Open AccessMolecular dynamics simulation of methane hydrate dissociation by thermal stimulation in conjunction with chemical injection method
Author(s) -
Kefeng Yan,
Xiao-Sen Li,
Zhaoyang Chen,
Gang Li,
Zhibao Li
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
wuli xuebao
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.199
H-Index - 47
ISSN - 1000-3290
DOI - 10.7498/aps.56.6727
Subject(s) - hydrate , dissociation (chemistry) , methane , clathrate hydrate , hydrogen bond , hydrogen , molecule , ethylene glycol , molecular dynamics , chemistry , materials science , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry , computational chemistry
The characteristics of methane hydrate dissociation in the presence of thermal stimulation, chemical injection, and thermal stimulation in conjunction with chemical injection method were investigated by molecular dynamics simulation. The effect of the injection of liquid water (WTR) and 30wt% ethylene glycol (EG) solution at 277K and 340K on methane hydrate dissociation was studied. The results showed the hydrogen bonds between WTR molecules and the water molecules on the hydrate surface were formedwhich destroyed the original hydrogen bond balance of the hydrate. Therefore, the clathrate structure of hydrate collapsed, and the hydrate dissociated. The hydrogen bonds was formed obviously between hydroxyl groups of EG molecules and the water molecules on the hydrate surface; this caused the original stable clathrate structure of the hydrate to be destroyed and collapse, and, furthermore, promoted the dissociation of the methane hydrate and the release of methane gas. Compared with the effects of injecting WTR and 30wt% EG solution at 277K and 340K on the dissociation of methane hydrate, the effectivences was found to be: EG(340K)> WTR(340K)>EG(277K)>WTR(277K). The thermal stimulation in conjunction with chemical injection method can more effectively promote the dissociation of hydrate.