Open AccessIn situ thermal conductivity of gas‐hydrate‐bearing sediments of the Mallik 5L‐38 well
Author(s) -
Henninges J.,
Huenges E.,
Burkhardt H.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: solid earth
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2005jb003734
Subject(s) - clathrate hydrate , permafrost , petrophysics , geothermal gradient , hydrate , thermal conductivity , geology , saturation (graph theory) , mineralogy , well logging , porosity , petrology , petroleum engineering , materials science , geotechnical engineering , geophysics , composite material , chemistry , oceanography , mathematics , organic chemistry , combinatorics
Detailed knowledge about thermal properties of rocks containing gas hydrate is required in order to quantify processes involving gas hydrate formation and decomposition in nature. In the framework of the Mallik 2002 program, three wells penetrating a continental gas hydrate occurrence under permafrost were successfully equipped with permanent fiber‐optic distributed temperature sensing cables. Temperature data were collected over a 21‐month period after completing the wells. Thermal conductivity profiles were calculated from the geothermal data as well as from a petrophysical model derived from the available logging data and application of mixing law models. Results indicate that thermal conductivity variations are mainly lithologically controlled with a minor influence from hydrate saturation. Average thermal conductivity values of the hydrate‐bearing sediments range between 2.35 and 2.77 W m −1 K −1 . Maximum gas hydrate saturations can reach up to about 90% at an average porosity of 0.3.