Layered Stratum Simulator for Natural Gas Hydrate Exploitation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current experimental devices for simulating natural gas hydrate formation lack the capability to accurately replicate the layered structure of stratum and fluid replenishment in hydrate reservoirs, particularly under high pressure and low temperature conditions, which are essential for simulating the formation and exploitation of natural gas hydrates.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a reactor with a temperature gradient simulator and fluid replenishing modules that create a layered structure by using different porous media and fluids, with a central exploitation wellbore and temperature control pipes to simulate the formation environment, allowing for real-time fluid replenishment and pressure monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a reactor is designed to simulate natural gas hydrate formation under high pressure and low temperature, then the simulation accuracy improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reactor is divided into multiple functional modules: temperature control system with heating plates and thermocouples, pressure control system with pump and pressure transducers, fluid replenishment system with reservoirs and flow meters, and layered stratum simulation with porous media. Each module independently controls specific parameters, enabling accurate simulation of complex hydrate formation conditions without overwhelming system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The reactor design integrates multiple functions into a single system: temperature control for hydrate formation and exploitation simulation, pressure control for maintaining reservoir conditions, fluid replenishment for sustaining strat fluid levels, and layered structure simulation using porous media. This multi-functional integration achieves comprehensive simulation capability while managing device complexity through unified system architecture
2Reliability
If layered stratum structure with different porous media is introduced into the reactor, then the simulation realism improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different porous media (sand, gravel, clay) are placed in specific layers within the reactor to simulate distinct geological strata with unique permeability and porosity characteristics. The overlying pressure layer uses one type of porous media while the hydrate-bearing layer uses another, creating spatially varying local properties that enhance simulation realism without requiring a completely complex heterogeneous system
Solution Approach 2:
The layered stratum structure is nested within the reactor chamber, with each layer containing specific porous media and fluids. The porous media are nested within the fluid-saturated zones, creating a hierarchical structure where smaller-scale heterogeneities (porous media particles) are contained within larger-scale layers, enabling realistic simulation while managing complexity through nested organization
3Stability of the object's composition
If fluid replenishment modules are added to maintain pressure and fluid levels, then the simulation stability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Pressure transducers and flow meters continuously monitor the pressure and fluid levels in each layer of the reactor. When pressure drops below or fluid levels fall below predetermined thresholds, the system automatically activates the fluid replenishment pump to restore conditions. This closed-loop feedback control maintains simulation stability by dynamically adjusting fluid replenishment based on real-time measurements
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid replenishment system is designed to automatically maintain pressure and fluid levels without continuous manual intervention. The pump, reservoirs, and control valves work together to self-regulate fluid supplementation based on system needs, enabling the reactor to sustain stable simulation conditions autonomously while reducing operational complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate simulation of layered stratum conditions, maintaining stable pressure and fluid levels during the simulation of natural gas hydrate exploitation, providing a more realistic and efficient model of hydrate reservoirs, and allowing for precise measurement of fluid replenishment and stratum stability analysis.
Implementation Method 1
a temperature gradient simulator is disposed inside the reactor
Implementation Method 2
the stratal-fluid annular container of the overlying pressure layer is communicated with a overlying pressure layer fluid replenishing module
Data Source
AI summary
A device and a method for simulating layered stratum containing natural gas hydrates are provided. The device includes a reactor; wherein the reactor includes an upper cover, a lower cover, and a reactor body, wherein the upper cover and the lower cover are sealably attached to two ends of the reactor body to form a closed chamber; an overlying pressure layer, a superstratum layer, a hydrate layer and a substratum layer are sequentially formed throughout inside of the closed chamber from the upper cover to the lower cover, wherein each layer is respectively filled with different kinds of porous media and fluids and the each layer is provided with a stratal-fluid annular container; each stratal-fluid annular container has an outer periphery contacting an inner surface of the reactor body. The method is conducted using the device.