Next Article in Journal
Long-Term Variability of Phytoplankton Size Classes in the Littoral Seas of Korea Using Deep Neural Networks and Satellite Data
Previous Article in Journal
Impact of Climate Change on the Hydrodynamics of the Ria de Arousa (NW Spain)
Previous Article in Special Issue
Determining the Minimum Detection Limit of Methane Hydrate Using Associated Alpha Particle Technique
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
JMSE
Volume 13
Issue 6
10.3390/jmse13061065
jmse-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Triaxial Experimental Study of Natural Gas Hydrate Sediment Fracturing and Its Initiation Mechanisms: A Simulation Using Large-Scale Ice-Saturated Synthetic Cubic Models

by
Kaixiang Shen
1,2,
Yanjiang Yu
1,2,*,
Hao Zhang
3,4,
Wenwei Xie
1,2,
Jingan Lu
1,2,
Jiawei Zhou
1,2,
Xiaokang Wang
3,4 and
Zizhen Wang
3,4,*
1
Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, China Geological Survey, Guangzhou 511458, China
2
National Engineering Research Center of Gas Hydrate Exploration and Development, Guangzhou 511458, China
3
State Key Laboratory of Deep Oil and Gas, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
4
School of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(6), 1065; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13061065
Submission received: 22 April 2025 / Revised: 19 May 2025 / Accepted: 23 May 2025 / Published: 28 May 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Marine Gas Hydrates)
Versions Notes

Abstract

The efficient extraction of natural gas from marine natural gas hydrate (NGH) reservoirs is challenging, due to their low permeability, high hydrate saturation, and fine-grained sediments. Hydraulic fracturing has been proven to be a promising technique for improving the permeability of these unconventional reservoirs. This study presents a comprehensive triaxial experimental investigation of the fracturing behavior and fracture initiation mechanisms of NGH-bearing sediments, using large-scale ice-saturated synthetic cubic models. The experiments systematically explore the effects of key parameters, including the injection rate, fluid viscosity, ice saturation, perforation patterns, and in situ stress, on fracture propagation and morphology. The results demonstrate that at low fluid viscosities and saturation levels, transverse and torsional fractures dominate, while longitudinal fractures are more prominent at higher viscosities. Increased injection rates enhance fracture propagation, generating more complex fracture patterns, including transverse, torsional, and secondary fractures. A detailed analysis reveals that the perforation design significantly influences the fracture direction, with 90° helical perforations inducing vertical fractures and fixed-plane perforations resulting in transverse fractures. Additionally, a plastic fracture model more accurately predicts fracture initiation pressures compared to traditional elastic models, highlighting a shift from shear to tensile failure modes as hydrate saturation increases. This research provides new insights into the fracture mechanisms of NGH-bearing sediments and offers valuable guidance for optimizing hydraulic fracturing strategies to enhance resource extraction in hydrate reservoirs.
Keywords: natural gas hydrate; hydraulic fracturing; fracture initiation; fracture propagation natural gas hydrate; hydraulic fracturing; fracture initiation; fracture propagation

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Shen, K.; Yu, Y.; Zhang, H.; Xie, W.; Lu, J.; Zhou, J.; Wang, X.; Wang, Z. Triaxial Experimental Study of Natural Gas Hydrate Sediment Fracturing and Its Initiation Mechanisms: A Simulation Using Large-Scale Ice-Saturated Synthetic Cubic Models. J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13, 1065. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13061065

AMA Style

Shen K, Yu Y, Zhang H, Xie W, Lu J, Zhou J, Wang X, Wang Z. Triaxial Experimental Study of Natural Gas Hydrate Sediment Fracturing and Its Initiation Mechanisms: A Simulation Using Large-Scale Ice-Saturated Synthetic Cubic Models. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering. 2025; 13(6):1065. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13061065

Chicago/Turabian Style

Shen, Kaixiang, Yanjiang Yu, Hao Zhang, Wenwei Xie, Jingan Lu, Jiawei Zhou, Xiaokang Wang, and Zizhen Wang. 2025. "Triaxial Experimental Study of Natural Gas Hydrate Sediment Fracturing and Its Initiation Mechanisms: A Simulation Using Large-Scale Ice-Saturated Synthetic Cubic Models" Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 13, no. 6: 1065. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13061065

APA Style

Shen, K., Yu, Y., Zhang, H., Xie, W., Lu, J., Zhou, J., Wang, X., & Wang, Z. (2025). Triaxial Experimental Study of Natural Gas Hydrate Sediment Fracturing and Its Initiation Mechanisms: A Simulation Using Large-Scale Ice-Saturated Synthetic Cubic Models. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 13(6), 1065. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13061065

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop