Development of methods of operative determination of parameters of repeated hydrate formation in layer systems of gas hydrate deposits

The object of research is the methods of laboratory setting of the parameters of hydrate formation of well production and the design features of the equipment for its implementation. Methane hydrate is becoming a promising topic for a new energy resource. At the same time, hydrostatic formation is one of the most problematic areas in ensuring the transport of well products, and this primarily concerns the production of gas hydrate deposits. An analysis of the thermobaric parameters of the well production of gas hydrate deposits shows that when they are moved by technological lines, they are close to hydrate equilibrium, but due to the intensity of the process, the system does not have time to reach it. In addition, reservoir system water has a memory of hydrate structures, or a certain amount of gas hydrate solid phase is also present in the flow water. In this regard, a set of laboratory studies was carried out to assess the nature of the behavior of this type of systems during the re-crystallization of gas hydrate and its dissociation. Based on the results of the research, a method for the operational laboratory setting of the parameters of repeated hydrate formation in reservoir systems of gas hydrate deposits was developed. It provides for setting the parameters of mass crystallization of gas hydrate by visual fixation of the moment of appearance of the solid phase at the interfacial contact «liquid – gas». The design features of the laboratory facility for its implementation have also been developed and substantiated. The technique makes it possible to reduce the duration of the study of one sample by almost an order of magnitude (from several days to 8–10 hours). In addition to the information on the equilibrium parameters of hydrostatic formation, provided by traditional methods of laboratory research, an additional characteristic of the behavior of reservoir systems in non-equilibrium conditions has been obtained, which will help to quickly assess the risks of technogenic hydrate formation. The developed technique is important for systems that, at least, have a memory of hydrate structures. However, the preliminary transfer of a part of the water of the test sample through the gas hydrate form allows estimating the parameters of hydrate formation of any reservoir system.