Clarifying the mechanical characteristics of gas hydrate-bearing sediments (GHBS) from a mechanical perspective is crucial for ensuring the long-term, safe, and efficient extraction of natural gas hydrates. In this study, seabed soft clay from the northern South China Sea was utilized to prepare clayey silt samples, aligning with gradation curves related to hydrate extraction projects in the Shenhu area of the South China Sea. Utilizing the high-pressure low-temperature hydrate triaxial testing system (ETAS), twelve sets of triaxial shear tests were conducted. The results highlight that increases in hydrate saturation and confining pressure significantly enhance GHBS’ strength and stiffness, with more pronounced volume expansion observed during shearing. These tests have elucidated the mechanical responses of GHBS. Subsequently, empirical formulas were developed to characterize their properties under varying conditions. Additionally, based on the experimental data, the micro-mechanisms of GHBS were analyzed, suggesting that hydrates notably contribute to the filling and cementing effects in GHBS, with these effects varying with changes in hydrate saturation and confining pressure. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the fundamental mechanical properties of GHBS.

Fine-grained natural gas hydrate (NGH) reservoirs are widely distributed across the world and bear more than 90% of global NGH. However, it is difficult to exploit this kind of NGH reservoir economically and environmentally using conventional methods. Water-jet cutting is an efficient and environmentally friendly technique for mining such hydrate reservoirs, as the production process does not depend on mass and heat transfer within the formations. In this work, a series of physical experiments were conducted to clarify the erosion performance of marine hydrate-bearing sediment (HBS) impacted by water jets. The results show that the accumulation of sediment particles and hydrate particles at the bottom of erosion hole severely inhibits the vertical erosion of HBS by water jet. For a particular jet flow rate, the jet distance has an optimal value, which is between 4 mm and 28 mm. Moreover, the upwelling flow containing solid particles has a significant impact on the erosion of the hole top. In reservoirs with a low hydrate saturation (20–40%) and reservoirs with a high hydrate saturation (60–80%), the erosion holes exhibit a gourd shape and a bamboo shape, respectively. In addition, the volume erosion efficiency and the depth erosion efficiency are more sensitive to the variation in jet flow rate than jet distance and hydrate saturation. This study can provide theoretical and technical support for the application of water-jet cutting in the exploitation of marine HBS.

Natural gas hydrates (NGHs) are a new type of clean energy with great development potential. However, it is urgent to achieve safe and economical NGHs development and utilization. This study established a physical model of the study area using the FLAC^3D software based on the key parameters of the NGHs production test area in the South China Sea, including the depressurization method, and mechanical parameters of strata, NGHs occurrence characteristics, and the technological characteristics of horizontal wells. Moreover, this study explored the law of influences of the NGHs dissociation range on the stability of the overburden strata and the casing structure of a horizontal well. The results are as follows. With the dissociation of NGHs, the overburden strata of the NGHs dissociation zone subsided and formed funnel-shaped zones and then gradually stabilized. However, the upper interface of the NGHs dissociation zone showed significant redistribution and discontinuity of stress. Specifically, distinct stress concentration and corresponding large deformation occurred in the build-up section of the horizontal well, which was thus prone to suffering shear failure. Moreover, apparent end effects occurred at the end of the horizontal well section and might cause the deformation and failure of the casing structure. Therefore, it is necessary to take measures in the build-up section and at the end of the horizontal section of the horizontal well to prevent damage and ensure the wellbore safety in the long-term NGHs exploitation.