An evaluation of geohazards arising from gas hydrate dissociation in Canadian continentalmargins

The long-term research goal of the research group is to contribute to the fundamental state-of-knowledge on gas hydrates by improving methodologies and techniques for characterization, assessment, and development of natural gas hydrate accumulations. The short-term goal and main objective of the present proposal is to characterize and assess submarine geohazards evolving from gas hydrate instability. To achieve this goal, an integrated experimental and theoretical research program is proposed, with the key objectives of: a) development of a numerical slope stability model which includes a transient, coupled pore pressure-deformation analysis; b) development of algorithms for introducing excess pore pressures due to gas hydrate dissociation into transient pore pressure-deformation analyses; c) identification of changes in stiffness, strength and permeability that can be expected as a result of hydrate dissociation through experimental testing; d) verification of the numerical model using the experimental testing results; e) analyses of several continental slope failures where hydrate dissociation has been identified as a potential triggering/propagation mechanism; and f) predictive analyses of potential geohazards arising from hydrate dissociation along the Canadian continental margins.

Faculty Supervisor:

Jocelyn Grozic

Student:

Partner:

Golder Associates (Calgary, AB)

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Construction and infrastructure

University:

University of Calgary

Program: