Rate of Formation and Decomposition of Gas Hydrate Formed in the Natural Coal

The paper presents experimental research on physical processes occurring in the black coal – natural gas system when external parameters change. It was shown that when thermobaric conditions corresponding to the area of stable hydrate existence are created, methane hydrate and carbon dioxide hydrate are formed in the internal space of the natural coal. Decomposition of methane hydrate in the coal occurs near the equilibrium curve, and the process of hydrate formation begins in the case of overcooling by 3–7°С and lasts several dozen hours. For the examined cases, the rate of gas hydrate decomposition in the coal is determined by the rate of change in external parameters during linear increase in temperature from 1 to 6°С/h.