An experimental study of shear strength of gas-hydrate-bearing core samples

The shear strength of gas-hydrate-bearing reservoirs is one of the most important parameters used to study mechanical properties of gas-hydrate-bearing reservoirs. The shear strength of gas-hydratebearing reservoirs changes with filling and cementation of gas hydrates, which will affect the wellbore and reservoir stability. Traditional shear tests could not be conducted on gas-hydrate-bearing core samples because the gas hydrates exist under a limited range of temperature and pressure conditions. This paper describes a novel shear apparatus for studying shear strength of gas-hydrate-bearing core samples under original reservoir conditions. The preparation of gas-hydrate-bearing core samples and subsequent shear tests are done in the same cell. Cohesion and internal friction angle of the core samples with different saturations of gas hydrates were measured with the apparatus. The effect of gas hydrates on the shear strength of reservoirs was quantitatively analyzed. This provides a foundation for studying wellbore and reservoir stability of gas-hydrate-bearing reservoirs.