Influence of gas hydrates on submarine slope stability

Date
2005
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Abstract
Gas hydrates upon dissociation release fresh water and large volumes of gas into the sediment structure causing significant increases in pore fluid pressures and substantial reduction in soil strengths. In order to assess the role that gas hydrates play in submarine slope stability, a comprehensive literature review has been carried out. The history of gas hydrates, their physical properties, hydrate stability, formation, and dissociation, and the occurrence and detection of gas hydrates are all reviewed and discussed. This report presents a parametric analysis of the impact of gas hydrate dissociation on the stability of seabed soils. Using a material model which describes the stress changes induced by hydrate decomposition, coupled with two methods of slope stability analysis, the effects of gas hydrates were evaluated. The results show that a slope containing gas hydrates becomes less stable with decreasing water depth, decreasing overburden thickness above the hydrate bearing layer, increasing void ratio, and decreasing plasticity index.
Description
Bibliography: p. 152-159
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Citation
Nixon, M. F. (2005). Influence of gas hydrates on submarine slope stability (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/17992
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