(516b) Comparison Between Equilibrium and Kinetic Models for Methane Hydrate Dissociation

Current literature generally agrees that the equilibrium and kinetic models for methane hydrate dissociation are almost indistinguishable. Here, we used the equilibrium and kinetic models with two kinds of thermal boundary conditions—adiabatic and constant temperature at the walls—to study the dissociation of methane hydrates. We have found significant deviation between the two models for hydrate saturation, temperature, and cumulative gas produced for constant temperature boundary conditions. Parametric study of the kinetic constants shows that the kinetic model is comparable to the thermodynamic model when the kinetic constant approaches idealistically high values. However, the difference between the two models is decreased for adiabatic boundary conditions. We have further shown deviations in the dissociation pattern between the equilibrium and kinetic models. For constant temperature boundary condition, the hydrate dissociates by shrinking in all directions for the equilibrium model, while for the kinetic model, it dissociates with no specific pattern throughout the entire reservoir.