Formation and occurrence characteristics of methane hydrate in the complex system of sodium dodecyl sulfate and porous media

ABSTRACT

In recent years, porous media have attracted a lot of attention due to the enhanced kinetics of hydrate formation. However, how porous media promote hydrate formation is still an open topic. In this study, two different porous media, activated alumina and glass beads (average particle size 1, 3, 5 mm), were mixed with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) to promote methane hydrate formation (275.15 K, 6 MPa). The smaller the particle size is, the better the promoting effect of porous media is, corresponding to faster formation kinetics and higher gas consumption. The average hydrate formation rate (2.3 mmol/min) and T₉₀ (136 min) in the 1 mm activated alumina system was 2.6 and 0.4 times higher than the average hydrate formation rate (0.9 mmol/min) and T₉₀ (349 min) in the 3 mm activated alumina system, respectively. Better performance of activated alumina particles than that of glass beads because of its rich micropores and unique electric double layer distribution in solution. The gas storage density of hydrate in the 1 mm alumina system can reach 129.13 V_g/V_h, while the highest gas storage density of hydrate in the 1 mm glass bead system was 122.35 V_g/V_h, which was similar to that of hydrate in the 3 mm activated alumina system (123.63 V_g/V_h). The gas consumption of the system was not affected by mass transfer but was controlled by particle size and solution volume with the presence of SDS. Under supersaturated and saturated conditions, it is found that the porous media bed and hydrate layer moved upward under the action of capillary force and methane gas driving force. This work provides a reference for the formation and occurrence of hydrates with the presence of porous media and surfactants.

KEYWORDS:

• Methane hydrate
• porous media
• surfactants
• particle size
• capillary force
• kinetics

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Supplementary Material

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Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Key Scientific Research Project of Liaoning Provincial Department of Education [L2020002]; Scientific Research Fund Project of Liaoning Education Department [L2019024]; Doctoral Research Start-up Fund Project of Liaoning Province [2019-BS-159].

Notes on contributors

Yue Qin

Yue Qin is currently studying for a master degree in engineering at College of Petroleum Engineering, Liaoning Petrochemical University. His mentor is Professor Zhen Pan. He received a bachelor degree in engineering from Liaoning Petrochemical University in 2020. His research work mainly focused on the application of gas hydrate promotion technology in related fields.

Ruixin Bao

Ruixin Bao is currently an associate professor at the School of Mechanical Engineering, Liaoning Petrochemical University. He graduated from Shenyang Agricultural University in 2011 with a Ph.D. The main research direction is the comprehensive utilization of natural gas and its application in energy-related fields, including natural gas hydrate, LNG, etc. He won the first prize of Fushun Natural Science Academic Achievement Award.

Liyan Shang

Liyan Shang is currently an associate professor in the School of Environmental and Safety Engineering, Liaoning Petrochemical University. She received her bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees from Liaoning Petrochemical University, Liaoning Petrochemical University and Northeast University in 2004, 2007 and 2018, respectively. Her research work mainly focused on the application of pollutant treatment and resource utilization, environmental impact assessment, corrosion and protection.

Li Zhou

Li Zhou is currently a professor in the School of Petrochemical Engineering, Liaoning Petrochemical University. She received her bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees from Liaoning University and Northeastern University in 1992, 2005 and 2009, respectively. Her research work mainly focused on carbon nanotube composites, polymer materials, preparation of nanomaterials and their applications in related fields. Because of her contribution, she won the third prize for academic achievements of natural science in Liaoning Province in 2003. In 2009, he was named the youth discipline leader of natural science in Fushun. Won the second prize for scientific and technological progress in Fushun in 2012.

Lingxin Meng

Lingxin Meng is now working in First Engineering Branch Co., Ltd, China Petrolum Pipeline Bureau.He received a bachelor degree in engineering from Liaoning Petrochemical University in 2020.

Wenhao Zhu

Wenhao Zhu is currently studying for a master degree in engineering at College of Petroleum Engineering, Liaoning Petrochemical University. His mentor is Professor Fei Xie. He received a bachelor degree in engineering from Liaoning Petrochemical University in 2020. His research work mainly focused on the application of gas hydrate promotion technology in related fields.