Measurements of CH4 and CO2 relative permeability in hydrate-bearing sandstone

Abstract This paper reports measurements of relative permeability to methane (CH 4 ) and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) in hydrate-bearing sandstone core samples. The CH 4 (or CO 2 ) permeability was measured at reservoir conditions for different hydrate and brine saturations. The saturation span ranged from 0.18 to 0.60 (frac.) for CH 4 gas and from 0.37 to 0.70 (frac.) for liquid CO 2 . The hydrate saturation ranged from 0.18 to 0.61 (frac.). The growth of hydrates within sandstone pores reduced the permeability for both the CH 4 and CO 2 system significantly, and the relative reduction was more pronounced for lower gas saturations. This effect is currently not included in numerical models of relative permeability in hydrate-bearing sediments and should be considered. The reported measurements are relevant to production-forecasting of methane gas from hydrate reservoirs and CO 2 storage schemes where CO 2 hydrates may provide self-sealing in cold aquifers.