An isobaric flow loop added to the Gas Hydrate And Sediment Test Laboratory Instrument
(GHASTLI) is being investigated as a means of rapidly forming methane hydrate in watersaturated
sand from methane dissolved in water. Water circulates through a relatively warm
source chamber, dissolving granular methane hydrate that was pre-made from seed ice, then enters
a colder hydrate growth chamber where hydrate can precipitate in a water-saturated sand
pack. Hydrate dissolution in the source chamber imparts a known methane concentration to the
circulating water, and hydrate particles from the source chamber entrained in the circulating water
can become nucleation sites to hasten the onset of hydrate formation in the growth chamber. Initial
results suggest hydrate grows rapidly near the growth chamber inlet. Techniques for establishing
homogeneous hydrate formation throughout the sand pack are being developed.Non UBCUnreviewe