Experimental Study on Influences of Self-Preservation Effects and Memory Effects on the Hydrate Decomposition Process

In order to explore the characteristics of the hydrate decomposition behavior at the pore scale, this study carries out a pore-scale experimental study of methane hydrate decomposition based on the high-pressure visual model under the etched glass. A mathematical model is also constructed to analyze the behavioral characteristic of the self-preservation effect and memory effect during the hydrate decomposition period. This study draws the following conclusions: (1) The self-preservation effect and memory effect exist during the methane hydrate decomposition lead by depressurization, which generally inhibits the hydrate decomposition process. (2) The hydrate self-preservation effect is a transition of the surface water film’s phase state to inhibit the methane hydrate decomposition, in which the liquid phase transforms into a metastable “quasiliquid film”. (3) The multiple syntheses induced by the hydrate memory effect are a periodic attenuation process. The times of synthesis are a critical factor affecting the hydrate gas production and decomposition rate. (4) The self-preservation and memory effects during the hydrate decomposition period are associated with each other. The two are correlated at some degree with playing a dominant role alternately at different stages. The self-preservation effect is an abnormal behavior of the hydrate, which refers to the hydrate’s transition from the solid phase to the gas-liquid mixed phase. The memory effect is another abnormal behavior, which refers to the transition from the gas-liquid mixed phase to the solid phase. The sustaining pressure drop is the key reason of the disappearance of the two effects. This research was aimed at providing a theoretical basis for the exploitation and optimization of marine natural gas hydrates.