Abstract Reservoir characterization of thermogenic gas hydrates have so far been limited to seismic mapping, well log interpretation, and lab scale experiments, with numerical modeling mostly focusing on gas production from hydrates. What is unknown however is the hydrate saturation at the sub-seismic and interwell scales. This study uses numerical simulations for predictive modeling of hydrate formation and geobody distribution using TOUGH + Hydrate. Results indicate that the flow of gas is buoyancy and advection dominated, and affects hydrate formation rate and saturation distribution. Geological controls such as fault angles, stratigraphic thickness, permeabilities and permeability anisotropies and contrasts with adjacent formations significantly impact distribution of hydrate saturation, and geobody shape. Hydrates form in both high and low porosity rocks. While full-scale reservoir modeling is contingent upon the availability of detailed reservoir and fluid data, this study underscores the importance of using numerical modeling tools for quantitative predictive modeling and reservoir characterization of hydrate reservoirs for better resource estimation, well-placement decisions, reservoir management and production planning.

中文翻译：

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热成因甲烷水合物形成和地质体分布的预测建模——数值模拟结果

摘要 迄今为止，热成因天然气水合物的储层表征仅限于地震测绘、测井解释和实验室规模的实验，数值模拟主要集中在水合物产气方面。然而，未知的是亚地震和井间尺度的水合物饱和度。本研究使用数值模拟，使用 TOUGH + Hydrate 对水合物形成和地质体分布进行预测建模。结果表明，气体流动以浮力和平流为主，影响水合物形成速率和饱和度分布。地质控制，如断层角、地层厚度、渗透率和渗透率各向异性以及与相邻地层的对比显着影响水合物饱和度的分布和地质体形状。水合物形成于高孔隙度和低孔隙度的岩石中。虽然全面的储层建模取决于详细储层和流体数据的可用性，但本研究强调了使用数值建模工具对水合物储层进行定量预测建模和储层表征的重要性，以便更好地进行资源估计、井位决策、储层管理和生产计划。