Decadal Methane Emission Trend Inferred from Proxy GOSAT XCH4 Retrievals: Impacts of Transport Model Spatial Resolution

In recent studies, proxy XCH₄ retrievals from the Japanese Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite (GOSAT) have been used to constrain top-down estimation of CH₄ emissions. Still, the resulting interannual variations often show significant discrepancies over some of the most important CH₄ source regions, such as China and Tropical South America, by causes yet to be determined. This study compares monthly CH₄ flux estimates from two parallel assimilations of GOSAT XCH₄ retrievals from 2010 to 2019 based on the same Ensemble Kalman Filter (EnKF) framework but with the global chemistry transport model (GEOS-Chem v12.5) being run at two different spatial resolutions of 4° × 5° (R4, lon × lat) and 2° × 2.5° (R2, lon × lat) to investigate the effects of resolution-related model errors on the derived long-term global and regional CH₄ emission trends. We found that the mean annual global methane emission for the 2010s is 573.04 Tg yr ^–1 for the inversion using the R4 model, which becomes about 4.4 Tg yr ^–1 less (568.63 Tg yr ^–1) when a finer R2 model is used, though both are well within the ensemble range of the 22 top-down results (2008–17) included in the current Global Carbon Project (from 550 Tg yr ^–1 to 594 Tg yr ^–1). Compared to the R2 model, the inversion based on the R4 tends to overestimate tropical emissions (by 13.3 Tg yr ^–1), which is accompanied by a general underestimation (by 8.9 Tg yr ^–1) in the extratropics. Such a dipole reflects differences in tropical–mid-latitude air exchange in relation to the model’s convective and advective schemes at different resolutions. The two inversions show a rather consistent long-term CH₄ emission trend at the global scale and over most of the continents, suggesting that the observed rapid increase in atmospheric methane can largely be attributed to the emission growth from North Africa (1.79 Tg yr ^–2 for R4 and 1.29 Tg yr ^–2 for R2) and South America Temperate (1.08 Tg yr ^–2 for R4 and 1.21 Tg yr ^–2 for R2) during the first half of the 2010s, and from Eurasia Boreal (1.46 Tg yr ^–2 for R4 and 1.63 Tg yr ^–2 for R2) and Tropical South America (1.72 Tg yr^–2 for R4 and 1.43 Tg yr ^–2 for R2) over 2015–19. In the meantime, emissions in Europe have shown a consistent decrease over the past decade. However, the growth rates by the two parallel inversions show significant discrepancies over Eurasia Temperate, South America Temperate, and South Africa, which are also the places where recent GOSAT inversions usually disagree with one other.     

海洋直接注入CO2封存技术方法综述

人类活动造成的CO2排放是全球气候变暖面临的主要挑战之一。CO2封存有望成为全世界减少碳排放份额最大的单项技术。海洋碳捕获、利用和封存（OCCUS）可以在较短时间内提供最大的碳封存能力,与其他地质封存方法相比更加安全有效。而且,多相态形式的CO2（气态、液态、固态和水合物）可以在海洋纵深尺度上实现直接注入。海洋碳封存是一项发展潜力巨大、优势明显的新兴碳封存技术,是实现大规模碳减排的重要措施之一,具有广阔的应用前景。因此,笔者等系统地阐述了海洋CO2直接注入、封存（OCS）的基本原理、技术现状、监测与评估,以及环境方面的影响,并对高效CO2注入技术,CO2泄漏的检测、防范与补救技术,以及海洋碳封存的生态后效等方面进行了展望。     

海洋直接注入CO2封存技术方法综述

人类活动造成的CO₂排放是全球气候变暖面临的主要挑战之一。CO₂封存有望成为全世界减少碳排放份额最大的单项技术。海洋碳捕获、利用和封存(OCCUS)可以在较短时间内提供最大的碳封存能力,与其他地质封存方法相比更加安全有效。而且,多相态形式的CO₂(气态、液态、固态和水合物)可以在海洋纵深尺度上实现直接注入。海洋碳封存是一项发展潜力巨大、优势明显的新兴碳封存技术,是实现大规模碳减排的重要措施之一,具有广阔的应用前景。因此,笔者等系统地阐述了海洋CO₂直接注入、封存(OCS)的基本原理、技术现状、监测与评估,以及环境方面的影响,并对高效CO₂注入技术,CO₂泄漏的检测、防范与补救技术,以及海洋碳封存的生态后效等方面进行了展望。     

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。     

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.     

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.     

Nuclear magnetic resonance study of the formation and dissociation process of nature gas hydrate in sandstone

In this work, the authors monitored the formation and dissociation process of methane hydrate in four different rock core samples through nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxation time (T₂) and 2D imaging measurement. The result shows that the intensity of T₂ spectra and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signals gradually decreases in the hydrate formation process, and at the same time, the T₂ spectra move toward the left domain as the growth of hydrate in the pores of the sample accelerates the decay rate. The hydrate grows and dissociates preferentially in the purer sandstone samples with larger pore size and higher porosity. Significantly, for the sample with lower porosity and higher argillaceous content, the intensity of the T₂ spectra also shows a trend of a great decrease in the hydrate formation process, which means that high-saturation gas hydrate can also be formed in the sample with higher argillaceous content. The changes in MRI of the sample in the process show that the formation and dissociation of methane hydrate can reshape the distribution of water in the pores.©2022 China Geology Editorial Office.     

含瓦斯煤相似材料研制及其突出试验应用

采用相似物理模拟试验研究煤与瓦斯突出机制和规律是目前有效的方法,含瓦斯煤体相似材料是突出定量模拟的关键因素。研制出一种新型的含瓦斯煤体相似材料,该相似材料以一定粒径分布的煤粉为骨料,以腐植酸钠水溶液为胶结剂,混合压制成型后干燥。大量正交配比试验表明:在成型压力15 MPa下,相似材料的重度、孔隙率趋于稳定并与原煤十分接近;相似材料抗压强度高,可调范围达0.5~2.8 MPa,与胶结剂浓度近似呈线性正比关系;吸附解吸试验表明,相似材料的吸附性良好,其与原煤的吸附等温线一致;并且具有材料价格低廉、无毒副作用、配比简单、性能稳定和各物理力学参数调节方便等特点,可用来模拟不同强度原煤。采用相似材料制作的型煤开展了煤与瓦斯突出试验,成功模拟了煤与瓦斯突出现象和过程,证明该相似材料能很好地模拟具有吸附解吸特性的含瓦斯煤体。     

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.     

Spatial–temporal variations of methane emissions from the Ertan hydroelectric reservoir in southwest China

Methane emissions from hydroelectric reservoirs can comprise a considerable portion of anthropogenic methane. However, lack of data on CH₄ emissions in different geographical regions and high spatial‐temporal variability in the emission rates of reservoirs has led to uncertainties regarding regional emission estimates of CH₄. In the subtropical plateau climate region, we used the Ertan hydroelectric reservoir as a study area. The CH₄ flux at the air‐water interface was assessed by floating chambers and factors influencing emissions, including the distance from the dam, water depth, seasonal variation in wet and dry season, air‐water temperature gradient and wind speed, and was also studied through a year‐long systematic sampling and monitoring experiment. The results showed that the surface of the reservoir was a source of CH₄ during the sampling period and the annual average CH₄ flux was 2·80 ± 1·52 mg m^?2 d^?1. CH₄ flux (and its variation) was higher in the shallow water areas than in the deep‐water areas. CH₄ flux near the dam was significantly higher than that of other locations farther from the dam in the dry season. The seasonal variations of CH₄ emission in wet and dry seasons were minor and significant diurnal variations were observed in wet and dry seasons. Exponential relationships between the CH₄ flux and air‐water temperature gradient were found. Air‐water temperature gradient was an important factor influencing diurnal variations of CH₄ flux in the Ertan hydroelectric reservoir. These results indicate that systematic sampling is needed to better estimate CH₄ flux through coverage of the spatial variation of different water depths, measuring‐point distance from the dam, seasonal variation in wet and dry seasons and changes in climate factors (such as air‐water temperature gradient). Our results also provide a fundamental parameter for CH₄ emission estimation of global reservoirs. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.