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。     

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。     

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。     

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.     

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.     

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.     

卸荷条件下粉质粘土变形性状研究

通过室内应力控制的三轴试验研究卸荷条件下土体的应力-应变关系和孔隙水压力变化特征,得到变形模量的确定方法。研究表明:在初始偏压应力固结条件下,无论是轴向压力保持不变而侧向压力不断卸荷,还是轴向压力和侧向压力同时卸荷,其应力-应变关系均表现为较好的双曲线函数关系。而且,侧向固结压力愈大,强度值愈大。在卸荷过程中,随剪切应力的增大和剪切应变的发展,土样呈现剪胀趋势并在后期产生较大的负孔隙水压力。不排水条件下由于负孔隙水压力的存在,土样的表观强度略有增大。     

静三轴试验中水泥土力学特性及本构模型研究

通过不排水三轴压缩试验对水泥土的力学特性进行研究,重点分析了围压与水泥掺入比对水泥土体强度、孔压及刚度的影响。试验结果表明,随着围压与水泥掺入比的增加,水泥土体的强度与刚度均增加,而孔压随之减少;随着轴应变的增加,刚度逐渐减少。而在加载初期,刚度衰减较快,随着轴应变的继续增加曲线渐趋平缓,衰减现象并不明显;随着无量纲化偏应力的增加,无量纲化刚度逐渐减少,并且两者为曲线关系。通过对水泥土的刚度软化规律进行描述,得到了修正的邓肯-张模型。通过对试验曲线进行回归分析确定了模型参数。与实测数据对比发现,该修正模型不仅可以较好地模拟水泥土的应力-应变关系,还体现了水泥土应变软化型曲线的特点。     

水合物储层伺服降压开采模型试验研究

深海水合物赋存于一定的温度和压力环境下,降压开采时降压速率对分解产气速率和储层变形特性影响显著。利用浙江大学自主研发的水合物降压开采试验装置,通过伺服控制降压速率,初步开展了水合物储层模型降压开采试验,研究了储层温度场、孔压场、产气量等的响应特性,探讨了降压速率对产气效率和储层变形特性的影响规律。试验表明：水合物竖井降压开采时,开采井周围储层温度率先下降,分解域由井周逐步向周围发展。适当提高降压速率能够提高储层开采效率,但降压速率过快时易导致水合物重生成,反而不利于水合物高效持续稳定开采,开采时应选择合理的降压速率以达到最优产气效率。开采过程中根据储层孔隙与外界连通程度,储层孔隙状态可分为完全封闭型、局部封闭型和开放型3种类型。储层开采试验完成后,浅层土体出现 3 种不同变形特征的区域：I 区为井周土层,呈漏斗型下陷;II 区土层平坦,无明显扰动痕迹;III 区为边界土层,该处水气产出受阻导致部分气体向上迁移引起土丘状隆起带出现。这些变形特征与气体在储层中的迁移路径和运移模式相关。通过相似性分析,给出了模型与原型分解时间和产气量等的对应关系。     

钙质砂声发射特征的三轴试验研究

钙质砂在低应力水平下就会产生颗粒破碎,并伴随有明显的声发射。在不同围压下,对不同初始孔隙比和级配的南沙群岛永暑礁钙质砂进行室内三轴排水剪切试验,同时监测其声发射信号。试验发现：当围压增加或初始孔隙比减小时,钙质砂偏应力峰值逐渐增加,但在某一界限围压时,声发射活动出现最强,在某一界限孔隙比附近时,声发射活动出现最弱;对于级配较差的钙质砂,试验前期声发射活动较弱,其偏应力峰值较小。     

天然气水合物分解和开采的机理及数学模型研究综述

回顾了25年来国内外水合物开采数值模拟研究的进展,分析了影响水合物开采过程的主要机理,即传热、气液流动和水合物分解。将已有的模型分为热力开采、降压开采和综合3种模型,并对各种模型所具有的特点进行了讨论。综合分析认为,TOUGH Fx/HYDRATE模型充分考虑了多相多组分并借鉴上述3类开采方式,可模拟开采过程中气液流动和相态变化,具有较高的应用价值。最后探讨了目前模型的主要问题以及发展方向,认为水合物矿藏岩石的绝对渗透率、相对渗透率、热传导系数等关键参数的测量及确定是精确模拟水合物开采过程的重要因素。     

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。     

A densification mechanism to model the mechanical effect of methane hydrates in sandy sediments

Recent pore-scale observations and geomechanical investigations suggest the lack of true cohesion in methane hydrate-bearing sediments (MHBSs) and propose that their mechanical behavior is governed by kinematic constrictions at pore-scale. This paper presents a constitutive model for MHBS, which does not rely on physical bonding between hydrate crystals and sediment grains but on the densification effect that pore invasion with hydrate has on the sediment mechanical properties. The Hydrate-CASM extends the critical state model Clay and Sand Model (CASM) by implementing the subloading surface model and introducing the densification mechanism. The model suggests that the decrease of the sediment available void volume during hydrate formation stiffens its structure and has a similar mechanical effect as the increase of sediment density. In particular, the model attributes stress-strain changes observed in MHBS to the variations in sediment available void volume with hydrate saturation and its consequent effect on isotropic yield stress and swelling line slope. The model performance is examined against published experimental data from drained triaxial tests performed at different confining stress and with distinct hydrate saturation and morphology. Overall, the simulations capture the influence of hydrate saturation in both the magnitude and trend of the stiffness, shear strength, and volumetric response of synthetic MHBS. The results are validated against those obtained from previous mechanical models for MHBS that examine the same experimental data. The Hydrate-CASM performs similarly to previous models, but its formulation only requires one hydrate-related empirical parameter to express changes in the sediment elastic stiffness with hydrate saturation.     

沉积物中天然气水合物减压分解实验

基于自行研发的天然气水合物开采实验装置,进行了沉积物中甲烷水合物减压分解实验研究,并用时域反射技术(TDR)实时监测水合物分解过程中其饱和度的变化。实验采用粒径为0.18~0.35 mm的干砂,003%的十二烷基硫酸钠(SDS)水溶液和高纯甲烷气体。实验结果表明：水合物减压分解过程中不同层位的温度与水合物饱和度存在差异,体现了一定沉积环境下水合物的分解规律,位于沉积物上层与外侧的水合物先分解;TDR技术测量水合物饱和度时,压力迅速降低不会对TDR波形产生影响,TDR曲线变化仅由水合物分解引起;水合物分解时TDR技术测得其饱和度变化规律与根据分解气体总量计算的结果一致,说明该技术可以准确实时监测水合物饱和度变化。     

各向异性结构性砂土离散元分析

天然沉积砂土力学特性受各向异性及结构性影响明显,实际工程中不能忽视。为探究二者的影响,首先在二维离散元程序NS2D中采用椭圆颗粒模拟了重力场中颗粒长轴主方向为水平的各向异性净砂样,随后基于结构性砂土胶结厚度分布规律及室内试验提出了一个新的微观胶结接触模型并将其引入各向异性净砂样以模拟天然各向异性结构性砂土,最后对该离散元试样进行了双轴试验模拟,将模拟结果与室内试验结果对比以验证该模型的适用性,并对其微观力学特性变化进行研 究。分析结果表明,随着剪切进行,各向异性结构性砂土呈明显应变软化及剪胀现象;胶结接触逐渐减少,且主方向始终为竖向方向;胶结破坏速率及胶结破坏率变化情况与宏观力学响应较一致,且胶结物多为拉剪破坏;土颗粒排列主方向始终为水平向,且水平向排列颗粒所占比例略微增大。     

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。     

Sediment permeability change on natural gas hydrate dissociation induced by depressurization

The permeability of a natural gas hydrate reservoir is a critical parameter associated with gas hydrate production. Upon producing gas from a hydrate reservoir via depressurization, the permeability of sediments changes in two ways with hydrate dissociation, increasing with more pore space released from hydrate and decreasing due to pore compression by stronger effective stress related to depressurization. In order to study the evolution of sediment permeability during the production process with the depressurization method, an improved pore network model (PNM) method is developed to establish the permeability change model. In this model, permeability change induced by hydrate dissociation is investigated under hydrate occurrence morphology of pore filling and grain coating. The results obtained show that hydrate occurrence in sediment pore is with significant influence on permeability change. Within a reasonable degree of pore compression in field trial, the effect of pore space release on the reservoir permeability is greater than that of pore compression. The permeability of hydrate containing sediments keeps increasing in the course of gas production, no matter with what hydrate occurrence in sediment pore.     

恒定主应力轴偏转循环荷载下饱和软黏土累积孔压特性分析

现有的饱和软黏土循环荷载累积孔压显式模型未能反映路基土体单元在土体自重作用下主应力轴的偏转现象。在确定饱和软黏土固结时间的基础上,在固结压力分别为100、150、200 kPa下,对软黏土进行主应力轴偏转角为15°、30°、45°的不排水循环加载试验,得到了固结围压、主应力轴旋转角及动应力比对循环累积孔压影响的规律。基于第一次循环加载累积孔压变化规律和修正动偏应力水平,建立了能考虑恒定主应力轴偏转角循环加载下累积孔压显式模型,并利用恒定主应力轴偏转角循环加载试验结果验证了模型的合理性。建立的循环荷载下饱和软黏土累积孔压显式模型参数易于确定,参数具有明确的物理意义且能考虑主应力轴的恒定偏转现象。     

Gas outburst with sediments because of tetrahydrofuran hydrate dissociation

Methane hydrate (MH) is a new energy resource in the 21^st century. But the dissociation of MH from sediments during the MH exploration or oil/gas exploration under a hydrate layer accompanied by the softening of soils and formation of excess pore gas pressure may lead to ground failures and environmental disasters. In this study, experiments on modeling the weakening and failure of the sediment by heat‐induced dissociation of tetrahydrofuran (THF) hydrate were presented. The failure mode of gas outburst was observed. Gas outbursts is a process where gas and soils in hydrate‐dissociation zone burst out after the continuous skeleton of over‐layer is fractured during the expansion of the dissociation zone and the formation of gas zone and excess pore gas pressure. An analytical method is presented by decoupling heat transfer and soil deformation. The geometrical and mechanical similarities for gas outburst are obtained. An empirical criterion for the occurrence of outburst is proposed using the theory of thermal conduction, rigid plastic mechanics, and the experimental data. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

降压开采导致天然气水合物系统状态演化模拟实验

天然气水合物是一种重要的潜在替代能源,降压法是现阶段水合物开采的首选方法。水合物降压开采涉及传热、多相渗流、分解相变和储层变形等多个相互影响的物理效应,深入理解其在降压开采过程中的演化规律,对于促进水合物开采效率、实现商业化开发具有重要的指导意义。本文基于一维实验模拟系统,开展了水合物降压开采储层多物理场演化模拟实验,在非均匀温度条件下采用过量气法合成水合物,分析了水合物非均匀性分布特征,探讨了降压过程中样品孔隙压力和温度的演化规律,对比了产气过程与传热演化过程的对应关系。结果表明:水合物合成后温度分布呈两侧高中间低的抛物线形状,水合物分布具有中间多而两侧无的非均匀性特征,且温度回升具有由两侧向中间发展的特点;降压分解产气过程与传热演化过程具有良好的对应性,稳态产气阶段由传热效应控制。控制降压模式、以对流换热替代热传导等方式有益于提升水合物开采产气效率。