Gas hydrate (GH) is a kind of solid energy resource with huge reserve. Stratum instability (such as marine landslide) may be caused by hydrate dissociation due to the softening of stratum and the buildup of excess pore pressure. In this paper, a centrifuge experiment was conducted to study the evolution of stratum instability during hydrate dissociation. The hydrate dissociation zone expands from the heating source in hydrate bearing sediment (HBS). The pore fluid pressure increases significantly accompanying the slow seepage and soil layer's softening and deformation. Large horizontal displacements and vertical displacements can be observed and increase with the expansion of hydrate dissociation zone. The results can be used for the verification of numerical simulations and a reference for engineering design.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2015.06.006
This study is part of Project no. GZH201100311 funded by China Geological Survey and Projects nos. 51239010, 11102209, and 41376078 funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China.
Zhang XH, Lu XB, Shi YH, et al.Centrifuge experimental study on instability of seabed stratum caused by gas hydrate dissociation[J].OCEAN ENGINEERING, 2015,105:1-9