Application of frequency division inversion in the prediction of heterogeneous natural gas hydrates reservoirs in the Shenhu Area,South China Sea

Drilling results suggest that the thickness of natural gas hydrates (NGHs) in the Shenhu Area, South China Sea (SCS) are spatially heterogenous, making it difficult to accurately assess the NGHs resources in this area. In the case that free gas exists beneath hydrate deposits, the frequency of the hydrate deposits will be noticeably attenuated, with the attenuation degree mainly affected by pore development and free gas content. Therefore, the frequency can be used as an important attribute to identify hydrate reservoirs. Based on the time-frequency characteristics of deposits, this study predicted the spatial distribution of hydrates in this area using the frequency division inversion method as follows. Firstly, the support vector machine (SVM) method was employed to study the amplitude versus frequency (AVF) response based on seismic and well logging data. Afterward, the AVF response was introduced as independent information to establish the nonlinear relationship between logging data and seismic waveform. Then, the full frequency band information of the seismic data was fully utilized to obtain the results of frequency division inversion. The inversion results can effectively broaden the frequency band, reflect the NGHs distribution, and reveal the NGHs reservoirs of two types, namely the fluid migration pathway type and the in situ self-generation self-storage diffusion type. Moreover, the inversion results well coincide with the drilling results. Therefore, it is feasible to use the frequency division inversion to predict the spatial distribution of heterogeneous NGHs reservoirs, which facilitates the optimization of favorable drilling targets and is crucial to the resource potential assessment of NGHs.©2022 China Geology Editorial Office.     

Hydrate phase transition and seepage mechanism during natural gas hydrates production tests in the South China Sea: A review and prospect

Natural gas hydrates (NGHs) are globally recognized as an important type of strategic alternative energy due to their high combustion efficiency, cleanness, and large amounts of resources. The NGHs reservoirs in the South China Sea (SCS) mainly consist of clayey silts. NGHs reservoirs of this type boast the largest distribution range and the highest percentage of resources among NGHs reservoirs in the world. However, they are more difficult to exploit than sandy reservoirs. The China Geological Survey successfully carried out two NGHs production tests in the Shenhu Area in the northern SCS in 2017 and 2020, setting multiple world records, such as the longest gas production time, the highest total gas production, and the highest average daily gas production, as well as achieving a series of innovative theoretical results. As suggested by the in-depth research on the two production tests, key factors that restrict the gas production efficiency of hydrate dissociation include reservoir structure characterization, hydrate phase transition, multiphase seepage and permeability enhancement, and the simulation and regulation of production capacity, among which the hydrate phase transition and seepage mechanism are crucial. Study results reveal that the hydrate phase transition in the SCS is characterized by low dissociation temperature, is prone to produce secondary hydrates in the reservoirs, and is a complex process under the combined effects of the seepage, stress, temperature, and chemical fields. The multiphase seepage is controlled by multiple factors such as the physical properties of unconsolidated reservoirs, the hydrate phase transition, and exploitation methods and is characterized by strong methane adsorption, abrupt changes in absolute permeability, and the weak flow capacity of gas. To ensure the long-term, stable, and efficient NGHs exploitation in the SCS, it is necessary to further enhance the reservoir seepage capacity and increase gas production through secondary reservoir stimulation based on initial reservoir stimulation. With the constant progress in the NGHs industrialization, great efforts should be made to tackle the difficulties, such as determining the micro-change in temperature and pressure, the response mechanisms of material-energy exchange, the methods for efficient NGHs dissociation, and the boundary conditions for the formation of secondary hydrates in the large-scale, long-term gas production.©2022 China Geology Editorial Office.     

Application of wellhead suction anchor technology in the second production test of natural gas hydrates in the South China Sea

Traditional suction anchor technology is mainly used in the fields of subsea structure bearing foundations,single-point mooring systems and offshore wind power. It is characterized by providing sufficient lateral and vertical bearing capacities and lateral bending moment. The anchor structure of a traditional suction anchor structure is improved with wellhead suction anchor technology, where a central pipe is added as a channel for drilling and completion operations. To solve the technical probl...     

Velocity-porosity relationships in hydrate-bearing sediments measured from pressure cores,Shenhu Area,South China Sea

Evaluating velocity-porosity relationships of hydrate-bearing marine sediments is essential for characterizing natural gas hydrates below seafloor as either a potential energy resource or geohazards risks. Four sites had cored using pressure and non-pressure methods during the gas hydrates drilling project (GMGS4) expedition at Shenhu Area, north slope of the South China Sea. Sediments were cored above, below, and through the gas-hydrate-bearing zone guided with logging-while-drilling analysis results. Gamma density and P-wave velocity were measured in each pressure core before subsampling. Methane hydrates volumes in total 62 samples were calculated from the moles of excess methane collected during depressurization experiments. The concentration of methane hydrates ranged from 0.3% to 32.3%. The concentrations of pore fluid (25.44% to 68.82%) and sediments (23.63% to 54.28%) were calculated from the gamma density. The regression models of P-wave velocity were derived and compared with a global empirical equation derived from shallow, unconsolidated sediments data. The results were close to the global trend when the fluid concentration is larger than the critical porosity. It is concluded that the dominant factor of P-wave velocity in hydrate-bearing marine sediments is the presence of the hydrate. Methane hydrates can reduce the fluid concentration by discharging the pore fluid and occupying the original pore space of sediments after its formation.©2022 China Geology Editorial Office.     

Assessment of natural gas hydrate reservoirs at Site GMGS3-W19 in the Shenhu area,South China Sea based on various well logs

To obtain the characteristics of the gas hydrate reservoirs at GMGS3-W19, extensive geophysical logging data and cores were analyzed to assess the reservoir properties. Sediment porosities were estimated from density, neutron, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) logs. Both the resistivity and NMR logs were used to calculate gas hydrate saturations, the Simandoux model was employed to eliminate the effects of high clay content determined based on the ECS and core data. The density porosity was closely in agreement with the core-derived porosity, and the neutron porosity was higher while the NMR porosity was lower than the density porosity of sediments without hydrates. The resistivity log has higher vertical resolution than the NMR log and thus is more favorable for assessing gas hydrate saturation with strong heterogeneity. For the gas hydrate reservoirs at GMGS3-W19, the porosity, gas hydrate saturation and free gas saturation was 52.7%, 42.7% and 10%, on average, respectively. The various logs provide different methods for the comprehensive evaluation of hydrate reservoir, which supports the selection of candidate site for gas hydrate production testing.©2022 China Geology Editorial Office.     

The second natural gas hydrate production test in the South China Sea

Clayey silt reservoirs bearing natural gas hydrates (NGH) are considered to be the hydrate-bearing reservoirs that boast the highest reserves but tend to be the most difficult to exploit. They are proved to be exploitable by the first NGH production test conducted in the South China Sea in 2017. Based on the understanding of the first production test, the China Geological Survey determined the optimal target NGH reservoirs for production test and conducted a detailed assessment, numerical and experimental simulation, and onshore testing of the reservoirs. After that, it conducted the second offshore NGH production test in 1225 m deep Shenhu Area, South China Sea (also referred to as the second production test) from October 2019 to April 2020. During the second production test, a series of technical challenges of drilling horizontal wells in shallow soft strata in deep sea were met, including wellhead stability, directional drilling of a horizontal well, reservoir stimulation and sand control, and accurate depressurization. As a result, 30 days of continuous gas production was achieved, with a cumulative gas production of 86.14 ×10⁴ m³. Thus, the average daily gas production is 2.87 ×10⁴ m³, which is 5.57 times as much as that obtained in the first production test. Therefore, both the cumulative gas production and the daily gas production were highly improved compared to the first production test. As indicated by the monitoring results of the second production test, there was no anomaly in methane content in the seafloor, seawater, and atmosphere throughout the whole production test. This successful production test further indicates that safe and effective NGH exploitation is feasible in clayey silt NGH reservoirs. The industrialization of hydrates consists of five stages in general, namely theoretical research and simulation experiments, exploratory production test, experimental production test, productive production test, and commercial production. The second production test serves as an important step from the exploratory production test to experimental production test.     

Identification of functionally active aerobic methanotrophs and their methane oxidation potential in sediments from the Shenhu Area,South China Sea

Large amounts of gas hydrate are distributed in the northern slope of the South China Sea, which is a potential threat of methane leakage. Aerobic methane oxidation by methanotrophs, significant methane biotransformation that occurs in sediment surface and water column, can effectively reduce atmospheric emission of hydrate-decomposed methane. To identify active aerobic methanotrophs and their methane oxidation potential in sediments from the Shenhu Area in the South China Sea, multi-day enrichm...     

A 3D basin modeling study of the factors controlling gas hydrate accumulation in the Shenhu Area of the South China Sea

Great advancement has been made on natural gas hydrates exploration and test production in the northern South China Sea. However, there remains a lot of key questions yet to be resolved, particularly about the mechanisms and the controls of gas hydrates enrichment. Numerical simulaution would play signficant role in addressing these questions. This study focused on the gas hydrate exploration in the Shenhu Area, Northern South China Sea. Based on the newly obtained borehole and multichannel reflection seismic data, the authors conducted an integrated 3D basin modeling study on gas hydrate. The results indicate that the Shenhu Area has favorable conditions for gas hydrate accumulation, such as temperature, pressure, hydrocarbon source, and tectonic setting. Gas hydrates are most concentrated in the Late Miocene strata, particularly in the structual highs between the Baiyun Sag and the Liwan Sag, and area to the south of it. It also proved the existence of overpressure in the main sag of source rocks, which was subject to compaction disequilibrium and hydrocarbon generation. It also shown that the regional fault activity is not conducive to gas hydrate accumulation due to excess gas seepage. The authors conjecture that fault activity may slightly weaken overpressure for the positive effect of hydrocarbon expulsion and areas lacking regional fault activity have better potential.©2022 China Geology Editorial Office.     

Distributed optical fiber acoustic sensor for in situ monitoring of marine natural gas hydrates production for the first time in the Shenhu Area,China

The distributed acoustic sensor(DAS) uses a single optical cable as the sensing unit, which can capture the acoustic and vibration signals along the optical cable in real-time. So it is suitable for monitoring downhole production activities in the process of oil and gas development. The authors applied the DAS system in a gas production well in the South China Sea for in situ monitoring of the whole wellbore for the first time and obtained the distributed acoustic signals along the whole wellbor...     

The first offshore natural gas hydrate production test in South China Sea

Natural gas hydrates (NGH) is one of key future clean energy resources. Its industrialized development will help remit the huge demand of global natural gas, relieve the increasing pressure of the environment, and play a vital role in the green sustainable growth of human societies. Based on nearly two decades’ studying on the reservoir characteristics in the South China Sea (SCS) and the knowledge of reservoir system, the China Geological Survey (CGS) conducted the first production test on an optimal target selected in Shenhu area SCS in 2017. Guided by the “three-phase control” exploitation theory which focused on formation stabilization, technologies such as formation fluid extraction, well drilling and completing, reservoir stimulating, sand controlling, environmental monitoring, monitoring and preventing of secondary formation of hydrates were applied. The test lasted for 60 days from May 10^th when starting to pump, drop pressure and ignite to well killing on July 9^th, with gas production of 3.09×10⁵ m³ in total, which is a world record with the longest continuous duration of gas production and maximal gas yield. This successful test brings a significant breakthrough on safety control of NGH production.     

Coexistence of natural gas hydrate,free gas and water in the gas hydrate system in the Shenhu Area,South China Sea

Shenhu Area is located in the Baiyun Sag of Pearl River Mouth Basin, which is on the northern continental slope of the South China Sea. Gas hydrates in this area have been intensively investigated, achieving a wide coverage of the three-dimensional seismic survey, a large number of boreholes, and detailed data of the seismic survey, logging, and core analysis. In the beginning of 2020, China has successfully conducted the second offshore production test of gas hydrates in this area. In this paper, studies were made on the structure of the hydrate system for the production test, based on detailed logging data and core analysis of this area. As to the results of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) logging and sonic logging of Well GMGS6-SH02 drilled during the GMGS6 Expedition, the hydrate system on which the production well located can be divided into three layers: (1) 207.8–253.4 mbsf, 45.6 m thick, gas hydrate layer, with gas hydrate saturation of 0–54.5% (31% av.); (2) 253.4–278 mbsf, 24.6 m thick, mixing layer consisting of gas hydrates, free gas, and water, with gas hydrate saturation of 0–22% (10% av.) and free gas saturation of 0–32% (13% av.); (3) 278–297 mbsf, 19 m thick, with free gas saturation of less than 7%. Moreover, the pore water freshening identified in the sediment cores, taken from the depth below the theoretically calculated base of methane hydrate stability zone, indicates the occurrence of gas hydrate. All these data reveal that gas hydrates, free gas, and water coexist in the mixing layer from different aspects.     

Migration and accumulation characteristics of natural gas hydrates in the uplifts and their slope zones in the Qiongdongnan Basin,China

Various factors controlling the accumulation of natural gas hydrates (NGHs) form various enrichment and accumulation modes through organic combination. This study mainly analyzes the geological and geophysical characteristics of the NGHs occurrence in the uplifts and their slope zones within the deep-water area in the Qiongdongnan (QDN) Basin (also referred to as the study area). Furthermore, it investigates the dominant governing factors and models of NGHs migration and accumulation in the study area. The results are as follows. (1) The uplifts and their slope zones in the study area lie in the dominant pressure-relief direction of fluids in central hydrocarbon-rich sags in the area, which provide sufficient gas sources for the NGHs accumulation and enrichment through pathways such as gas chimneys and faults. (2) The top and flanks of gas chimneys below the bottom simulating reflectors (BSRs) show high-amplitude seismic reflections and pronounced transverse charging of free gas, indicating the occurrence of a large amount of gas accumulation at the heights of the uplifts. (3) Chimneys, faults, and high-porosity and high-permeability strata, which connect the gas hydrate temperature-pressure stability zones (GHSZs) with thermogenic gas and biogenic gas, form the main hydrate migration system. (4) The reservoir system in the study area comprises sedimentary interlayers consisting of mass transport deposits (MTDs) and turbidites. In addition, the reservoir system has developed fissure- and pore-filling types of hydrates in the pathways. The above well-matched controlling factors of hydrate accumulation enable the uplifts and their slope zones in the study area to become the favorable targets of NGHs exploration.©2022 China Geology Editorial Office.     

Experimental study on characteristics of pore water conversion during methane hydrates formation in unsaturated sand

Understanding the pore water conversion characteristics during hydrate formation in porous media is important to study the accumulation mechanism of marine gas hydrate. In this study, low-field NMR was used to study the pore water conversion characteristics during methane hydrate formation in unsaturated sand samples. Results show that the signal intensity of T₂ distribution isn’t affected by sediment type and pore pressure, but is affected by temperature. The increase in the pressure of hydrogen-containing gas can cause the increase in the signal intensity of T₂ distribution. The heterogeneity of pore structure is aggravated due to the hydrate formation in porous media. The water conversion rate fluctuates during the hydrate formation. The sand size affects the water conversion ratio and rate by affecting the specific surface of sand in unsaturated porous media. For the fine sand sample, the large specific surface causes a large gas-water contact area resulting in a higher water conversion rate, but causes a large water-sand contact area resulting in a low water conversion ratio (C_w=96.2%). The clay can reduce the water conversion rate and ratio, especially montmorillonite (C_w=95.8%). The crystal layer of montmorillonite affects the pore water conversion characteristics by hindering the conversion of interlayer water.©2022 China Geology Editorial Office.     

Dissociation of gas hydrates by hydrocarbon migration and accumulation-derived slope failures: An example from the South China Sea

The mechanism of slope failure associated with overpressure that is caused by hydrocarbon migration and accumulation remains unclear. High-resolution seismic data and gas hydrate drilling data collected from the Shenhu gas hydrate field (site SH5) offer a valuable opportunity to study the relations between submarine slope failure and hydrocarbon accumulation and flow that is associated with a ～2 km-diameter gas chimney developed beneath site SH5 where none gas hydrates had been recovered by drilling and sampling despite the presence of distinct bottom simulating reflectors (BSRs) and favorable gas hydrate indication. The mechanism of submarine slope failure resulted from buoyancy extrusion and seepage-derived deformation which were caused by overpressure from a ～1100 m-high gas column in a gas chimney was studied via numerical simulation. The ～9.55 MPa overpressure caused by hydrocarbons that migrated through the gas chimney and then accumulated beneath subsurface gas hydrate-bearing impermeable sediments. This may have resulted in a submarine slope failure, which disequilibrated the gas hydrate-bearing zone and completely decomposed the gas hydrate once precipitated at site SH5. Before the gas hydrate decomposition, the largely impermeable sediments overlying the gas chimney may have undergone a major upward deformation due to the buoyancy extrusion of the overpressure in the gas chimney, and slope failure was initiated from plastic strain of the sediments and reduced internal strength. Slope failure subsequently resulted in partial gas hydrate decomposition and sediment permeability increase. The pressurized gas in the gas chimney may have diffused into the overlying sediments controlled by seepage-derived deformation, causing an effective stress reduction at the base of the sediments and significant plastic deformation. This may have formed a new cycle of submarine slope failure and finally the total gas hydrate dissociation. The modeling results of buoyancy extrusion and seepage-derived deformation of the overpressure in the gas chimney would provide new understanding in the development of submarine slope failure and the link between slope failure and gas hydrate accumulation and dissociation.     

中国南海天然气水合物开采储层水合物相变与渗流机理:综述与展望

【研究目的】中国地质调查局先后于2017年、2020年在南海北部神狐海域成功实施两轮水合物试采,创造了产气时间最长、产气总量最大、日均产气量最高等多项世界纪录,了解和掌握南海天然气水合物开采储层相变与渗流机理,有助于进一步揭示该类型水合物分解机理、产出规律、增产机制等,可为中国海域水合物资源规模高效开采提供理论基础。【研究方法】基于两轮试采实践,笔者通过深入研究发现,储层结构表征、水合物相变、多相渗流与增渗、产能模拟与调控是制约水合物分解产气效率的重要因素。【研究结果】研究表明,南海水合物相变具有分解温度低,易在储层内形成二次水合物等特点,是由渗流场-应力场-温度场-化学场共同作用的复杂系统;多相渗流作用主要受控于未固结储层的物性特征、水合物相变、开采方式等多元因素影响,具有较强的甲烷吸附性、绝对渗透率易突变、气相流动能力弱等特点;围绕南海水合物长期、稳定、高效开采目标,需要在初始储层改造基础上,通过实施储层二次改造,进一步优化提高储层渗流能力,实现增渗扩产目的。【结论】随着天然气水合物产业化进程不断向前推进,还需要着力解决大规模长时间产气过程中温度压力微观变化及物质能源交换响应机制以及水合物高效分解、二次生成边界条件等难题。创新点：南海水合物相变是由渗流场-应力场-温度场-化学场共同作用的复杂系统;南海泥质粉砂储层具有较强的甲烷吸附性、绝对渗透率易突变、气相流动能力弱等特点,多相渗流机理复杂。     

中国南海天然气水合物第二次试采主要进展

泥质粉砂型天然气水合物被认为是储量最大开采难度亦最大的水合物储层,2017年南海天然气水合物试采,初步验证了此类水合物储层具备可开采性。在总结前次试采认识的基础上,对试采矿体进行优选、精细评价、数值与试验模拟和陆地试验,中国地质调查局于2019年10月—2020年4月在南海水深1225 m神狐海域进行了第二次天然气水合物试采。本次试采攻克了钻井井口稳定性、水平井定向钻进、储层增产改造与防砂、精准降压等一系列深水浅软地层水平井技术难题,实现连续产气30 d,总产气量86.14×104m3,日均产气2.87×104m3,是首次试采日产气量的5.57倍,大大提高了日产气量和产气总量。试采监测结果表明,整个试采过程海底、海水及大气甲烷含量无异常。本次成功试采进一步表明,泥质粉砂储层天然气水合物具备可安全高效开采的可行性。     

东沙海域浅层沉积物硫化物分布特征及其与天然气水合物的关系

对南海东沙海域浅层沉积物中硫化物的含量进行了分析,结果表明,沉积物中硫化物的含量与沉积物顶空气甲烷含量有密切的关系,在存在顶空气甲烷高异常的沉积物岩心中,沉积物中硫化物含量明显高于无甲烷异常的沉积物岩心,且随层位深度的增加,其含量明显增大,存在显著的变化梯度带。碎屑矿物鉴定结果表明,沉积物中硫化物主要以黄铁矿的形式存在。浅层沉积物中高含量的硫化物与天然气水合物分解形成的甲烷流有直接的关系,反映了下部沉积物中可能存在天然气水合物。     

南海北部深水区油气勘探的关键地质问题

南海北部深水区已经获得了重大的天然气发现,正逐渐成为全球深水勘探的热点区之一。通过与相邻陆架区以及世界上典型深水盆地的类比发现,南海北部深水区具有独特的石油地质特征。南海北部大陆边缘经历了从燕山期主动陆缘向新生代边缘海被动陆缘的转变,其演化过程和成盆机制复杂;陆坡深水区具“热盆”特征,凹陷普遍发育超压,其生烃机制不明;深水区距离物源区较远,缺乏世界级大河系的注入,具远源沉积特征,未发现盐层及其相关构造,其油气成藏条件具有特殊性。此外,南海北部深水区海底地形崎岖、多火山,还面临着地震采集、处理等地球物理难题。因此,南海北部深水油气勘探需要在借鉴相邻陆架区和世界其他深水区成功经验的基础上,一方面深入研究其独特的油气地质特征,另一方面研发适应于我国深水环境的地球物理新技术,切实推动深水勘探的进程。     

南海北部神狐海域细粒储层矿物组分对天然气水合物储集赋存的影响

为了探明矿物类型对于天然气水合物成藏的影响,笔者等利用南海北部神狐海域W07站位样品及其水合物饱和度数据,进行XRD全岩和黏土矿物测试分析、比表面积分析以及束缚水能力综合分析。结果表明,海床下110~127 m（即110~127 mbsf,meters below sea floor, 海床以下深度）为水合物储层段,海床下127~156 m为非水合物储层段。通过XRD分析可知,高石英及长石含量,低伊蒙混层含量的层段,比表面积与束缚水能力较低,说明其具有相对较好的孔渗条件,为水合物的运移与储集提供了良好的空间条件,因此形成水合物储层段;而在高伊蒙混层的层段中,比表面积较大,束缚水能力较强,其对甲烷气体及流体的吸附和束缚能力较强,对水合物成藏起到潜在的封隔作用,成为非储层段,储层与非储层段纵向叠置序列有利于优质水合物储层的形成。本次研究总结了矿物组分与优质水合物储层之间的关系,并揭示两者存在的潜在成因联系,以期丰富水合物富集成藏的基础理论,对未来南海北部天然气水合物的商业化开发提供支持。     

南海北部神狐海域细粒储层矿物组分对天然气水合物储集赋存的影响

为了探明矿物类型对于天然气水合物成藏的影响,笔者等利用南海北部神狐海域W07站位样品及其水合物饱和度数据,进行XRD全岩和黏土矿物测试分析、比表面积分析以及束缚水能力综合分析。结果表明,海床下110~127 m（即110~127 mbsf,meters below sea floor, 海床以下深度）为水合物储层段,海床下127~156 m为非水合物储层段。通过XRD分析可知,高石英及长石含量,低伊蒙混层含量的层段,比表面积与束缚水能力较低,说明其具有相对较好的孔渗条件,为水合物的运移与储集提供了良好的空间条件,因此形成水合物储层段;而在高伊蒙混层的层段中,比表面积较大,束缚水能力较强,其对甲烷气体及流体的吸附和束缚能力较强,对水合物成藏起到潜在的封隔作用,成为非储层段,储层与非储层段纵向叠置序列有利于优质水合物储层的形成。本次研究总结了矿物组分与优质水合物储层之间的关系,并揭示两者存在的潜在成因联系,以期丰富水合物富集成藏的基础理论,对未来南海北部天然气水合物的商业化开发提供支持。