Ph.D. Thesis Defense Announcement

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF HYDRATE BEARING SEDIMENTS: CHARACTERIZATION AND IMPLICATIONS

by:

Marco Terzariol

Advisor: 

Dr. J. Carlos Santamarina (CEE)

Committee Members: 

Dr. J. David Frost (CEE), Dr. Paul W. Mayne (CEE), Dr. Robert C. Bachus (CEE),

and Dr. Guillermo H. Goldsztein (MATH)

Date & Time: December 10th, 2014 9:00 am

Location:  Sustainable Education Building (SEB) Room 122

ABSTRACT

The amount of gas trapped in hydrates is larger than conventional oil and gas reserves, thus methane hydrate is a promising energy resource. High water pressure and relatively low temperature needed for hydrate stability, restricts the distribution of methane hydrate in continental shelves and permafrost regions. Stability conditions add inherent complexity to coring, sampling, handling, testing and data interpretation, and have profound implications on potential production strategies. New guidelines are identified for sampling equipment and protocols. Then, a novel technology is developed for handling, transfer, and testing of natural hydrate bearing sediments without depressurization in order to preserve soil structure. Natural samples from the Nankai Trough, Japan, are tested as part of this study. In-situ testing prevents dissociation and the consequences of sampling and handling disturbance. A new multi-sensor in-situ characterization tool is designed and prototyped as part of this research. The tool includes advanced electronics and allows for automated stand-alone operation. Finally, a robust analytical model is developed to estimate the amount of gas that can be recovered from hydrate bearing sediments using depressurization driven dissociation. Results highlight the complexity of gas extraction from deep sediments, and inherent limitations.