Journal of Cold Regions Engineering

Mechanical properties and deformation behaviors of methane hydrate are important to assess the stability of gas hydrate reservoirs. In this study, using a high-pressure and low-temperature triaxial testing apparatus, the stress–strain relationship and strength of ice containing methane hydrate were studied. The results showed that the strength increased with a decrease of temperature, and the stress–strain relationship showed an elastoplastic strain-hardening behavior. When the confining pressure was less than 10 MPa, the strength increased with confining pressure. Also, it decreased with further increases of confining pressure beyond 10 MPa.

The bucket foundation platform is an important engineering design alternative in oil/gas field developments in the Bohai Sea because of its economic and structural characteristics. Severe ice-induced vibrations were observed on the Jinzhou 9-3E (JZ9-3E) bucket foundation platform in the Bohai Sea attributable to the ice action against the riser. A fixed ice-breaking cone was installed on the riser to reduce ice-induced vibrations. The ice-induced vibration response of the platform was observed and recorded. The observed data showed that the fixed ice-breaking cone can effectively reduce ice-induced vibrations.