Volume 21: Sustainable Energy Solutions for a Post-COVID Recovery towards a Better Future: Part IV

Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Methane Hydrate Growth in Water-Waxy Oil System Qingyun Liao, Bohui Shi, Shangfei Song, Xu Duan, Junao Wang, Haiyuan Yao, Ziyuan Feng, Jing Gong

Abstract

For the efficient exploitation of deep-water oil and gas resources, the microscopic mechanism of gas hydrate growth in the presence of waxy oil needs to be studied urgently. This work applied molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to explore the effect of wax molecules on methane hydrate growth. Based on the analysis of crystal growth, wax crystallization, and potential energy, the simulation results indicated that the addition of non-surface-active wax molecules inhibits hydrate growth, while the addition of surface-active wax molecules could extend the growth time of hydrate, thereby achieving more hydrate formation.

Keywords Methane hydrate, waxy oil, formation kinetics, wax crystallization, molecular dynamics simulation