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Effect of clay minerals on methane hydrate formation: Thermodynamic and kinetic

Author

Listed:
  • Chen, Chang
  • Zhang, Yu
  • Wang, Du
  • Li, Xiaosen
  • Chen, Yuru
  • Chen, Zhaoyang
  • Gao, Fei

Abstract

Clay minerals are abundant in natural gas hydrate-bearing marine sediments, yet their effects on methane hydrate (MH) formation kinetics and spatial distribution remain unclear. In this study, two typical clay minerals from the South China Sea, montmorillonite and illite, were selected to investigate the effects of clay content (ranging from 10 wt% to 40 wt%) and mineral type on the nucleation, formation rates, and distribution of MH in sandy sediment. The experimental results revealed that clay minerals below 40 wt% slightly increased the MH dissociation temperature, with shifts of about 0.30 K. Montmorillonite, with high water adsorption, delayed the overall MH formation kinetics in sandy sediment but increased early periods gas uptake rate by enlarging the gas-water contact area. Illite, with moderate water adsorption, strongly promoted MH formation through capillary-driven growth, increasing the gas uptake rate about 4.30 times higher than that in sandy sediment. In the mixed illite/montmorillonite sediments, competitive interactions extended the reaction time by 14 % while still doubling the early periods gas uptake rate. Temperature measurements indicated that non-uniform water distribution and migration caused heterogeneous MH accumulation across reactor layers. In montmorillonite-bearing sediments, strong water absorption redistributed water and shifted MH formation toward the bottom layer, while in illite-bearing sediments, capillary-driven growth enhanced MH accumulation in the upper and middle layers.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen, Chang & Zhang, Yu & Wang, Du & Li, Xiaosen & Chen, Yuru & Chen, Zhaoyang & Gao, Fei, 2025. "Effect of clay minerals on methane hydrate formation: Thermodynamic and kinetic," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 339(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:339:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225046912
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.139049
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    References listed on IDEAS

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