Numerical studies of gas hydrate systems: sensitivity to porosity-permeability models

The formation of sub-seafloor gas hydrates in marine environments can be described as a coupled transport and thermodynamic process inside a host sediment matrix undergoing structural evolution. The transport processes are driven by the sedimentary load and induced overpressure gradients, controlled by sediment permeability. In order to accurately model the resulting fluid flow profile, the decrease of sediment permeability during hydrate precipitation has to be taken into account, which affects both the transport of solutes and sediment compaction. In this paper, we investigate how total hydrate abundance is affected by regions of low permeability which deflect the flow field in their vicinity. For this purpose, a two-dimensional numerical hydrate system model was set up which permits to quantify this effect in scenarios where changes in water depth cause lateral variations of the thickness of the hydrate stability field, as well as of hydrate saturation and sediment permeability. The microscopic structure of gas hydrate crystals in the host sediment matrix defines the evolution of the permeability reduction during hydrate formation. Grain-coating precipitates have a stronger tendency to clog flow paths through pore throats than do pore-filling precipitates. Our results clearly show that these pore-scale processes affect the large-scale flow field and hydrate abundance. The sensitivity depends on the model geometry and, for a 5° slope of the seafloor, 4.1% relative difference is predicted for the hydrate saturation according to different porosity-permeability relationships.     

Elastoplastic consolidation above and beneath strip anchors under uplift forces

Although the uplift behavior of offshore plate anchors under undrained conditions has been investigated well in the past, studies on the behavior of anchors under long-term sustained loading are in relatively few numbers. The time required for consolidation under sustained load is important because the shear strength of soil changes after dissipation of excess pore pressure. In this paper, small strain finite-element analyses have been performed to investigate the consolidation time history above and beneath strip anchors. The modified cam clay plasticity constitutive model is used for modeling coupled pore fluid stress analysis. The effects of magnitude of preloading with embedment level have been studied. As expected, the FE results have shown that excess pore pressure dissipation time for soil above the anchor increased with the increase in embedment depth and the magnitude of preload. Rapid dissipation of negative excess pore pressure beneath the anchor was observed with increasing embedment depth, if the preload magnitude is equal to or more than 60% of the undrained capacity. Observed consolidation responses are presented as nondimensional design charts and simplified equations for ease of practice.     

Day-1 INSAT-3DR Vicarious Calibration Using Reflectance-Based Approach Over Great Rann of Kutch

This study describes the post-launch calibration for visible (VIS) and shortwave infrared (SWIR) bands of Indian National Satellite System (INSAT)-3DR imager over Great Rann of Kutch (GROK) on Day-1 (15th September 2016), when the first time INSAT-3DR Imager camera was switched on. In order to account the characterization of errors and undetermined post-launch changes in sensor spectral response, this calibration activity was performed and extended for its monitoring to Day-56 (since the Day-1; 09th November 2016). A reflectance based technique is used in the present study. The surface reflectance and atmospheric variables were measured over the site as per solar and viewing geometry of the INSAT-3D scan. Top of atmosphere (TOA) spectral radiances were computed using 6SV (second simulation of the satellite signal in the solar spectrum) radiative transfer code with the in situ measurements as well as spectral response function of each channel. Preliminary results of the Day-1 vicarious calibration yield gain coefficients of 0.974 and 0.820 for VIS and SWIR channels respectively despite the inhomogeneity of the ground target caused by sufficient sub-surface soil moisture. In extension of the present study, the obtained gain coefficients were 1.001 and 0.9887 for VIS and SWIR, respectively, during Day-56 which indicates the performance of sensor is within the range of pre-launch laboratory calibration.