Experimental Study on CH4 Hydrate Dissociation by the Injection of Hot Water, Brine, and Ionic Liquids

Thermal stimulation is an important method to promote gas production and avoid secondary hydrate formation during exploitation, but low thermal efficiency hinders its application. In this work, dissociation was carried out in synthesized hydrate-bearing sediments with 30% saturation at 6.9 MPa 9 °C. Ionic liquids, such as 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (BMIM-Cl) tetramethylammonium (TMACl), were injected heat carriers, the promotion effects compared injection of hot water brine. The results showed that brine ionic liquids can produce higher efficiencies water. Thermodynamic inhibitors, NaCl, BMIM-Cl, TMACl, found impair stability CH4 hydrate, which conducive dissociation. By increasing NaCl concentration from 3.5 20 wt%, increased 37.6 44.0%, experienced a fall either BMIM-Cl or TMACl grew 10 wt%. addition, temperature 30 50 °C bring sharp decrease efficiency, unfavorable for economics production. Suitable running conditions should control under wt% be around °C, exerting weakening effect on stability.