idealized granular material

A pore-scale numerical model is employed to simulate the primary drainage of a deformable assembly of spherical grains. The model combines the discrete element method and a pore-scale method, respectively, for the solid phase and the fluid phases. The evolution of strain along the simulated drainage in oedometer conditions is reported. The combined actions of phase pressures and surface tension lead the solid skeleton to first shrink and then to swell at the approach of residual saturation. The effective stress is examined through the Bishop’s coefficient \(\chi\), obtained by a back analysis of the simulated strain. It is found that \(\chi\) is relatively close to the degree of saturation, with an exception at very low saturation. Further, a contact stress obtained by averaging micromechanical quantities is found nearly exactly equal to the effective stress deduced directly from the strain, in contrast to previous findings. A detailed analysis of the heterogeneous fields of effective stress, saturation and pressure is offered, suggesting a unique relationship between \(\chi\) and saturation at a mesoscale.     

黏土矿物颗粒特征对含水合物的沉积物力学特性影响研究

含水合物的沉积物力学参数是水合物储层稳定性评价的基础数据。我国南海神狐海域含水合物的沉积物中含大量的黏土,深入了解黏土矿物对沉积物力学特性的影响对水合物开采具有十分重要的意义。基于PFC三轴压缩模拟,首先分析了沉积物中不含水合物时,黏土矿物颗粒特征的力学效应,然后分析了水合物对颗粒的胶结作用和围压对沉积物力学特性的影响。结果表明,不含水合物模型的偏应力-应变曲线呈明显的应变硬化特征。黏土矿物的含量、颗粒形状和排列对沉积物三轴压缩特性具有显著影响。黏土矿物含量的增多对沉积物力学强度具有明显的降低作用,黏土矿物形状为条形的沉积物强度和弹性模量要明显高于圆颗粒模型,在细观上受颗粒平均接触数影响,条形黏土颗粒的定向排列使模型的力学参数具有各向异性。水合物对颗粒的胶结作用可显著提高模型的峰值强度和弹性模量,随着颗粒胶结程度的增大和围压的减小,含水合物的沉积物的破坏方式由塑性破坏向脆性破坏转换。     

层状赋存含水合物沉积物的本构模型研究

推进天然气水合物资源开采是我国能源战略的重要任务。层状赋存形态的含水合物沉积物在目标开采储层中普遍存在,水合物开采引起的沉积物层扰动会直接诱发剪切变形影响储层的稳定性,严重制约水合物资源的安全开采。现有水合物沉积物的本构表征主要基于空间均匀分布、各向同性的材料特征假设,缺少考虑水合物沉积物的强非线性力学特性受层状赋存形态影响的本构表征方法,无法准确预测目标开采储层的应力-应变规律。本文采用均匀化理论,基于每层沉积物的弹塑性刚度矩阵构建层状形态代表体积单元的宏细观控制方程,建立了层状赋存含水合物沉积物的本构表征方法。代表体积单元内每层的沉积物模型参数可基于均质含水合物沉积物试样的三轴试验标定获取。通过将层状本构模型预测和层状沉积物三轴试验以及数值试验的应力-应变关系对比验证,本研究提出的层状本构模型可准确描述原位储层中层状赋存含水合沉积物的力学行为。     

基于扰动状态概念的含水合物土弹塑性模型

含水合物土是由水合物赋存在土体中形成的特殊土,其力学特性不仅与饱和度有关,和赋存模式也有很大的关系。不同赋存模式的水合物胶结结构不同,其力学特点也不尽相同。考虑含水合物土在荷载作用下胶结结构会发生破坏,采用扰动状态概念,建立含水合物土的应力-应变模型来描述胶结结构受载破坏的全过程。同时,采用水合物的有效饱和度表示的伤变量来描述含水合物土的内部结构的在受载条件下的发展规律。根据含水合物土的力学行为,采用理想弹塑性模型和摩尔-库仑模型来描述两个参考状态,形式相对简单,参数易于确定。最后通过三轴剪切试验对模型进行了检验,结果表明该模型能较为合理的模拟含水合物土在扰动过程中的变形特点。     

Application of a Simulation Model for the Formation of Methane Hydrate to the Nankai Trough and the Blake Ridge: Natural Examples of Two End-member Cases

Abstract. Simulation experiments with a one-dimensional static model for formation of methane hydrate are used to demonstrate models of hydrate occurrence and its generation mechanism for two end-member cases. The simulation results compare well with experimental data for two natural examples (the Nankai Trough and the Blake Ridge).
At the MITI Nankai Trough wells, the hydrate occurrence is characterized by strongly hydrated sediments developing just above the BGHS. Such occurrence can be reproduced well by simulation in which the end-member case of upward advective fluid flow from below the BGHS is set. The strongly hydrated sediments is formed by oversaturated solution with free gas which directly enters the BGHS by the upward advective fluid flow. The recycling of dissociated methane of preexisting hydrate also contributes to the increase of hydrate saturation.
At the Site 997 in the Blake Ridge area, the hydrate occurrence is characterized by thick zone with poorly hydrated sediments and no hydrate zone developing above the hydrate zone. Such occurrence can be reproduced well by simulation in which the end-member case of in-situ biogenic production of methane in the sediment of methane hydrate zone is set. The distribution pattern of hydrate saturation is basically controlled by that of TOC. However, the hydrate concentration near the bottom of the hydrate zone is increased by the effect of recycling of dissociated methane of pre-existing hydrate. No hydrate zone expresses the geologic time needed until the local concentration of methane exceeds the solubility by gradual accumulation of in-situ biogenic methane with burial.