[M-IS24] ガスハイドレートと地球環境・資源科学

[MIS24-19] 東部南海トラフ圧力コアリングより得られたメタンハイドレート胚胎堆積土の力学特性

*米田 純¹、桝井 明¹、今野 義浩¹、神 裕介¹、木田 真人¹、長尾 二郎¹、天満 則夫¹ (1.産業技術総合研究所)

キーワード：圧力コア, 三軸試験, 強度, 剛性, 画像処理, せん断帯

Geomechanical properties are essential parameter for methane gas extraction from methane hydrate to achieve safe and secure production. In this study, natural methane gas hydrate-bearing sediments were subjected to triaxial tests using transparent acrylic cell to investigate the strength and stiffness of sediments from deep seabed in the Eastern Nankai Trough. The samples were recovered using pressure coring which is a progressive technology to maintain the pore fluid pressure from in-situ to the laboratory. Triaxial compression test of hydrate-bearing sediments at in-situ pressure conditions were successfully done without any hydrate dissociation. The digital photographs were taken during the tests and the local deformation of sediments was quantified in each 0.1% of axial strain level by image processing technique. From the results, hydrate-bearing sediments showed brittle failure with shear banding as evidenced by the stress-strain softening response. In contrast, hydrate-free sediments showed ductile failure mode. The shear strength increases with hydrate saturation. This result is consistent with the results of synthetic hydrate-bearing sediments. Local strain which was calculated from local deformation showed that there is the distribution in stiffness in each centimeter due to distribution of hydrate saturation. This study successfully demonstrates the use of pressure core samples to investigate geomechanical and geotechnical properties of intact hydrate-bearing sediments at in-situ pressures.
This study was financially supported by the Research Consortium for Methane Hydrate Resources in Japan (MH21 Research Consortium) to carry out Japan's Methane Hydrate R&D Program conducted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).