天然气水合物赋存区麻坑地貌特征及其地质灾害意义

文章通过对天然气水合物资源及其赋存区典型地貌体特征的分析,梳理了天然气水合物赋存区和麻坑地貌体的地质灾害类型,阐述了由于天然气水合物分解释放造成海底滑坡、滑塌和甲烷气体大规模逸散,继而引起海底输电或通信电缆毁坏、海洋石油钻井平台垮塌,甚至海啸和全球气候变暖等严重灾害。为天然气水合物勘探和开采提供有益参考。     

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。     

海洋浅表层天然气水合物成藏特征

按照天然气水合物形成的气体疏导方式划分,渗漏系统是海洋浅表层天然气水合物藏形成的主要模式。关键成藏要素包括温压场、气源等,温压场主要控制天然气水合物成藏的平面分布和纵向分布;海底热流低值区有利于形成天然气水合物,但在海底热流超高的海域,只要有充足的气源供给,在高甲烷通量区深海浅表层也可以形成天然气水合物藏,而且往往与泥火山、气烟囱等特殊地质体伴生,形成致密的数米厚层状天然气水合物藏。浅表层天然气水合物藏气源主要是有机热解成因气,一般其深部均发育有成熟的含油气盆地,有烃源层广泛分布,并且干酪根发生过明确的生烃过程,形成的热解甲烷气通过断层、气烟囱等破碎带垂向运移通道渗漏上升,在温压场控制的相平衡区形成天然气水合物藏,因此,海底热流值较高的海盆也是浅表层天然气水合物藏形成的有利海域。     

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.     

南海东沙海域天然气水合物与地质构造的关系

构造作用和构造过程是控制天然气水合物发育和赋存的重要地质因素之一。陆坡区复杂的构造运动能够形成良好的气体运移通道以及欠压实、高孔隙的水合物储集空间。东沙群岛邻近海域具有水深变化大、沉积厚度大、沉积速率高和有机质丰富等天然气水合物有利赋存条件,最新的研究已经在该海域发现了天然气水合物赋存的地球物理证据BSR,针对东沙群岛海域广泛发育的断裂、底辟、海底滑坡等构造,开展了其与天然气水合物成藏的关系研究,可以进一步深入了解天然气水合物在东沙群岛不同地质构造中的分布特征与演化,为该区天然气远景评估提供参考。     

中建南盆地北部海底麻坑地貌特征及成因机制

海底麻坑是与流体逸散相关的一种海底凹陷地貌, 在全球海域的陆架、陆坡和深海平原等均有广泛发育。文章利用高分辨率的多波束测深数据和三维地震资料, 在中建南盆地北部识别出330个规模不等的海底麻坑, 按照麻坑形态可将其分为: 圆形、椭圆形、长条形及新月形麻坑。研究区内海底麻坑直径可达1500~7900m, 最大深度可达175m, 其中圆形麻坑规模(直径、深度)小于椭圆形、长条形和新月形麻坑, 表明圆形麻坑处于麻坑发育早期阶段。三维地震资料显示不同类型海底麻坑的下伏地层中均发育有断层、气烟囱、裂隙等流体逸散通道, 为该区域海底麻坑形成提供了有利条件。在海底麻坑演化过程中, 底流对海底麻坑的地貌形态具有改造作用。当圆形麻坑下伏地层流体活动强烈时, 流体可沿着运移通道直接向麻坑内壁渗漏, 使得其内壁塌陷, 逐渐演化成椭圆形麻坑。由于椭圆形麻坑处于底流活动影响的早期阶段, 其受底流改造作用较弱。在持续性底流活动的强烈改造作用下, 紧密排列的圆形或椭圆形麻坑逐渐拉伸演变成长条形麻坑。当底流作用于孤立的圆形麻坑时, 在底流的上游侧沉积速率增加, 麻坑在上游侧接受沉积被掩埋, 下游侧地层被侵蚀, 从而形成新月形麻坑。根据研究区海底麻坑成因机制分析, 文章首次提出了一种展示中建南盆地不同类型海底麻坑演化过程模型, 该模型有助于理解中建南盆地流体逸散过程和底流活动, 并且可为其他区域海底麻坑演化过程研究提供参考。     

东海天然气水合物的地震特征

使用中国科学院海洋研究所“科学一号”调查船于2001年以及20世纪80年代在东海地区采集的多道地震资料,以海域天然气水合物研究为目的,对这些资料进行了数据处理并获得了偏移地震剖面。通过对地震剖面的解释,在6条剖面上确定了6段异常反射为BSR,均有振幅强、与海底相位相反的特点。6段BSR基本上都没有出现和沉积地层相交的现象。分析认为,这与东海地区第四纪以来的沉积特征有关,并不能由此否认这些异常反射是BSR。6段BSR出现的水深为750~2 000 m,埋深在0.1~0.5 s(双程时间)之间。随着海底深度的增大,BSR埋深有增大的趋势。计算结果显示,6段BSR所处的温度和压力条件都满足水合物稳定赋存所需要的温度和压力条件。本文的BSR主要与北卡斯凯迪亚盆地以及智利海域水合物的温度、压力条件相似,而与日本南海海槽、美国布莱克海台等海域水合物的温度、压力条件相差比较大。在地震剖面上,6段BSR所处的局部构造位置都和挤压、断层有关,有利于水合物的发育;在空间上,它们主要分布在东海陆坡近槽底的位置以及与陆坡相近的槽底。在南北方向上,除分布在吐噶喇断裂和宫古断裂附近外,还与南奄西、伊平屋和八重山热液活动区相邻。热液活动和水合物虽然没有直接的成因关系,但岩浆活动为水合物气源的形成提供了热源条件,为流体和气体的运移、聚集提供了通道条件,从而有利于水合物的发育与赋存。根据地震剖面反射特征推断,剖面A1A2和A14A23发育BSR的位置应该有气体或者流体从海底流出,可能是海底冷泉发育的位置。剖面A14A23上BSR发育处,振幅比的异常增大和BSR埋深的降低是相关联的。这种关联支持该处发育海底冷泉的推测。     

南海北部陆坡东沙海域海底丘状体气体与水合物分布

海底丘状体在天然气水合物发育区是一种常见的微地貌,对丘状体的研究有助于理解海底流体渗漏模式以及水合物的赋存规律。本文研究南海北部陆坡东沙海域天然气水合物发育区海底丘状体的特征及其与水合物的关系。研究所用的数据包括准三维多道地震数据、多波束数据以及浅地层剖面数据。在多波束海底地形图上,丘状体表现为局部的正地形,直径大约为300 m,高出周围海底约50 m。浅地层剖面上存在明显的声空白以及同相轴下拉现象,指示了海底丘状体气体的分布以及流体运移的路径。丘状体周围明显的BSR表明局部区域可能发育有水合物,水合物钻探结果也证实了这一推测。三维多道地震剖面上,丘状体正下方存在空白反射区域,这与泥火山的地震反射特征类似。但空白反射区域内存在强振幅能量,而且丘状体正下方存在连续的反射层,这表明该丘状体并非泥火山成因。综合钻探结果以及三维地震成像结果,认为水合物形成过程引起的沉积物膨胀以及海底碳酸盐岩的沉淀是形成该丘状体的主要原因。     

舟山群岛东部青浜岛海域海底麻坑地貌及其成因分析

海底麻坑是由地层中流体向海底快速喷发或缓慢渗漏所形成的一种凹陷地貌,对其形态及成因机理进行深入研究具有重要意义。本研究基于高分辨率多波束地形、侧扫声纳、浅地层剖面及多道地震探测数据,对舟山群岛东部青浜岛海域发育的麻坑及其微地貌进行研究,分析表明:研究区发育有3个大型麻坑,并受到NE—SW向底流的改造而出现不同程度沿此方向的拉长,呈新月形或拉长形。麻坑侧壁呈现西陡东缓、西高东低的特征。3个大型麻坑内部发育有小的次级单元麻坑,或形成复合麻坑和链状麻坑等。麻坑之下地层出现声学浑浊等浅层气特征反射。在麻坑内外分别钻孔取样进行烃类气体的同位素分析,结果表明形成麻坑的流体为生物成因的甲烷气。研究区3个大型麻坑是在台风活动诱发下,由第四系地层中的甲烷气猛烈喷溢形成,而麻坑微地貌则是在随后发生的海底浅层气小规模缓慢逃逸形成的。     

Pockmark-like depressions near the Goliat hydrocarbon field,Barents Sea: Morphology and genesis

Pockmarks are observed worldwide along the continental margins and are inferred to be indicators of fluid expulsion. In the present study, we have analysed multibeam bathymetry and 2D/3D seismic data from the south-western Barents Sea, in relation to gas hydrate stability field and sediment type, to examine pockmark genesis. Seismic attributes of the sediments at and beneath the seafloor have been analysed to study the factors related to pockmark formation. The seabed depths in the study area are just outside the methane hydrate stability field, but the presence of higher order hydrocarbon gases such as ethane and/or propane in the expelled fluids may cause localised gas hydrate formation. The selective occurrence of pockmarks in regions of specific seabed sediment types indicates that their formation is more closely related to the type of seabed sediment than the source path of fluid venting such as faults. The presence of high acoustic backscatter amplitudes at the centre of the pockmarks indicates harder/coarser sediments, likely linked to removal of soft material. The pockmarks show high seismic reflection amplitudes along their fringes indicating deposition of carbonates precipitated from upwelling fluids. High seismic amplitude gas anomalies underlying the region away from the pockmarks indicate active fluid flow from hydrocarbon source rocks beneath, which is blocked by overlying less permeable formations. In areas of consolidated sediments, the upward flow is limited to open fault locations, while soft sediment areas allow diffused flow of fluids and hence formation of pockmarks over a wider region, through removal of fine-grained material.     

南海东北部陆坡天然气水合物区的滑塌和泥火山活动

本文研究了南海东北部陆坡天然气水合物区滑塌和泥火山活动的特征及表现形式,探讨了滑塌和泥火山活动对天然气水合物成藏的影响,提出了滑塌主导和滑塌、泥火山共同作用两种控制模式。根据地震数据、浅层剖面和海底地形数据解释,将研究区划分为规则滑塌区和泥火山活动影响区,并识别出泥火山、泥火山脊、凹槽、凹坑等特征地形。滑塌和泥火山活动是陆坡天然气水合物发育区重要的地形控制因素,两种活动共同作用产生复杂的地形特征。综合多条地震测线中似海底反射层(BSR)形态、连续性和滑塌、泥火山活动的关系,认为滑塌控制的区域,BSR连续,天然气水合物储藏较完整,泥火山活动区天然气水合物储藏也仅受到局部破坏。同时指出滑塌和泥火山活动对研究区长期天然气渗漏活动具有重要作用。     

Fluid migration directions inferred from gradient of time surfaces of the sub seabed

The role of sub seabed topographically controlled fluid migration is assessed to improve our understanding of distributions of acoustic chimneys at the Nyegga pockmark field on the mid-Norwegian continental margin. 3D seismic data interpretations resulted in topographic gradients of seismic time surfaces and RMS amplitude maps. Topographical gradient maps and flow tracing allowed identifying migration pathways and trapping locations for free gas within the shallow sub seabed. The occurrence of acoustic chimneys, pockmarks and mounds correlate with identified fluid migration pathways and gas trapping locations. An important factor that controls the trapping locations and the lateral distribution of seeps on the seabed at Nyegga is the variation through time of the depth of the base of the gas hydrate stability zone (BGHSZ). Fluids can derive from gas hydrate systems that are suspected of being a biogenic source and/or Tertiary domes that are considered to show leakage of thermogenic fluids to the shallow geosphere.     

天然气水合物的分解导致海底沉积层滑坡的力学机理及相关分析

Gas bydrate is a form of natural gas and water,similar to ice-like solids,mainly in low-temperature occurrence in the context of high voltage submarine and terrestrial and terrestrial sediments permafrost zone.Since 1970s marine lil and gas exploration in the course of a certain depth of the seabed found that the stability of gas hydrate layer and collected samples in kind,its social concem will be on the increase. Landslide Harbor is a major cause of the destructive consequences of the marine geological disaters.In recent years,researchers continue to find that as the undersea gas hydrate decomposition led to the seabed to reduce the stability of rocks,the seabed is a major reason for the decline. The research on submarine landslide,related with natural gas Hydrate is the study of a new direction. This paper analyzes the gas hydrate formation and decomposition fo the seabed sediment. Fron the mechanical aspects of the mechanism,it analyzes of the decomposition of gas hydrate deposits related to property caused by the impact of changes in the landslide,and look to the future hydrate research.     

南海礼乐盆地海底麻坑地貌及成因分析

本文基于高分辨率多波束测深和浅地层剖面数据，首次对南海礼乐盆地南部坳陷海底麻坑进行了系统的识别研究。共识别出各类麻坑81个，其中麻坑直径最大约2.4 km，坑深最大约157 m。麻坑种类多样:按平面形态主要分为圆形、椭圆形、拉长形和新月形麻坑；按组合方式分为孤立麻坑、链状麻坑和复合麻坑；按直径分为正常麻坑和大型麻坑。区域内发育多条大型海底峡谷，峡谷侵蚀引起两侧地层稳定性降低，气体储层遭受破坏，泄露的气体沿断层或气烟囱等喷发出海底形成麻坑。而因麻坑生成时剥蚀的沉积物质与周围水体混合并逐渐发展成浊流，在一定程度上促进海底峡谷向下延伸。研究区内单个麻坑的平面形态最初为圆形或椭圆形，之后由于重力流和峡谷侵蚀的影响，逐渐发展成拉长形或新月形，麻坑之间也会发生组合形成复合麻坑。链状麻坑与冲沟的形成联系密切，沿垂直于等深线方向展布的链状麻坑在重力流的冲刷下，发育成底部平坦的麻坑冲沟。对比分析全球其他海域麻坑，发现海底麻坑尺寸与水深关系密切，在深水区域更容易发育大型麻坑。     

Seismic evidence and formation mechanism of gas hydrates in the Zhongjiannan Basin,Western margin of the South China Sea

An analysis of 3D seismic data from the Zhongjiannan Basin in the western margin of the South China Sea (SCS) reveals seismic evidence of gas hydrates and associated gases, including pockmarks, a bottom simulating reflector (BSR), enhanced reflection (ER), reverse polarity reflection (RPR), and a dim amplitude zone (DAZ). The BSR mainly surrounds Zhongjian Island, covering an area of 350 km² in this 3D survey area. The BSR area and pockmark area do not match each other; where there is a pockmark developed, there is no BSR. The gas hydrate layer builds upward from the base of the stability zone with a thickness of less than 100 m. A mature pockmark usually consists of an outside trough, a middle ridge, and one or more central pits, with a diameter of several kilometers and a depth of several hundreds of meters. The process of pockmark creation entails methane consumption. Dense faults in the study area efficiently transport fluid from large depths to the shallow layer, supporting the formation of gas hydrate and ultimately the pockmark.     

‘Bulls-eye’ pockmarks and polygonal faulting in the Lower Congo Basin: Relative timing and implications for fluid expulsion during shallow burial

This study describes a new type of pockmark association from the Lower Congo Basin offshore West Africa, consisting of up to 8 stacked paleopockmarks separated by intervals of drape and onlap fill. The stacked paleopockmarks occur within the depocentres of polygonally-faulted Plio-Pleistocene sediments and are distributed evenly in the downslope parts of two salt mini-basins. The majority of the stacked pockmarks initiated synchronously in the late Pliocene (~ 3 Ma) with a subordinate initiation phase in the mid Pliocene (~ 4 Ma). The primary agents in pockmark formation are interpreted to be pore water expelled during early-stage compaction together with biogenic methane. Bottom simulating reflections (BSRs) associated with free gas overlain by gas hydrates are currently found in the area. It is speculated that biogenic methane accumulated within and below a clathrate cap, which was repeatedly breached, forming pockmarks at discrete horizons separated by intervals of draping sedimentation. The mid and late Pliocene pockmark initiations appear to coincide with sea-level falls following periods of relatively stable highstand conditions. Several subsequent pockmark horizons may similarly correlate with subsequent sea-level falls during the late Pliocene and early Pleistocene. The stacked paleopockmarks are completely surrounded by polygonal faults and consistently occur within polygonal fault cells that crosscut the succession containing the stacked pockmarks. Early-stage compaction and dewatering of the Pliocene sediments thus preceded polygonal faulting, providing a constraint on the conditions leading to polygonal faulting of the fine-grained host sediments. The relationship documented here is interpreted as due to the presence of a hydrate cap in the Plio-Pleistocene mini-basins which may have retarded the normal compaction processes and facilitated pockmark formation by allowing the build up of gas hydrate and free gas in the basin centres. The relative timing and spatial relationships implies that fluids expelled due to polygonal faulting were not implicated in pockmark formation in this area.     

天然气水合物开采区内海床不均匀沉降对管道力学性能的影响

海底管道是天然气水合物大规模开采和集输的关键装备。天然气水合物的开采过程会扰动沉积层的结构，改变沉积层的强度和力学特性，诱发海床发生不均匀沉降，并对水合物开采区内海底管道的力学特性产生影响，如引起管道发生大变形、悬跨、屈曲、断裂等。基于ABAQUS有限元软件，建立天然气水合物开采区内“海床-管道”耦合作用模型，模拟了天然气水合物开采过程中海床沉降变形及其对管道应力、应变、弯矩、悬跨等力学行为的影响。研究结果表明，在天然气水合物开采过程中，海床的不均匀沉降将引起管道发生显著位移并发生弯曲，管道的应力、应变随着变形的增大而增大。当海床沉降量达到某一程度时，管道将脱离海床，产生悬跨，并引发涡激振动风险。     

The morphologies and genesis of mega-pockmarks near the Xisha Uplift, South China Sea

Pockmarks are normally regarded to be manifestations of fluids escape through the seabed. Kilometer-wide depressions, here called mega-pockmarks occur as widespread features near the Xisha Uplift, northern South China Sea. Most of the pockmarks observed in this area are multi-kilometers and much larger than normal-pockmarks reported worldwide. The maximum diameter observed is 3210 m and the maximum depth observed is 165.2 m based on multibeam data and 2D seismic data. The pockmarks are circular, elliptical and crescentic in plan view. Seismic profiles show that the genesis of pockmarks is related to fluid (gas and/or pore water) escape. According to the fluids pathways, the pockmarks fall into four types: (1) gas chimney-related; (2) depositional boundary-related; (3) gas chimney and inclined structure (fault)-related; (4) inclined structure-related. Bottom currents are strong and complex in the study area. The multibeam data and seismic profiles indicate that they may play an important role on extension, maintenance and shaping of pockmarks. The research of the study area is in its initial stage, and the identification of these features as indicators of fluid flow is probably useful for hydrocarbon exploration.