Characterization of Natural Gas Methane Hydrate Rich Sediment
EMSL Project ID
36797
Abstract
Synthetic and natural gas hydrate samples (NGHP-01, Mt Elbert) will be characterized by FIB-SEM equipped with a cryo stage and residual gas analyzer. Gas hydrate dissociation profiles collected on different samples will be compared along with the gas chemistry. Synthetic gas hydrate samples containing different amounts of NaCl will also be characterized to determine the pore water salinity effects on gas hydrate dissociation. These measurements will be obtained with the FIB-SEM housed in the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory at PNNL. The FIB-SEM is equipped with a cryostage, and several attachments including elemental scanning by EDXS and Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD). We intend to explore in situ sectioning of naturally-occurring and synthesized gas hydrate crystals formed in the pore spaces of sediment samples using the Ga ion beam available in the FIB-SEM. The EBSD will be used to determine the crystal structure of these individual crystals. Post-processing will be used to provide the first in situ 3D reconstruction of the microstructure of gas hydrate crystals formed in pore spaces.
Project Details
Project type
Exploratory Research
Start Date
2009-10-21
End Date
2010-10-24
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator