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Title: Physical property characteristics of gas hydrate-bearing reservoir and associated seal sediments collected during NGHP-02 in the Krishna-Godavari Basin, in the offshore of India

Journal Article · · Marine and Petroleum Geology
ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [1];  [2];  [3];  [4]
  1. U.S. Geological Survey, Woods Hole, MA (United States)
  2. U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA (United States)
  3. U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, CO (United States)
  4. Oil and Natural Gas Corp., Navi Mumbai (India)

India’s National Gas Hydrate Program Expedition 02 (NGHP-02) was conducted to better understand geologic controls on gas hydrate occurrence and morphology, targeting coarse-grained sediments along the lower continental slope offshore eastern India. This study combines seismic, logging-while-drilling data, and a petroleum system approach to provide a regional geologic and lithologic context for: 1) gas hydrate morphology and distribution, and 2) effects of fine-grained sediments (clays and other grains smaller than 63µm) on gas production in NGHP-02 Area B in the Krishna-Godavari Basin. Area B seismic data show a buried anticline/syncline structure with strong reflectors, R1 and R2, that delineate two of the five lithologic units: Unit I (shallowest), II (R1), III, IV (R2) and V (below the bas of gas hydrate stability). Throughout Area B, gas hydrate morphology depends on its placement within these units. Specifically, core- and grain-scale measurements indicate fines content exerts a primary control on the gas hydrate distribution and morphology. Units I, II and III are generally fine-grained. On the anticline crest, these units host primarily grain-displacing gas hydrate veins linked to pore-occupying gas hydrate in thin, localized, coarser-grained deposits. Diatoms in Unit III increase porosity with depth, reaching ~70% where it contacts Unit IV, the gas hydrate reservoir associated with reflector R2. The Unit III lithology and porosity allow fluid and dissolved-phase methane to escape Unit IV and form gas hydrate in the fine-grained overburden. Within Unit IV, fine-grained layers are interbedded with coarser-grained gas hydrate reservoir sands, and the fines content even in the sands is high enough to impact hydraulic and mechanical properties during gas production. Fluid motion during gas production can mobilize fines, which can then clog pore throats, limiting production rates. In conclusion, pore-water freshening during gas hydrate dissociation can increase fines mobilization, particularly given the smectite identified in the fine-grained interbeds.

Research Organization:
Louisiana State Univ., Baton Rouge, LA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE)
Grant/Contract Number:
FE0028966
OSTI ID:
1474107
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1636383
Journal Information:
Marine and Petroleum Geology, Vol. 108; Related Information: Jang, J., Waite, F. W., Stern, L. A., Collett, T. S. and Kumar, P. (2018). Dependence of sedimentation behavior on pore-fluid chemistry for sediment collected from Area B, Krishna-Godavari Basin during India's National Gas Hydrate Program, NGHP-02: U. S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9FXJ1VX.Waite, W. F., Jang, J., Collett., T. S. and Kumar, P. (2018). Grain-size data from India's National Gas Hydrate Program NGHP-02 expedition in the Krishna-Godavari Basin offshore eastern India, 2015: U. S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P97RL4X4.; ISSN 0264-8172
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 27 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Figures / Tables (15)