Phenomenological model of phase transformations of gas hydrates in porous media: Visco-plastic consolidated skeleton

We develop a phenomenological model to describe the behavior of natural porous media saturated with phases that can experience phase transformations which result in changes of the strength, rheology, and transport properties of the medium. A porous medium saturated with gas hydrates cementing the grains of a mineral skeleton is an example of such behavior. On a decrease in pressure or increase in temperature, hydrates in such a medium dissociate into gas and water. The resulting fluid acts as a lubricant between the skeleton grains: the elastic response is changed by the viscous response, and the processes of consolidation and multiphase filtration in the deforming skeleton are initiated.