February 2024: Pore Occupancy of Gas Hydrate

Abstract: Methane hydrate deposits are one of the largest fractions of hydrocarbons in the Earth's crust. They are found mainly in ocean sediments, and the configuration of the deposits - at the largest and smallest scales - determines how and when gaseous methane is released. Here using thermodynamic arguments, we show where hydrate is positioned at the pore scale when it is in contact with both gas and water. We show that this position changes depending on the depth of the deposit, and estimate the thickness of three-phase zones (hydrate, gas, and water) within ocean sediments. We further show how this directly predicts how the presence of hydrate affects the flow properties of gas and water through porous media.
Bio: Dr. David DiCarlo is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Petroleum Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. He holds a PhD in Physics from Cornell University, and has worked as an Acting Assistant Professor at Stanford University and as a Physical Scientist with the Agricultural Research Service. His research focusses on applying advanced experimental techniques to understanding fluid flow in hydrocarbon reservoirs. In particular, this research touches on three-phase flow (water, oil, and gas), gas hydrates, compositional displacements, flow stability, and the effect of nanoparticles on multi-phase flow in porous media. He is the author of over 110 refereed publications, and 40 conference proceedings papers.