Experimental investigation of hydrate accumulation distribution in gas seeping system using a large scale three-dimensional simulation device

A novel three-dimensional natural gas hydrate physical simulation device, with a capacity of 0.196 m 3 and maximum operating pressure of 32 MPa, was designed and developed to study the accumulation and exploitation of hydrate-bearing sediment in the natural environment. Acoustic, electrical, and thermal properties at different positions can be collected in real-time to analyze the evolution of hydrate-bearing porous media during the accumulation of hydrate or the production of natural gas. A preliminary experiment was performed to investigate the behaviors of hydrate formation and aggregation in sediment in conditions simulating a gas seeping system. The experimental results showed the methane seeping route has a critical effect on hydrate formation and accumulation within the sediment, and the location of hydrate-rich region. The distribution of hydrate in sediment was controlled by fluid flow field, which was also proven by the simulation of FLUENT TM code. A modified