Contribution of thermogenic organic matter to the formation of biogenic gas hydrate: Evidence from geochemical and microbial characteristics of hydrate-containing sediments in the Taixinan Basin,South China Sea

High-saturation (40–100%), microbial gas hydrates have been acquired by expedition GMGS2 from the Taixinan Basin. In this study, geochemical and microbial features of hydrate-containing sediments from the drilling cores (GMGS2-09 and GMGS2-16) were characterized to explore their relationships with gas hydrate formation. Results showed that the average TOC content of GMGS2-09 and GMGS2-16 were 0.45% and 0.63%, respectively. They could meet the threshold for in situ gas hydrate formation, but were not available for the formation of high-saturation gas hydrates. The dominant members of Bacteria at the class taxonomic level were Alphaproteobacteria, Bacilli, Bacteroidia, Epsilonproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria, and those in Archaea were Marine_Benthic_Group_B (MBGB), Miscellaneous_Crenarchaeotic_Group (MCG), Group C3, Methanomicrobia and Methanobacteria. Indicators of microbes associated with thermogenic organic matter were measured. These include: (1) most of the dominant microbes had been found dominant in other gas hydrates bearing sediments, mud volcanos as well as oil/coal deposits; (2) hydrogenotrophic methanogens and an oilfield-origin thermophilic, methylotrophic methanogen were found dominant the methanogen community; (3) hydrocarbon-assimilating bacteria and other hyperthermophiles were frequently detected. Therefore, thermogenic signatures were inferred existed in the sediments. This deduction is consistent with the interpretation from the seismic reflection profiles. Owing to the inconsistency between low TOC content and gas hydrates with high saturation, secondary microbial methane generated from the bioconversion of thermogenic organic matters (oil or coal) was speculated to serve as enhanced gas flux for the formation of high-saturation gas hydrates. A preliminary formation model of high-saturation biogenic gas hydrates was proposed, in which diagenesis processes, tectonic movements and microbial activities were all emphasized regarding to their contribution to gas hydrates formation. In short, this research helps explain how microbial act and what kind of organic matter they use in forming biogenic gas hydrates with high saturations.     

Comparison of marine gas hydrates in sediments of an active and passive continental margin

Two sites of the Deep Sea Drilling Project in contrasting geologic settings provide a basis for comparison of the geochemical conditions associated with marine gas hydrates in continental margin sediments. Site 533 is located at 3191 m water depth on a spit-like extension of the continental rise on a passive margin in the Atlantic Ocean. Site 568, at 2031 m water depth, is in upper slope sediment of an active accretionary margin in the Pacific Ocean. Both sites are characterized by high rates of sedimentation, and the organic carbon contents of these sediments generally exceed 0.5%. Anomalous seismic reflections that transgress sedimentary structures and parallel the seafloor, suggested the presence of gas hydrates at both sites, and, during coring, small samples of gas hydrate were recovered at subbottom depths of 238m (Site 533) and 404 m (Site 568). The principal gaseous components of the gas hydrates wer methane, ethane, and CO₂. Residual methane in sediments at both sites usually exceeded 10 mll^?1 of wet sediment. Carbon isotopic compositions of methane, CO₂, and ΣCO₂ followed parallel trends with depth, suggesting that methane formed mainly as a result of biological reduction of oxidized carbon. Salinity of pore waters decreased with depth, a likely result of gas hydrate formation. These geochemical characteristics define some of the conditions associated with the occurrence of gas hydrates formed by in situ processes in continental margin sediments.     

海洋天然气水合物开采方法及产量分析

海洋天然气水合物的巨大储量刺激了世界各国能源部门努力研究如何从天然气水合物储层生产天然气。根据水合物形成的条件,只有当水合物处在其相平衡条件以外,水合物才能分解。因此,水合物的开采方法只能为热熔法、抑制剂刺激法、减压法和地面分解法。为了对天然气水合物储层中气体的生产有个定量的评估,本文以水合物开采井为例,运用数学方法推导了水合物井中气体的产生量。结果表明,在天然气水合物储层中,天然气释放量是井内水合物分解温度、压力及水合物层气体渗透性的敏感函数。该函数可以用于天然气水合物井气体开采量的计算及对水合物储层可开采性评价。     

State-of-the-Art of Gas Hydrates and Relative Permeability of Hydrate Bearing Sediments

The methane gas production potential from its hydrates, which are solid clathrates, with methane gas entrapped inside the water molecules, is primarily dependent on permeability characteristics of their bearing sediments. Moreover, the dissociation of gas hydrates, which results in a multi-phase fluid migration through these sediments, becomes mandatory to determine the relative permeability of both gaseous and aqueous fluids corresponding to different hydrate saturations. However, in this context, the major challenges are: (1) obtaining undisturbed in-situ samples bearing gas hydrates; and (2) maintenance of the thermodynamic conditions to counter hydrate dissociation. One of the ways to overcome this situation is synthesis of gas hydrates in laboratory conditions, followed by conducting permeability tests on them. In addition, empirical relationships that relate permeability of the gas hydrate bearing sediments to pore-structure characteristics (viz., pore size distribution and interconnectivity) can also be conceived. With this in view, a comprehensive review of the literature dealing with different techniques adopted by researchers for synthesis of gas hydrates, permeability tests conducted on the sediments bearing them, and analytical and empirical correlations employed for determination of permeability of these sediments was conducted and a brief account of the same is presented in this article.     

Investigation of microbial influences on seafloor gas-hydrate formations

Microbial communities flourish at gas hydrate occurrences in ocean sediments. Studies are reported in this paper on the laboratory production, separation, characterization and hydrate catalysis of biosurfactants from cultures of the Bacillus subtilis bacterium associated with Gulf of Mexico gas-hydrate accumulations. The B. subtilis bacterium from ATCC 21332 species was cultured anaerobically with glucose as carbon-source to produce surfactin, one of the more potent surface active agents known. The surface-active agent was removed from the broth in foam created by bubbling inert gas through the mixture, and biosurfactant was then recovered from the collapsed-foam distilled water solution by acid precipitation and dichloromethane extraction. According to HPLC spectra, five surfactin isomers were identified in the sample of laboratory-generated biosurfactant. Recovered surfactin was then used to perform gas-hydrate formation studies in porous media saturated with the surfactin-water solution. Gas-hydrate induction time and formation rate determinations showed that the anaerobically-produced biosurfactants catalyzed hydrate formation markedly. The tests suggest prolific surfactin production by the B. subtilis bacterium and of other species under prevailing anaerobic conditions around seafloor gas hydrates that promotes hydrate formation and the propensity of the bioproduct to be dispersed in the porous media by natural gas vents.     

Analysis of the Black Sea sediments by evaluating DSDP Leg 42B drilling data for gas hydrate potential

Many gas seepages, temperature, pressure, salinity, anoxic environment and high source gas potential of the Black Sea indicates that the Black Sea might have huge potentials for biogenic and thermogenic gas hydrates. However, the last important parameter to consider gas hydrate as an energy source is the type of sediments. Coarse marine sands are considered as good hydrate reservoirs because of high porosity and high permeability. Only very limited data is available related to the types of lithology of the Black Sea sediments. Hence, in this study, the literature data (especially the drilling and coring data of DSDP Leg 42B program) about gas seepages, temperature gradient, pressure gradient, salinity, anoxic environment and high source gas potential, and the types of the sediments in the Black Sea were investigated and analyzed. Although gas seepages, temperature gradient, pressure gradient, salinity, anoxic environment and high source gas potential of the Black Sea are appropriate for producible gas hydrate reservoirs, the sediments of the Black Sea appear to be generally fine grained with high clay content. Sandy-silt and silty sand layers in turbidites of the Black Sea might be potential producible hydrate reservoirs but these sediments are fine. As well as turbidites, separate thin sand layers might be potential gas hydrate reservoirs as an energy source in the Black Sea.     

Gas hydrate within the Winona Basin, offshore western Canada

In western Canada gas hydrates have been thought to exist primarily in the Cascadia accretionary prism off southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia (BC). We present evidence for the existence of gas hydrate in folds and ridges of the Winona Basin up to 40 km seaward from the foot of the continental slope off northern Vancouver Island. The occurrence of a bottom-simulating reflector (BSR) observed in a number of vintage seismic reflection profiles is strongly correlated to faulted, and folded sedimentary ridges and buried folds. The observed tectonic structures of the Winona Basin are within the rapidly evolving Juan de Fuca - Cascadia - Queen Charlotte triple junction off BC. Re-processing of multi-channel data imaged mildly to strongly deformed sediments; the BSR is confined to sediments with stronger deformation. Changes in the amplitude character of sediment-reflections above and below the depth of the base of gas hydrate stability zone were also used as an indicator for the presence of gas hydrate. Additionally, regional amplitude and frequency reduction below some strong BSR occurrences may indicate free gas accumulations. Gas hydrate formation in the Winona Basin appears strongly constrained to folds and ridges and thus correlated to deeper-routed fluid-advection regimes. Methane production from in situ microbial activities as a source of gas to form gas hydrates, as proposed to be a major contributor for gas hydrates within the accretionary prism to the south, appears to be insufficient to produce the widespread gas hydrate occurrences in the Winona Basin. Potential reasons for the lack of sufficient in situ gas production may be that sedimentation rates are 5-100 times higher than those in the accretionary prism so that available organic carbon moves too quickly through the gas hydrate stability field. The confinement of BSRs to ridges and folds within the Winona Basin results in an areal extent of gas hydrate occurrences that is a factor of five less than what is expected from regional gas hydrate stability field mapping using water-depth (pressure) as the only controlling factor only.     

帕里西维拉海盆西北部表层沉积物中粘土矿物的分布特征及物源分析

提要应用X射线衍射(XRD)方法对菲律宾海帕里西维拉海盆西北部的257个表层沉积物样品<2μm粘土组分进行了分析。结果表明,本研究区粘土矿物的组合特点是伊利石含量最高(平均含量47%),蒙皂石含量次之(平均含量35%),高岭石和绿泥石含量均很低(平均含量小于10%)。根据该区表层粘土矿物中伊利石、蒙皂石相对含量的分布,可以大体上分为两种含量组合类型,据此也可以划分出两个组合分区:Ⅰ.富伊利石分区,主要位于帕劳海脊和帕里西维拉海沟之间的大部分区域的地形平坦处;Ⅱ.富蒙皂石分区,主要位于研究区东部帕里西维拉海沟附近和南部零星区域。根据粘土矿物的平面分布特征,结合个别样品的扫描电子显微镜(SEM)和X射线能谱(EDS)分析,认为伊利石主要来源于研究区以西陆地及周边岛屿。伊利石的化学指数和结晶度指数表明,伊利石形成于物理风化较强的气候环境并可能与中国内陆黄土有关系,区内大部分蒙皂石具有富铁并含少量镁的特征,基性火山物质的蚀变是其主要成因,高岭石和绿泥石以陆源为主;风力的吹扬是研究区伊利石物质来源的主要输送方式,洋流作用对粘土矿物,尤其是蒙皂石矿物的分布具有一定影响。     

Effects of natural organic matter from sediments on the growth of marine gas hydrates

Sediments recovered from 0 to 27 + meters below the seafloor (mbsf) of a gas-hydrate and gas-venting active area in the Gulf of Mexico were added to a hydrate growth test cell to determine the influence of the organic and inorganic sedimentary components on hydrate induction times and formation rates. Induction times were sixteen times shorter in the presence of sediment from approximately 18 mbsf (relative to sediment from 1 mbsf), and remained stable in the presence of sediment from 18 to 27 mbsf. Formation rates increased by a factor of 2.5 in the presence of sediments from approximately 18 mbsf and decreased somewhat in the presence of sediment from 18 to 27 mbsf. Selected samples (surface, 18 and 27 mbsf) were density fractionated and subjected to bulk elemental and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. XPS revealed the presence of iron in various chemical environments at depths of 18 and 27 mbsf. High Resolution Magic Angle Spinning Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (HR-MAS NMR) was used to characterize the organic component of sediments from selected depths. The discovery of intact proteinaceous material in the surface sediment was surprising due to the labile nature of these biopolymers, and potentially reflects microbial activity in these surface layers. This material was less abundant in sediment from increasing depths, where more lipid-like compounds were prominent. The results suggest that hydrate growth is inhibited by the presence of proteinaceous material but enhanced by lipid-like compounds associated with iron-bearing mineral surfaces.     

Microbial community distribution in sediments from the Mount Elbert Gas Hydrate Stratigraphic Test Well, Alaska North Slope

We studied the microbial communities collected from hydrate-bearing sediments on the North Slope of Alaska to determine how abiotic variables (e.g., grain size, hydrate presence, formation fluid gases) may correspond to the type and distribution of microbes in the sediments. The cores were acquired from sub-permafrost, Eocene (46-55 million year old) sediments in the BPXA-DOE-USGS Mount Elbert Gas Hydrate Stratigraphic Test Well within which hydrates are believed to have formed 1.5 mya. Forty samples, eight of which originally contained hydrates, were acquired from depths of ca. 606-666 m below land surface. Five drilling fluid samples acquired from the same depth range were included in the analysis as a control for possible contamination by drilling fluid microbes during the drilling and handling of cores. DNA was extracted from 15 samples (typically <1 ng DNA/g sediment was recovered) and then amplified using polymerase chain reaction with primers specific for bacterial and archaeal 16S rDNA genes, which indicates the likelihood that microbes were present in all analyzed samples. Only bacterial DNA amplicons were detected. Terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) was used to measure bacterial diversity in the respective samples. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMS) was used to determine the abiotic variables that may have influenced bacterial diversity. NMS analysis revealed that the microbial taxa present in the sediment were distinct from the taxa present in the drilling fluids suggesting that the sediments were not contaminated by the drilling fluids. Multi-response permutation procedures (MRPP) found no significant difference between three sample groups identified a priori as being from within a hydrate zone, outside of hydrate zone, or on the edge of a hydrate/non-hydrate zone according to downhole nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy logs. However, among the several other abiotic parameters that were evaluated mud gas methane concentration and variables related to hydrate presence (e.g., chloride concentration, salinity, and resistivity) appeared to define the arrangement of microbial community signatures in plots resulting from NMS analysis. Communities from hydrate and non-hydrate layers each contained unique taxa as determined by the T-RFLP assay.     

Phase stability and kinetics of methane hydrate formation in presence of calcium and magnesium carbonate

The huge amount of methane hydrate deposits identified in deep marine sediments is considered as the new resource for future energy. Since carbonates are one of the major components of marine sediments, in the present study, an investigation has been made to study methane hydrate stability and kinetics in the presence of CaCO₃ and MgCO₃. Effect of the presence of carbonates on the solubility of methane in the system has also been examined as it directly affects the hydrate formation process. It has been observed that in presence of CaCO₃ and MgCO₃, the hydrate formation is inhibited. Comparative studies have also been done in the presence of artificial seawater to consider the effect of presence of different salts. Mole consumption of methane gas during hydrate formation in different carbonate samples was measured using real gas equation and found to be minimum in CaCO₃ in seawater sample due to the combined effect of the presence of CaCO₃ and different salts of seawater. An increase in nucleation and induction time was also observed demonstrating the inhibition of hydrate formation in the presence of these components. Further, the decrease in hydrate formation rate also confirmed the inhibition effect of CaCO₃ and MgCO₃ on hydrate formation.     

用地球化学方法勘查中国南海的天然气水合物

天然气水合物是一种未来新型能源,赋存于低温高压环境下的海洋沉积物中,但也可形成于大陆永久冻土带中。天然气水合物资源量巨大,具有经济和环境上的研究意义。近年来,国际上己对天然气水合物的产况、分布和形成机理开展了大量研究,但国内这方面的工作还刚刚开展。对中国南海的调查表明该区存在天然气水合物赋存的有利地质条件、温压条件和富含有机质的沉积条件。在南海的许多海区还发现了指示天然气水合物存在的地震标志(BSR)。介绍了在南海天然气水合物勘查中的地球化学异常标志。这些地球化学异常的产生可能与天然气水合物的形成或分解过程有关。研究内容包括沉积物中气体含量(主要为甲烷和乙烷),甲烷的碳同位素,孔隙水中阴离子(Cl^-、SO4^2-等)、阳离子(Ca^2 、Mg^2 、Ba^2 、Sr^2 ,B^3 和NH4^ 等)浓度和δ^18,δD,δ^11B,及^87Sr／^86Sr等同位素组成,此外还对海底沉积物的热释光特征和紫外、可见、近红外反射光谱特征开展了探索性研究。通过进一步加强理论和实验研究,结合地球物理和地球化学资料,在不远的将来将会在南海发现和圈定天然气水合物矿藏。     

Raman spectroscopic measurements of synthetic gas hydrates in the ocean

A Raman spectrometer extensively modified for deep ocean use was used to measure synthetic hydrates formed in an ocean environment. This was the first time hydrates formed in the ocean have been measured in situ using Raman spectroscopy. Gas hydrates were formed in situ in the Monterey Bay by pressurizing a Pyrex cell with various gas mixtures. Raman spectra were obtained for sI methane hydrate and sII methane + ethane hydrate. Gas occlusion resulting from rapid gas growth of methane hydrate was measured immediately after formation. The Raman shift for methane free gas was coincident with that of methane in the small 5¹² hydrate cage. The methane Raman peak widths were used to discriminate between methane in the free gas and hydrate phase. Methane + ethane sII hydrate was formed for 43 days on the seafloor. In this case, gas occlusion was not measured when the gas hydrates were allowed to form over an extended time period. Equivalent Raman spectra were obtained for the in situ and laboratory-formed sII methane + ethane hydrates, under similar p, T, and x conditions. With the Raman spectrometer operating in the ocean, seawater contributes to the Raman spectra obtained. Both the Raman bands for the sulfate ion and water were used to qualitatively determine the distribution of water phases measured (hydrate, seawater) in the Raman spectra.     

In situ hydrocarbon concentrations from pressurized cores in surface sediments, Northern Gulf of Mexico

Two newly developed coring devices, the Multi-Autoclave-Corer and the Dynamic Autoclave Piston Corer were deployed in shallow gas hydrate-bearing sediments in the northern Gulf of Mexico during research cruise SO174 (Oct–Nov 2003). For the first time, they enable the retrieval of near-surface sediment cores under ambient pressure. This enables the determination of in situ methane concentrations and amounts of gas hydrate in sediment depths where bottom water temperature and pressure changes most strongly influence gas/hydrate relationships. At seep sites of GC185 (Bush Hill) and the newly discovered sites at GC415, we determined the volume of low-weight hydrocarbons (C₁ through C₅) from nine pressurized cores via controlled degassing. The resulting in situ methane concentrations vary by two orders of magnitudes between 0.031 and 0.985 mol kg^− 1 pore water below the zone of sulfate depletion. This includes dissolved, free, and hydrate-bound CH₄. Combined with results from conventional cores, this establishes a variability of methane concentrations in close proximity to seep sites of five orders of magnitude. In total four out of nine pressure cores had CH₄ concentrations above equilibrium with gas hydrates. Two of them contain gas hydrate volumes of 15% (GC185) and 18% (GC415) of pore space. The measurements prove that the highest methane concentrations are not necessarily related to the highest advection rates. Brine advection inhibits gas hydrate stability a few centimeters below the sediment surface at the depth of anaerobic oxidation of methane and thus inhibits the storage of enhanced methane volumes. Here, computerized tomography (CT) of the pressure cores detected small amounts of free gas. This finding has major implications for methane distribution, possible consumption, and escape into the bottom water in fluid flow systems related to halokinesis.     

The thermal structure of the Dvurechenskii mud volcano and its implications for gas hydrate stability and eruption dynamics

The sediment temperature distribution at mud volcanoes provides insights into their activity and into the occurrence of gas hydrates. If ambient pressure and temperature conditions are close to the limits of the gas hydrate stability field, the sediment temperature distribution not only limits the occurrence of gas hydrates, but is itself influenced by heat production and consumption related to the formation and dissociation of gas hydrates. Located in the Sorokin Trough in the northern Black Sea, the Dvurechenskii mud volcano (DMV) was in the focus of detailed investigations during the M72/2 and M73/3a cruises of the German R/V Meteor and the ROV Quest 4000 m in February and March 2007. A large number of in-situ sediment temperature measurements were conducted from the ROV and with a sensor-equipped gravity corer. Gas hydrates were sampled in pressurized cores using a dynamic autoclave piston corer (DAPC). The thermal structure of the DMV suggests a regime of fluid flow at rates decreasing from the summit towards the edges of the mud volcano, accompanied by intermittent mud expulsion at the summit. Modeled gas hydrate dissociation temperatures reveal that the gas hydrates at the DMV are very close to the stability limits. Changes in heat flow due to variable seepage rates probably do not result in changes in sediment temperature but are compensated by gas hydrate dissociation and formation.     

沉积物中水合物含气量测定方法

建立了沉积物中水合物含气量的测定方法;测定了人工松散沉积物中甲烷水合物、南海神狐海域及祁连山冻土区天然气水合物样品的含气量;计算了样品的表观水合指数(水与气体的摩尔比);探讨了水合物含气量的影响因素.测试结果表明,人工甲烷水合物样品表观水合指数与晶体水合指数相近,样品中水合物的浓度大,含气量较高;南海神狐海域及祁连山冻...     

天然气水合物的重要特征与评价及其在中国海域的勘探前景

从勘探技术和资源评价的角度综述了甲烷水合物生成和聚集的重要特征, 如地震反射剖面、测井曲线资料、地球化学特点等以及对未知区的地质勘探和选区评价 .甲烷水合物在地震剖面上主要表现为BSR(似海底反射)、振幅变形(空白反射)、速度倒置、速度-振幅结构(VAMPS)等,大规模的甲烷水合物聚集可以通过高电阻率(＞100欧姆.米)声波速度、低体积密度等号数进行直接判读.此项研究实例表明,沉积物中典型甲烷水合物具有低渗透性和高毛细管孔隙压力特点,地层孔隙水矿化度也呈异常值,并具有各自独特的地质特征.现场计算巨型甲烷水合物储层中甲烷资源量的方法可分为:测井资料计算法公式为:SW＝(abRw/φm.Rt)1/n;地震资料计算法公式为:ρp＝(1-φ)ρm+(1-s)φρw+sφρh、VH＝λ.φ.S.对全球甲烷水合物总资源量预测的统计达20×1015m3以上.甲烷水合物形成需满足高压、低温条件,要求海水深度＞300 m.因此,甲烷水合物的分布严格地局限于两极地区和陆坡以下的深水地区,并具有3种聚集类型:1.永久性冻土带;2.浅水环境;3.深水环境.深海钻探计划(DSDP)和大洋钻探计划(ODP)已在下述10个地区发现大规模的甲烷水合物聚集,他们是:秘鲁、哥斯达黎加、危地马拉、墨西哥、美国东南大西洋海域、美国西部太平洋海域、日本海域的两个地区、阿拉斯加和墨西哥湾地区.在较浅水沉积物岩心样中发现甲烷水合物的地区,包括黑海、里海、加拿大北部、美国加里福尼亚岸外、墨西哥湾北部、鄂霍茨克海的两个地区.在垂向上,甲烷水合物主要分布于海底以下2 000 m以浅的沉积层中.最新统计表明又主要分布于二个深度区间:200～450 m和700～920 m,前者是由ODP995～997站位发现的;后者在加拿大麦肯齐河三角洲马立克2L-38号井中897～922 m处发现.中国海域已发现多处甲烷水合物可能赋存地区,包括东沙群岛南部、西沙海槽北部、西沙群岛南部以及东海海域地区.姚伯初报道了南海地区9处地震剖面速度异常值的发现,海水深度为420～3 920 m,海洋地质研究所则在东海海域解释了典型BSR反射的剖面,具有速度异常、弱振幅、空白反射、与下伏反射波组具不整合接触关系(VAMPS)等,大致圈定了它们的分布范围,表明在中国海域寻找甲烷水合物具有光明的前景.     

A predictive numerical model for potential mapping of the gas hydrate stability zone in the Gulf of Cadiz

This paper presents a computational model for mapping the regional 3D distribution in which seafloor gas hydrates would be stable, that is carried out in a Geographical Information System (GIS) environment. The construction of the model is comprised of three primary steps, namely: (1) the construction of surfaces for the various variables based on available 3D data (seafloor temperature, geothermal gradient and depth-pressure); (2) the calculation of the gas function equilibrium functions for the various hydrocarbon compositions reported from hydrate and sediment samples; and (3) the calculation of the thickness of the hydrate stability zone. The solution is based on a transcendental function, which is solved iteratively in a GIS environment.The model has been applied in the northernmost continental slope of the Gulf of Cadiz, an area where an abundant supply for hydrate formation, such as extensive hydrocarbon seeps, diapirs and fault structures, is combined with deep undercurrents and a complex seafloor morphology. In the Gulf of Cadiz, the model depicts the distribution of the base of the gas hydrate stability zone for both biogenic and thermogenic gas compositions, and explains the geometry and distribution of geological structures derived from gas venting in the Tasyo Field (Gulf of Cadiz) and the generation of BSR levels on the upper continental slope.     

Variability of the bottom-simulating reflector (BSR) and its association with tectonic structures in the Chilean margin between Arauco Gulf (37°S) and Valdivia (40°S)

Multichannel seismic reflection data recorded between Arauco Gulf (37°S) and Valdivia (40°S), on the Chilean continental margin, were processed and modeled to obtain seismic images and sub-surface models, in order to characterize the variability of the bottom-simulating reflector (BSR), which is a geophysical marker for the presence of gas hydrates. The BSR is discontinuous and interrupted by submarine valleys, canyons, as well as by faults or fractures. The BSR occurrence is more common south of Mocha Island due to moderate slopes and greater organic matter contribution by rivers in that area. Tectonic uplift and structural instability change the stability gas hydrate zone and consequently the BSR position, creating in some cases missing or double BSRs. Our modeling supports the presence of gas hydrate above the BSR and free gas below it. Higher BSR amplitudes support higher hydrate or free gas concentrations. In the study area, gas hydrate concentration is low (an average of 3.5%) suggesting disseminated gas hydrate distribution within the sediments. Also higher BSR amplitudes are associated with thrust faults in the accretionary prism, which serve as conduits for gas flow from deeper levels. This extra gas supply produces a wider thickness of gas hydrates or free gas.     

Low-amplitude BSRs and gas hydrate concentration on the northern margin of the South China Sea

The passive northern continental margin of the South China Sea is rich in gas hydrates, as inferred from the occurrence of bottom-simulating reflectors (BSR) and from well logging data at Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) drill sites. Nonetheless, BSRs on new 2D multichannel seismic reflection data from the area around the Dongsha Islands (the Dongsha Rise) are not ubiquitous. They are confined to complex diapiric structures and active fault zones located between the Dongsha Rise and the surrounding depressions, implying that gas hydrate occurrence is likewise limited to these areas. Most of the BSRs have low amplitude and are therefore not clearly recognizable. Acoustic impedance provides information on rock properties and has been used to estimate gas hydrate concentration. Gas hydrate-bearing sediments have acoustic impedance that is higher than that of the surrounding sediments devoid of hydrates. Based on well logging data, the relationship between acoustic impedance and porosity can be obtained by a linear regression, and the degree of gas hydrate saturation can be determined using Archie’s equation. By applying these methods to multichannel seismic data and well logging data from the northern South China Sea, the gas hydrate concentration is found to be 3–25% of the pore space at ODP Site 1148 depending on sub-surface depth, and is estimated to be less than values of 5% estimated along seismic profile 0101. Our results suggest that saturation of gas hydrate in the northern South China Sea is higher than that estimated from well resistivity log data in the gas hydrate stability zone, but that free gas is scarce beneath this zone. It is probably the scarcity of free gas that is responsible for the low amplitudes of the BSRs.