Abstract:

The artificial formation of methane gas hydrate is a critical stage for the experimental study on drilling in simulated gas hydrate bearing sediment. A natural gas hydrate formation and mini drilling experimental system was built to conduct methane hydrate formation experiments with addition of small quantity of dodecyl sodium sulfate(SDS)and tetrahydrofuran(THF). According to the results of the comparative experiment and an analysis of temperature and pressure data acquired during the experiment, the paper investigated the effects of SDS and THF on the formation rate and amount of methane hydrate. The author drew the conclusion that with the micro-scale use of these two additives, the formation of methane hydrate is significantly accelerated, and more methane hydrate is obtained. Thus, a great deal of time needed for experiment is saved，and spontaneously, it may be greatly convenient for further study on drilling fluid design of hydrate bearing sediment and mini drilling test on simulated gas hydrate strata. 

Key words: methane hydrate, mini drilling simulation experimental system, formation rate, SDS, THF