Non-Fickian Diffusion and the Accumulation of Methane Bubbles in Deep-Water Sediments
Abstract
In the absence of fractures, methane bubbles in deep-water sediments can be immovably trapped within a porous matrix by surface tension. The dominant mechanism of transfer of gas mass therefore becomes the diffusion of gas molecules through porewater. The accurate description of this process requires non-Fickian diffusion to be accounted for, including both thermodiffusion and gravitational action. We evaluate the diffusive flux of aqueous methane considering non-Fickian diffusion and predict the existence of extensive bubble mass accumulation zones within deep-water sediments. The limitation on the hydrate deposit capacity is revealed; too weak deposits cannot reach the base of the hydrate stability zone and form any bubbly horizon.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.1011.6345,
title = {Non-Fickian Diffusion and the Accumulation of Methane Bubbles in Deep-Water Sediments},
author = {D. S. Goldobin and N. V. Brilliantov and J. Levesley and M. A. Lovell and C. A. Rochelle and P. D. Jackson and A. M. Haywood and S. J. Hunter and J. G. Rees},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1011.6345},
year = {2018}
}
Comments
7 pages, 4 figures