南海东北部陆坡海底微地貌特征及其天然气渗透模式

海底天然气渗漏是海洋环境中广泛分布的自然现象,在世界各大洋中都有发现。海底渗漏可以极大地改变海底地貌特征,形成多种与之相关的微地貌类型。海底渗漏和天然气水合物的赋存具有密切的关系,海底渗漏区常伴有埋藏浅、饱和度高的天然气水合物。对南海东北部陆坡海域浅地层剖面、多波束测探和地震反射剖面等资料进行综合研究,识别出海底麻坑、海底丘状体、大型海底圆丘、泥火山等与海底天然气渗漏有关的微地貌类型,且麻坑、海底丘状体/大型海底圆丘、泥火山微地貌分别代表了浅覆盖层快速天然气渗漏、浅覆盖层中等速度天然气渗漏和厚覆盖层快速天然气渗漏3种天然气渗漏模式。具有海底丘状体微地貌及声空白反射特征的浅层天然气聚集带,成为块状水合物最理想的发育场所,这可能称为南海北部陆坡勘察块状水合物的重要识别标志。     

南海东北陆坡海底微地貌特征及其天然气渗漏模式

海底天然气渗漏是海洋环境中广泛分布的自然现象,在世界各大洋中都有发现。海底渗漏可以极大地改变海底地貌特征,形成多种与之相关的微地貌类型。海底渗漏和天然气水合物的赋存具有密切的关系,海底渗漏区常伴有埋藏浅、饱和度高的天然气水合物。对南海东北部陆坡海域浅地层剖面、多波束测深和地震反射剖面等资料进行综合研究,识别出海底麻坑、海底丘状体、大型海底圆丘、泥火山等与海底天然气渗漏有关的微地貌类型,且麻坑、海底丘状体／大型海底圆丘、泥火山微地貌分别代表了浅覆盖层快速天然气渗漏、浅覆盖层中等速度天然气渗漏和厚覆盖层快速天然气渗漏3种天然气渗漏模式。以海底丘状体微地貌及声空白反射特征的浅层天然气聚集带,成为块状水合物最理想的发育场所,这可能成为南海北部陆坡勘察块状水合物的重要识别标志。     

东沙群岛西南海区泥火山的地球物理特征

多道反射地震和CHIRP浅地层剖面显示在南海东沙群岛西南陆坡和白云凹陷东部陆坡之间的深水(600~1 000m)陆坡上矗立着一系列高出周围海底50~100m的丘形地质体,其内部地层发生褶皱,反射波呈现杂乱和空白,海底声波屏蔽严重。浅地层剖面还显示丘状构造带有气体羽状构造,从海底进入水体高达50m。海底沉积取样分析表明,这些海丘区的表层分布着生物成因的致密碳酸盐结核。可以推断东沙西南的丘形地质体就是泥火山带,并且可能是一个重要的水合物潜在区。东沙西南海区泥火山表现出构造挤压和带状分布的特点,不同于南海北部神狐和九龙甲烷礁已发现水合物区的非泥火山,也不同于全球其他典型被动大陆边缘的泥火山特征,其构造成因和水合物潜力有待进一步研究。     

东沙西南海区泥火山的分布及其物质来源层位

早期的多道地震和浅剖测线数据表明东沙西南海域可能存在一些泥火山。2014年在该海域加密了多道地震测线和浅剖测线。通过对新采数据的处理,在多道地震剖面中发现了大量反映泥火山存在的丘形隆起、喷发凹槽及反射空白带等特征;在浅剖剖面上发现了指示泥火山存在的丘状构造、局部海底反射加强以及气体羽等现象。对比分析相邻的多道和浅剖剖面,发现该区存在大量泥火山,沿NWW—SEE方向呈带状分布。其中最大泥火山长度大于15km,宽约8km,高约285m。泥火山坡度较大,两翼倾角在5.5?~15.9?之间。剖面上显示有些泥火山对应的构造形变及反射空白带至少延伸到海底以下5.5km深度,经过与附近海区地震剖面解释成果的对比,推断泥火山物质来源层位为中生界。     

天然气水合物存在的流体特征——以印度西部大陆边缘为例

印度西部大陆边缘的多道地震反射资料揭示了流体排驱是否与天然气水合物相关。在地震剖面上没有典型的似海底反射存在，为了在确定天然气水合物的存在，我们在印度西部大陆边缘的一个小水道找到其它地震反射证据。我们研究了通过海底的排气通道、麻坑、海底滑坡以及反映流体运移通道的断层、清楚的含气沉积、弱振幅、底辟和泥火山等，地震剖面上所有这些流体逸散特征预示着在天然气水合物稳定域内天然气水合物的可能存在。     

南海北部陆坡神狐海域浅地层与单道地震剖面联合解释——水合物区沉积地层特征

本文通过南海北部陆坡神狐海域浅地层、单道地震剖面联合解释,发现了一系列与天然气水合物密切相关的海底异常地貌、地层结构.在精细浅地层剖面上发现了陆坡丘状体、浅部断层以及由连续强反射层、声空白补丁、局部增强反射和声空白带构成的海底浅部含气带.浅部含气带位于海底之下34-82m,通过其空间分布位置判断,认为气体来源于深部天然气水合物的分解.在单道地震剖面上识别出麻坑、气体渗漏柱、褶皱、模拟海底反射(BSR,bottom simulating reflector)等结构.BSR位于我国首次钻取的天然气水合物样品深度之下,判断其为该区水合物稳定带底界.依据ODP1148站深海钻井的地层厚度、沉积速率、测年等资料进行地层划分,识别出渐新世、中新世等地层界面,初步建立了神狐海域水合物区沉积地层年代标尺.地层年代划分结果表明BSR、褶皱、首次钻取的水合物样品位于晚中新世至上新世地层内,以上地层成为南海北部神狐海域天然气水合物勘探重点目标层位.     

尖峰北盆地含气流体运聚疏导组合特征及对水合物成藏的控制作用

南海北部陆坡尖峰北盆地发育良好的气源及含气流体运聚疏导条件,具备较好的天然气水合物成藏潜力。为深入揭示尖峰北盆地水合物的成藏地质特征,基于高精度三维多道地震、浅地层剖面、多波束资料,深入分析了研究区深、浅部含气流体运聚疏导通道的地质、地球物理特征及对水合物成藏的控制作用。详细刻画了研究区深、浅部主要含气流体疏导通道的形态特征、发育规模、分布特点及对含气流体运聚的控制作用;重点剖析了深、浅部含气流体疏导通道组合特征及与水合物分布的耦合关系,最后结合水合物成藏地质条件,探讨了研究区水合物的成藏模式及影响因素。研究结果表明:尖峰北盆地的含气流体疏导通道主要以断裂型为主,亮点反射、反射空白带、BSR、声空白、声浑浊等含气流体运聚及水合物赋存指示标志多出现在沟源断层、古隆起伴生断层、多边形断层的顶部及邻近区域。以T3反射界面为界,其下伏沟源断层、古隆起伴生断层与上覆多边形断层构成的深、浅部含气流体疏导通道在垂向上相连通,沟通了深部气源层与浅层水合物稳定域,形成了"沟源断层—多边形断层"与"古隆起伴生断层—多边形断层"两种含气流体运移与水合物成藏模式。多边形断层的存在一方面促进了含气流体向浅层发生"中继疏导",控制水合物富集成藏;另一方面,在多边形断层密集发育段,强烈的流体充注会引起局部温压平衡破坏和水合物分解、渗漏,导致"断续型"BSR的产生。浅层气体的渗漏和扩散可以持续作用至海底并对海底形态进行改造,导致海底滑塌、断裂、麻坑、丘状体等一系列海底微地貌的形成。     

高分辨率三维海洋反射地震P-cable系统应用进展

高分辨率三维海洋反射地震P-cable系统已经成功应用在海底天然气水合物、储层填图和海底灾害的研究中,特别是针对海底气烟囱和泥火山等小目标体的内部结构和空间分布特征的研究。在海底大洋钻探的目标区,P-cable系统能够提供准确的高分辨率的三维地震数据,有利于海底大洋钻探的井位选取和井位钻探时间评估。与常规的工业界使用的长电缆三维海洋反射地震比较,高分辨三维海洋反射地震P-cable系统具有简单、高效和经济实用性的优点,能够更加高效、快捷地为科研人员开展海洋地质和地球物理的研究工作,有助于为今后我国在深潜方面发现的海底"烟囱"开展详细地下高分辨率的三维地震结构调查,成为深潜方面的一个补充和一个强有力的海洋填图工具。依据实例分析并讨论了高分辨的三维海洋地震P-cable系统在海底气烟囱和泥火山内部结构以及空间分布特征方面的应用和科学研究。建议今后在海洋地球物理调查中开展高分辨的三维海洋反射地震调查和研究,特别针对广阔海域陆坡区天然气水合物、海底泥火山和气烟囱以及海底滑坡灾害方面开展更为精细的三维海洋反射地震调查和相关科学问题的研究工作。     

南海北部陆坡某海域浅层气的声学特征及其对水合物勘探的指示意义

海底天然气渗漏是海洋环境中广泛分布的自然现象,在世界各大洋中都有发现。海底渗漏的气体赋存于浅部地层,可以改变近表层沉积物的物理性质,使其在声学剖面上得以反映。通过对南海北部陆坡某海域研究区浅地层剖面和地震数据分析,在浅地层剖面上发现了声空白、声混浊、增强反射层、速度下拉等特征,在地震剖面上则识别出气烟囱或泥底辟、亮点、速度下拉、增强反射层等特征。以似海底反射层（BSR）作为地震剖面上明显的含气层标志,划分了2套含气系统。通过浅地层剖面与地震剖面联合解释认为,BSR之下气烟囱／泥底辟的发育导致了亮点、速度下拉、增强反射层等声学特征的发生,BSR之上水合物层的存在则可能起到封堵天然气而使其发生侧向运移的作用,在气体封堵相对薄弱的位置,天然气向上运移形成声空白、声混浊、增强反射层、速度下拉等特征。以声空白代表的天然气聚集带可能成为块状水合物的发育场所,可能成为较有潜力的勘探目标。     

琼东南盆地陵水研究区海底地质灾害类型、分布和成因机制

琼东南盆地陵水研究区位于西沙海槽北部的陆架边缘和陆坡区,地质灾害广泛分布。利用三维反射地震数据,在琼东南盆地陵水研究区识别了海底滑坡、麻坑、丘状体、流体管道、天然气水合物(BSRs)、活动断层等海底地质灾害体,并分析了各类地质灾害体的地震反射特征和分布规律。结合区域构造和沉积演化过程,分析了地质灾害体的成因机制。研究表明,灾害体的分布面积总计超过2000km~2,各类灾害体相互叠置。构造断层活动、充足物源供给和海平面变化是导致该地区海底地质灾害广泛分布的重要原因。第四纪晚期高沉积速率导致陆架边缘和陆坡区沉积了较厚地层,有机质丰富,为水合物成藏提供了潜在气源。陆坡区的滑坡主要分布在加积层序较发育的陡坡区。在陆架边缘和滑坡不太发育的陆坡缓坡区,超压流体释放形成流体管道、丘状体和麻坑。高沉积速率、埋藏的古滑坡和区域的构造不稳定性是诱发超压流体释放的重要因素。     

Sediment mounds and other sedimentary features related to hydrate occurrences in a columnar seismic blanking zone of the Ulleung Basin, East Sea, Korea

A mound related to a cold vent in a columnar seismic blanking zone (CSBZ) was formed around site UBGH1-10 in the central Ulleung Basin (2077 m water depth), East Sea, Korea. The mound is 300–400 m wide and 2–3 m high according to multi-beam bathymetry, 2–7 kHz sub-bottom profiler data, and multi-channel reflection seismic data. Seafloor topography and characteristics were investigated using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) around site UBGH1-10, which is located near the northern part of the mound. The origin of the mound was investigated through lithology, mineralogy, hydrate occurrence, and sedimentary features using dive cores, piston cores, and a deep-drilling core. The CSBZ extends to ∼265 ms two-way traveltime (TWT) below the seafloor within a mass-transport deposit (MTD) unit. Gas hydrate was entirely contained 6–141 m below the seafloor (mbsf) within hemipelagic deposits intercalated with a fine-grained turbidite (HTD) unit, characteristically associated with high resistivity values at site UBGH1-10. The hydrate is commonly characterized by veins, nodules, and massive types, and is found within muddy sediments as a fracture-filling type. Methane has been produced by microbial reduction of CO₂, as indicated by C₁/C₂₊, δ¹³CCH4, and δD₄CH analyses. The bowl-shaped hydrate cap revealed at 20–45 ms TWT below the seafloor has very high resistivity and high salinity, suggesting rapid and recent gas hydrate formation. The origin of the sediment mound is interpreted as a topographic high formed by the expansion associated with the formation of the gas hydrate cap above the CSBZ. The lower sedimentation rate of the mound sediments may be due to local enhancement of bottom currents by topographic effects. In addition, no evidence of gas bubbles, chemosynthetic communities, or bacterial mats was observed in the mound, suggesting an inactive cold vent.     

Association among active seafloor deformation, mound formation, and gas hydrate growth and accumulation within the seafloor of the Santa Monica Basin, offshore California

Seafloor blister-like mounds, methane migration and gas hydrate formation were investigated through detailed seafloor surveys in Santa Monica Basin, offshore of Los Angeles, California. Two distinct deep-water (≥ 800 m water depth) topographic mounds were surveyed using an autonomous underwater vehicle (carrying a multibeam sonar and a chirp sub-bottom profiler) and one of these was explored with the remotely operated vehicle Tiburon. The mounds are > 10 m high and > 100 m wide dome-shaped bathymetric features. These mounds protrude from crests of broad anticlines (~ 20 m high and 1 to 3 km long) formed within latest Quaternary-aged seafloor sediment associated with compression between lateral offsets in regional faults. No allochthonous sediments were observed on the mounds, except slumped material off the steep slopes of the mounds. Continuous streams of methane gas bubbles emanate from the crest of the northeastern mound, and extensive methane-derived authigenic carbonate pavements and chemosynthetic communities mantle the mound surface. The large local vertical displacements needed to produce these mounds suggests a corresponding net mass accumulation has occurred within the immediate subsurface. Formation and accumulation of pure gas hydrate lenses in the subsurface is proposed as a mechanism to blister the seafloor and form these mounds.     

Fault system and thermal regime in the vicinity of site NGHP-01-10, Krishna–Godavari basin, Bay of Bengal

Drilling/coring activities onboard JOIDES Resolution for hydrate resource estimation have confirmed gas hydrate in the continental slope of Krishna-Godavari (KG) basin, Bay of Bengal and the expedition recovered fracture filled gas hydrate at the site NGHP-01-10. In this paper we analyze high resolution multi-channel seismic (MCS), high resolution sparker (HRS), bathymetry, and sub-bottom profiler data in the vicinity of site NGHP-01-10 to understand the fault system and thermal regime. We interpreted the large-scale fault system (>5 km) predominantly oriented in NNW-SSE direction near NGHP-01-10 site, which plays an important role in gas hydrate formation and its distribution. The increase in interval velocity from the baseline velocity of 1600 m/s to 1750–1800 m/s within the gas hydrate stability zone (GHSZ) is considered as a proxy for the gas hydrate occurrence, whereas the drop in interval velocity to 1400 m/s suggest the presence of free gas below the GHSZ. The analysis of interval velocity suggests that the high concentration of gas hydrate occurs close to the large-scale fault system. We conclude that the gas hydrate concentration near site NGHP-01-10, and likely in the entire KG Basin, is controlled primarily by the faults and therefore has high spatial variability.We also estimated the heat flow and geothermal gradient (GTG) in the vicinity of NGHP-01-10 site using depth and temperature of the seafloor and the BSR. We observed an abnormal GTG increase from 38 °C/km to 45 °C/km at the top of the mound, which remarkably agrees with the measured temperature gradient at the mound (NGHP-01-10) and away from the mound (NGHP-01-03). We analyze various geological scenarios such as topography, salinity, thermal non-equilibrium of BSR and fluid/gas advection along the fault system to explain the observed increase in GTG. The geophysical data along with the coring results suggest that the fluid advection along the fault system is the primary mechanism that explains the increase in GTG. The approximate advective fluid flux estimated based on the thermal measurement is of the order of few tenths of mm/yr (0.37–0.6 mm/yr).     

Gas seepage, pockmarks and mud volcanoes in the near shore of SW Taiwan

In order to understand gas hydrate related seafloor features in the near shore area off SW Taiwan, a deep-towed sidescan sonar and sub-bottom profiler survey was conducted in 2007. Three profiles of high-resolution sub-bottom profiler reveal the existence of five gas seeps (G96, GS1, GS2, GS3 and GS4) and one pockmark (PM) in the study area. Gas seeps and pockmark PM are shown in lines A and C, while no gas venting feature is observed along line B. This is the first time that a gas-hydrate related pockmark structure has been imaged off SW Taiwan. The relatively high backscatter intensity in our sidescan sonar images indicates the existence of authigenic carbonates or chemosynthetic communities on the seafloor. More than 2,000 seafloor photos obtained by a deep-towed camera (TowCam) system confirm the relatively high backscatter intensity of sidescan sonar images related to bacteria mats and authigenic carbonates formation at gas seep G96 and pockmark PM areas. Water column gas flares are observed in sidescan sonar images along lines A and C. Likewise, EK500 echo sounder images display the gas plumes above gas seep G96, pockmark PM and gas seep GS1; the gas plumes heights reach about 150, 100 and 20 m from seafloor, respectively. Based on multichannel seismic reflection (MCS) profiles, an anticline structure trending NNE-SSW is found beneath gas seep G96, pockmark PM and gas seep GS2. It implies that the gas venting features are related to the anticline structure. A thermal fluid may migrate from the anticline structure to the ridge crest, then rises up to the seafloor along faults or fissures. The seafloor characteristics indicate that the gas seep G96 area may be in a transitional stage from the first to second stage of a gas seep self-sealing process, while the pockmark PM area is from the second to final stage. In the pockmark PM area, gas venting is observed at eastern flank but not at the bottom while authigenic carbonates are present underneath the pockmark. It implies that the fluid migration pathways could have been clogged by carbonates at the bottom and the current pathway has shifted to the eastern flank of the pockmark during the gas seep self-sealing process.     

Shallow gas and fluid migration in the northern Arafura Sea (offshore Northern Australia)

A variety of shallow gas indicators and fluid migration pathways have been interpreted from new sub-bottom profiler, multibeam bathymetry, side-scan sonar, and echo-sounder data together with geochemical analyses of sampled sediments from the northern Arafura Sea, offshore Northern Australia. This study provides new geological data and a seismic stratigraphy of the youngest units in the Money Shoal Basin, in an area that has not been closely studied in over 30 years. The shallow gas indicators include pockmarks, low frequency enhanced reflectors and acoustic blanking. These indicators are supported by gas within shallow cores. Geochemistry indicates that this gas has a microbial origin but deeper fluid movement is also suggested by the presence of interpreted hydrocarbon slicks based on synthetic aperture radar data. A region of likely hydrocarbon seepage is indicated by the clear coincidence of shallow gas indicators with an area of increased faulting and a zone of poor quality seismic data (recognised on conventional seismic data), together with anomalies (interpreted on remote-sensing data) aligned with mapped deep structures.     

Distribution and expression of gas seeps in a gas hydrate province of the northeastern Sakhalin continental slope, Sea of Okhotsk

Multidisciplinary surveys were conducted to investigate gas seepage and gas hydrate accumulation on the northeastern Sakhalin continental slope (NESS), Sea of Okhotsk, during joint Korean–Russian–Japanese expeditions conducted from 2003 to 2007 (CHAOS and SSGH projects). One hundred sixty-one gas seeps were detected in a 2000 km² area of the NESS (between 53°45′N and 54°45′N). Active gas seeps in a gas hydrate province on the NESS were evident from features in the water column, on the seafloor, and in the subsurface: well-defined hydroacoustic anomalies (gas flares), side-scan sonar structures with high backscatter intensity (seepage structures), bathymetric structures (pockmarks and mounds), gas- and gas-hydrate-related seismic features (bottom-simulating reflectors, gas chimneys, high-amplitude reflectors, and acoustic blanking), high methane concentrations in seawater, and gas hydrates in sediment near the seafloor. These expressions were generally spatially related; a gas flare would be associated with a seepage structure (mound), below which a gas chimney was present. The spatial distribution of gas seeps on the NESS is controlled by four types of geological structures: faults, the shelf break, seafloor canyons, and submarine slides. Gas chimneys that produced enhanced reflection on high-resolution seismic profiles are interpreted as active pathways for upward gas migration to the seafloor. The chimneys and gas flares are good indicators of active seepage.     

Multi-beam and seismic investigations of the active Haima cold seeps,northwestern South China Sea

To confirm the seabed fluid flow at the Haima cold seeps, an integrated study of multi-beam and seismic data reveals the morphology and fate of four bubble plumes and investigates the detailed subsurface structure of the active seepage area. The shapes of bubble plumes are not constant and influenced by the northeastward bottom currents, but the water depth where these bubble plumes disappear (630–650 m below the sea level) (mbsl) is very close to the upper limit of the gas hydrate stability zone in the water column (620 m below the sea level), as calculated from the CTD data within the study area, supporting the “hydrate skin” hypothesis. Gas chimneys directly below the bottom simulating reflectors, found at most sites, are speculated as essential pathways for both thermogenic gas and biogenic gas migrating from deep formations to the gas hydrate stability zone. The fracture network on the top of the basement uplift may be heavily gas-charged, which accounts for the chimney with several kilometers in diameter (beneath Plumes B and C). The much smaller gas chimney (beneath Plume D) may stem from gas saturated localized strong permeability zone. High-resolution seismic profiles reveal pipe-like structures, characterized by stacked localized amplitude anomalies, just beneath all the plumes, which act as the fluid conduits conveying gas from the gas hydrate-bearing sediments to the seafloor, feeding the gas plumes. The differences between these pipe-like structures indicate the dynamic process of gas seepage, which may be controlled by the build-up and dissipation of pore pressure. The 3D seismic data show high saturated gas hydrates with high RMS amplitude tend to cluster on the periphery of the gas chimney. Understanding the fluid migration and hydrate accumulation pattern of the Haima cold seeps can aid in the further exploration and study on the dynamic gas hydrate system in the South China Sea.     

High-resolution P-Cable 3D seismic imaging of gas chimney structures in gas hydrated sediments of an Arctic sediment drift

The newly developed P-Cable 3D seismic system allows for high-resolution seismic imaging to characterize upper geosphere geological features focusing on geofluid expressions (gas chimneys), shallow gas and gas hydrate reservoirs. Seismic imaging of a geofluid system of an Arctic sediment drift at the Vestnesa Ridge, offshore western Svalbard, provides significantly improved details of internal chimney structures from the seafloor to ∼500 m bsf (below seafloor). The chimneys connect to pockmarks at the seafloor and indicate focused fluid flow through gas hydrated sediments. The pockmarks are not buried and align at the ridge-crest pointing to recent, topography-controlled fluid discharge. Chimneys are fuelled by sources beneath the base of gas hydrate stability zone (GHSZ) that is evident at ∼160–170 m bsf as indicated by a bottom-simulating reflector (BSR). Conduit centres that are not vertically straight but shift laterally by up to 200 m as well as discontinuous internal chimney reflections indicate heterogeneous hydraulic fracturing of the sediments. Episodically active, pressure-driven focused fluid flow could explain the hydro-fracturing processes that control the plumbing system and lead to extensive pockmark formation at crest of the Vestnesa Ridge. High-amplitude anomalies in the upper 50 m of the chimney structures suggest formations of near-surface gas hydrates and/or authigenic carbonate precipitation. Acoustic anomalies, expressed as high amplitudes and amplitude blanking, are irregularly distributed throughout the deeper parts of the chimneys and provide evidence for the variability of hydrate and/or carbonate formation in space and time.     

An insight into shallow gas hydrates in the Dongsha area,South China Sea

Previous studies of gas hydrate in the Dongsha area mainly focused on the deep-seated gas hydrates that have a high energy potential, but cared little about the shallow gas hydrates occurrences. Shallow gas hydrates have been confirmed by drill cores at three sites(GMGS2 08, GMGS2 09 and GMGS2 16) during the GMGS2 cruise, which occur as veins, blocky nodules or massive layers, at 8–30 m below the seafloor. Gas chimneys and faults observed on the seismic sections are the two main fluid migration pathways. The deep-seated gas hydrate and the shallow hydrate-bearing sediments are two main seals for the migrating gas. The occurrences of shallow gas hydrates are mainly controlled by the migration of fluid along shallow faults and the presence of deep-seated gas hydrates.Active gas leakage is taking place at a relatively high-flux state through the vent structures identified on the geophysical data at the seafloor, although without resulting in gas plumes easily detectable by acoustic methods.The presence of strong reflections on the high-resolution seismic profiles and dim or chaotic layers in the subbottom profiles are most likely good indicators of shallow gas hydrates in the Dongsha area. Active cold seeps,indicated by either gas plume or seepage vent, can also be used as indicators for neighboring shallow gas hydrates and the gas hydrate system that is highly dynamic in the Dongsha area.     

Evidence for gas hydrate occurrences in the Canadian Arctic Beaufort Sea within permafrost-associated shelf and deep-water marine environments

The presence of a wedge of offshore permafrost on the shelf of the Canadian Beaufort Sea has been previously recognized and the consequence of a prolonged occurrence of such permafrost is the possibility of an underlying gas hydrate regime. We present the first evidence for wide-spread occurrences of gas hydrates across the shelf in water depths of 60–100 m using 3D and 2D multichannel seismic (MCS) data. A reflection with a polarity opposite to the seafloor was identified ∼1000 m below the seafloor that mimics some of the bottom-simulating reflections (BSRs) in marine gas hydrate regimes. However, the reflection is not truly bottom-simulating, as its depth is controlled by offshore permafrost. The depth of the reflection decreases with increasing water depth, as predicted from thermal modeling of the late Wisconsin transgression. The reflection crosscuts strata and defines a zone of enhanced reflectivity beneath it, which originates from free gas accumulated at the phase boundary over time as permafrost and associated gas hydrate stability zones thin in response to the transgression. The wide-spread gas hydrate occurrence beneath permafrost has implications on the region including drilling hazards associated with the presence of free gas, possible overpressure, lateral migration of fluids and expulsion at the seafloor. In contrast to the permafrost-associated gas hydrates, a deep-water marine BSR was also identified on MCS profiles. The MCS data show a polarity-reversed seismic reflection associated with a low-velocity zone beneath it. The seismic data coverage in the southern Beaufort Sea shows that the deep-water marine BSR is not uniformly present across the entire region. The regional discrepancy of the BSR occurrence between the US Alaska portion and the Mackenzie Delta region may be a result of high sedimentation rates expected for the central Mackenzie delta and high abundance of mass-transport deposits that prohibit gas to accumulate within and beneath the gas hydrate stability zone.