System and method for producing methane from a methane hydrate formation
AssigneeBaker Hughes Incorporated
InventorsXiaoWei Wang, Terry Bussear, Larry A. Watkins
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A completion system includes a first borehole structure having a first section formed proximate to a volume of methane hydrate located at a subsurface location. A second borehole structure has a second section formed proximate to the volume of methane hydrate, the first section positioned deeper than the second section with respect to gravity. A first string is positioned in the first borehole structure and arranged to convey a heat-bearing fluid through the first string into contact with a volume of methane hydrate in order to liberate methane from the methane hydrate. A second string is positioned in the second borehole structure and arranged to produce the methane.
Claims21
A completion system, comprising:
- a first borehole structure having a first section formed proximate to a volume of methane hydrate located at a subsurface location;
- a second borehole structure having a second section formed proximate to the volume of methane hydrate, the first section positioned deeper than the second section with respect to gravity;
- a first string positioned in the first borehole structure and arranged to convey a heat-bearing fluid through the first string into contact with a volume of methane hydrate in order to liberate methane from the methane hydrate;
- and
- a second string positioned in the second borehole structure and arranged to produce the methane.
A method for producing methane from methane hydrate comprising:
- conveying a heat bearing fluid to a formation containing methane hydrate through a first borehole section located deeper than a second borehole section relative to gravity;
- liberating methane from the methane hydrate;
- and
- receiving the methane in the second borehole section.
A method for producing methane hydrate comprising:
- controlling at least one parameter of methane hydrate stability so as to destabilize the methane hydrate;
- liberating methane from the methane hydrate pursuant to the destabilization.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.