Hydrate Reservoir Models Indicate Key Variables for Methane Production

6 Hydrate Reservoir Models Indicate Key Variables for Methane Production 

Experiments, both in the field and laboratory, are very expensive. Models of methane production from hydrate can save substantial expense of time, effort, and capital. This section of Chapter 7 gives guidelines from the models for hydrate dissociation. 

One might consider the rationale for models, as one of three analogs of the real hydrated reservoir situation  

A field test, such as the Mallik 2002 case study, is perhaps the best analog of hydrate dissociation in a reservoir. However, the Mallik 2002 project cost many man years and approximately US 22,000,000. Even with such a large cost, there was still concern about the data obtained, and how representative the transient data would be for long-term production. 

A laboratory experiment typically requires months to plan and costs approximately US 50,000-300,000. There is less certainty here than in the field tests, but also less expense. 

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Hydrate reservoir models indicate key variables for methane production. 

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