A State-Dependent Elasto-Plastic Model for Hydrate-Bearing Cemented Sand Considering Damage and Cementation Effects.

Area of Science:

• Geotechnical Engineering
• Petroleum Engineering
• Materials Science

Background:

• Optimizing gas hydrate extraction requires accurate models for hydrate-bearing sands.
• Existing models may not fully capture complex soil behaviors like cementation and damage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a credible constitutive model for hydrate-bearing cemented sand.
• To simulate cementation and damage evolution for improved extraction efficiency and safety.

Main Methods:

• A critical state-based elasto-plastic constitutive model was developed.
• Incorporated a damage factor (Ds) to account for soil degradation and cementation loss.
• A computer program simulated cementation, damage, and stress-strain curves.

Main Results:

• The model successfully replicated the mechanical behavior of soil cementation and deterioration.
• Theoretical curves showed over 90% compliance with experimental data.
• The model's predictive capabilities for hydrate-bearing cemented sand were validated.

Conclusions:

• The developed state-dependent elasto-plastic model accurately describes hydrate-bearing cemented sand.
• This model offers vital guidance for deep-buried tunnel construction and hydrocarbon resource extraction.
• The findings contribute to safer and more efficient gas hydrate extraction strategies.