Scaling of Thermodynamic and Transport Processes for Predicting Methane Hydrate Saturation in Marine Sediments Worldwide

摘要

Modeling the accumulation of marine gas hydrates has previously been attempted for specific sites with separate sources of methane, I.e. biogenic or upward flux from deeper sources. We have developed a numerical model in one spatial dimension that simulates the formation and accumulation of hydrates due to either or a combination of the two sources. The results are scaled using combinations of the dimensionless variables, such that the dependence of average hydrate saturation on the numerous parameters can be summarized using two contour maps, one each for in-situ and deeper methane sources. We also show points corresponding to well studied hydrate locations on these saturation maps. As compared to the earlier site-specific parameter studies, our model presents a unifying picture of hydrate accumulations, that can be used to predict hydrate saturations and distribution at sites for which seismic or core data is not available.