TY - JOUR
T1 - Coupling Submarine Slope Stability and Wellbore Stability Analysis with Natural Gas Hydrate Drilling and Production in Submarine Slope Strata in the South China Sea
AU - He, Yufa
AU - Song, Benjian
AU - Li, Qingping
N1 - Funding Information:
This work is supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (no. 2021YFC2800905) and the Joint Geological Funds of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (no. U2244223).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 by the authors.
PY - 2023/11
Y1 - 2023/11
N2 - This research explores the geomechanical challenges associated with gas hydrate extraction in submarine slope zones, a setting posing a high risk of significant geological calamities. We investigate slope and wellbore deformations driven by hydrate decomposition within a subsea environment. Utilizing Abaqus, a fluid-solid-thermal multi-field coupling model for gas hydrate reservoirs was created. Hydrate decomposition during drilling is minimal, resulting in minor formation deformation near the wellbore. However, a year of hydrate production caused a maximum displacement of up to 7 m in the wellbore and formation, highlighting the risk of submarine landslides. This indicates the need for meticulous surveillance of formation subsidence and wellhead equipment displacement. In the aftermath of a hydrate-induced submarine landslide, both the hydrate layer and the overlying strata descend together, inflicting considerable damage on the formation and wellbore. Our study presents a holistic examination of the interplay between environmental geomechanics risks and engineering structure risks for submarine slope instability and wellbore stability during hydrate development, providing crucial insights for enhancing safety measures in hydrate drilling and production, and ensuring wellbore stability.
AB - This research explores the geomechanical challenges associated with gas hydrate extraction in submarine slope zones, a setting posing a high risk of significant geological calamities. We investigate slope and wellbore deformations driven by hydrate decomposition within a subsea environment. Utilizing Abaqus, a fluid-solid-thermal multi-field coupling model for gas hydrate reservoirs was created. Hydrate decomposition during drilling is minimal, resulting in minor formation deformation near the wellbore. However, a year of hydrate production caused a maximum displacement of up to 7 m in the wellbore and formation, highlighting the risk of submarine landslides. This indicates the need for meticulous surveillance of formation subsidence and wellhead equipment displacement. In the aftermath of a hydrate-induced submarine landslide, both the hydrate layer and the overlying strata descend together, inflicting considerable damage on the formation and wellbore. Our study presents a holistic examination of the interplay between environmental geomechanics risks and engineering structure risks for submarine slope instability and wellbore stability during hydrate development, providing crucial insights for enhancing safety measures in hydrate drilling and production, and ensuring wellbore stability.
KW - geomechanics hazard
KW - natural gas hydrates
KW - submarine landslides
KW - wellbore stability
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85178355200&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/jmse11112069
DO - 10.3390/jmse11112069
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85178355200
SN - 2077-1312
VL - 11
JO - Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
JF - Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
IS - 11
M1 - 2069
ER -