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。     

南海中建海域麻坑发育特征及成因机制

海底麻坑在圈定潜在的天然气水合物发育区和指示海底地质灾害方面都具有重要意义。基于南海中建海域的高密度三维地震资料,采用自动追踪技术对研究区海底地貌特征进行了刻画,发现了众多形态各异、大小不一的麻坑,可分为圆形麻坑、椭圆形麻坑、拉长形麻坑、新月形麻坑和复合型麻坑等5类。中建海域的海底麻坑主要发育在海底地形坡折的位置,成群、成带分布,在地形平坦的位置麻坑不发育。影响中建海域麻坑形成的因素主要有火山活动、断裂活动、水合物分解、海底底流等。引起中建海域海底形成麻坑的流体主要有4种,分别是火山热液、天然气水合物分解的气体、沿断裂向上运移的深部油气及火山热液与天然气水合物分解气体的混合。     

北黄海海底麻坑群形态的定量研究及控制因素

本文基于高分辨率多波束水深数据和反向散射强度数据,对北黄海海底麻坑群的形态参数进行定量研究,结合水深、地形坡度和后向散射强度的变化准确界定了麻坑的轮廓,识别出圆形、椭圆形、拉长型麻坑共282个,并在ArcGIS软件中对其形态参数进行了分析计算,麻坑的平均长轴1.36 km,短轴0.78 km,直径0.94 km,面积0.88 km2,平均周长3.82 km,长宽比1.83,深度0.3~2.5 m,平均面积密集度13%,麻坑的剖面形态有麻坑边缘凹陷、中部有明显凸起（W1型）,麻坑边缘凹陷、中部略凸起（W2型）,麻坑中部单纯凹陷（V型）,分别集中分布在麻坑群的北部、南部、西部。麻坑的平面规模大、深度小的原因与地层中形成麻坑的游离气体浓度较小有关,也可能受到了地震、海啸等外力的诱发。麻坑的长轴优势走向为ENE-WSW、NNE-SSW,底流对其形状的塑造起了较大作用,部分麻坑成串排列,形成串珠状的麻坑链,其排列方式受到海底古河道、古潟湖等沉积地层结构的控制。海底麻坑群发育区反向散射强度为-60~-71 dB,麻坑内部较麻坑外部平均高5 dB,可能为麻坑内部气体泄漏引起海底沉积物被剥蚀后残留下的粗颗粒物质或海底生物活动留下的遗迹导致的。     

福建省近海海底麻坑的地貌特征及其与海洋工程的联动效应

为科学开发利用海洋资源、防范海底地质灾害和保护生态环境,文章梳理福建省近海海底麻坑的类型和成因,并分析海洋工程与灾害性地貌的联动效应。研究结果表明:受板块挤压和海平面波动等的影响,福建省近海海底地形和沉积环境复杂多变,流体活动形成的海底麻坑主要包括单元麻坑、圆形麻坑、拉长形麻坑、链状麻坑和复合麻坑5种类型,在北部泥质区、南部砂质区、河口区和海湾区有不同分布,其成因主要包括海相生物气、生物气和海陆生物混合热解气;应高度重视海洋工程与海底麻坑等灾害性地貌的联动效应,避免发生海底地质灾害和破坏海洋生态环境。     

海底麻坑表征及成因研究——以尼日尔三角洲为例

基于西非几内亚湾尼日尔三角洲盆地研究区约1 300 km2的高分辨率三维地震资料,研究麻坑的剖面特征、平面展布形态、麻坑与水道的关系、麻坑的成因。通过对目的层位的精细解释及多种地震属性提取的方法,在研究区西北部发现了75个麻坑,在海底水道上方发现了56个麻坑,以及在研究区其他区域分布的62个麻坑。研究区主要有条带状麻坑、复合麻坑和孤立麻坑三种麻坑样式。麻坑的成因和分布模式受埋藏水道段侵蚀和切割的影响,麻坑下方地层中相应的浊积水道产生流体,流体向上运移导致地层不连续,进而对麻坑的形成和分布产生影响。根据麻坑下方地层特征和充填模式,将麻坑的成因分为古水道成因和断裂成因。     

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...     

南海北部陆坡海底峡谷形成机制探讨

通过对南海北部地震剖面的解释,并结合地貌以及区域地质特征等,对发育于南海北部陆坡区的珠江口外、台湾浅滩南以及澎湖海底峡谷的地貌和构造特征进行分析和对比,并对其形成机制进行探讨。研究结果显示,各海底峡谷具有相似的走向,并均具有转向的特征,但是其形成机制却各不相同,由此形成的地貌特征也各不同:珠江口外海底峡谷的形成与珠江带来的大量陆上沉积物的搬运相关,形成了喇叭型的水道;台湾浅滩南海底峡谷的形成受到NW向断裂构造的控制,这些断裂构造形成了薄弱带,经过沉积流的侵蚀而形成狭长的水道,当进入下陆坡后由于海山的阻隔作用而转为近EW向;澎湖海底峡谷带的上段主要是由陆坡沉积流的下向侵蚀、崩塌和滑移形成的,而其下段则主要具有沿马尼拉海沟北向延伸段发育的特征。     

西非下刚果盆地海底麻坑特征及与盐岩活动的关系

以高精度三维地震资料为基础,系统研究了下刚果盆地深海麻坑的形态特征及其与盐构造活动的关系。研究发现,该区海底麻坑几何形态主要有平面上圆形、剖面上深V型和平面上条形、剖面浅U型两大类,并分别分布于由浅水到深水的东西两个不同区带。进一步分析认为,该区麻坑的发育、分布与下部盐岩构造活动有密切关系,东部盐岩底辟构造带上发育由压扭应力作用下的海底地层挤压破裂并诱发流体高压喷射而形成的深V型麻坑,西部盐岩挤压逆冲构造带上发育由拉张应力作用下的沿盐岩体边界上海底地层拉张破裂而形成的U型麻坑。该区产生麻坑的海底地层破裂和流体高压均由下部盐岩构造活动所控制。     

南海北部陆坡区海底峡谷地貌、沉积特征及控制因素

南海北部陆坡发育众多海底峡谷,其形成、发育、演化过程都存在较大差异。本文选取南海北部陆坡典型的珠江口外海底峡谷群、东沙海底峡谷、台湾浅滩南海底峡谷和澎湖海底峡谷进行研究,通过高分辨率多道地震数据和多波束测深数据,结合前人研究成果,对4条典型海底峡谷的形态特征、沉积充填特征及结构、形成发育过程及控制因素进行研究。结果表明,南海北部陆缘各个海底峡谷的形成受多个控制因素的影响,其影响程度及方式都有差别。构造活动、海平面变化及沉积物重力流与海底峡谷的演化密切相关,而陆地河流和局部构造因素也以不同方式影响着海底峡谷的发育。对于发育在主动大陆边缘的台湾岛东南侧的澎湖海底峡谷,其板块运动和岩浆活动活跃,其上发育的海底峡谷的控制因素以内营力地质作用为主。而具有被动大陆边缘属性的其他3条峡谷,由于构造运动较少或停止,其上发育的海底峡谷的控制因素以外营力地质作用为主。     

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。     

Morphology of pockmarks along the western continental margin of India: Employing multibeam bathymetry and backscatter data

This study addresses the morphology of pockmarks along the western continental margin of India using multibeam bathymetry and backscatter data. Here, for the first time we have utilized the application of ArcGIS (Geographical Information System) for understanding the morphology of pockmarks from the western continental margin of India. The pockmarks observed in water depths of 145–330 m are circular, elliptical or elongated in plan-view, with an average length and width of 157 (±72) m and 83 (±19) m respectively. The average pockmark relief and perimeter are 1.9 (±0.9) m and 412 (±181) m, respectively. The pockmarks have average areas and volumes of 10 759 m² and 15 315 m³ respectively. Spatial separation that coincides with 210 m isobath divides the pockmarks into two groups with differing distributions and morphologies. These pockmarks originated from seepages of biogenic or thermogenic gas or from pore fluids from deeper sources, migrated vertically along the faults. Besides a possible structural control, the pockmark morphologies are also affected by bottom currents and/or by submarine slumping. The average acoustic backscatter strength from pockmark centre is higher (−35 dB) than the average backscatter of the total area (−40 dB), which suggests their possible linkage to the precipitation of diagenitic minerals from biodegradation of seepage material.     

Formation of submarine canyons on the flanks of the Canary Islands

Detailed morphological data collected from the submarine flanks of the Canary Islands have revealed numerous submarine canyons down to water depths of >3,000 m. These canyons are interpreted to have formed by submarine erosion. We postulate formation of proto-canyons by downslope-eroding mass flows which originate on land, enter the sea, and continue below sea level for several tens of kilometers. Once proto-canyons have been formed, they become deepened by further erosion and failures of the canyon walls and/or floor. Large amounts of sediments, funnelled through the canyons from the islands into the adjacent deep-ocean sedimentary basins, play an important role in the evolution of volcanic aprons surrounding ocean islands. Some major canyon systems appear to have persisted for at least 14 million years.     

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.     

Influence of shallow gas on the geotechnical properties of pockmark soil: A case study in the East China Sea

Several incidents involving damage to submarine pipelines indicate that there will be potential hazards for many submarine structures if the geotechnical properties of the soil in pockmarks remain unclear. Based on a geophysical survey, geological drilling, in-situ measurement, and shallow gas eruption experiment, two large pockmarks near the Zhongjieshan Archipelago in the East China Sea were analyzed comprehensively. The geophysical and in-situ data indicated that the soil below the two pockmarks contains free or dissolved shallow gas, which continues to migrate upward from the deep zones, but there is no high-pressure gas reservoir in the pockmark soil. In-situ piezocone data, geotechnical results, and shallow gas eruption experiments have demonstrated that the pockmark soil has strengthened mechanical properties and zoning characteristics. After analyzing the pockmark soil in the area where the study was conducted, it was concluded that the pockmark soil in this area is not suitable for the accumulation of high-pressure, shallow gas. It also was concluded that the pockmark soil had stronger mechanical properties than virgin sediment due to the compaction of the soil caused by the eruption of the shallow gas. The zoning characteristics of pockmark soil are due to the regional differences in the ability of shallow gas to carry soil particles, which is a new finding that is worthy of attention in off-shore engineering.     

北黄海长山群岛外海底环状微洼地地貌特征

得益于多波束测深系统对海底精细地形特征的展现能力,2011年在长山群岛南侧进行的多波束水深调查中一种特殊的环状微洼地地貌引起了调查人员的注意,该地貌形态与以往报道的海底侵蚀坑槽和洼地有很大的不同,且成群密集分布。本文依据多波束调查数据对环状微洼地的具体形态和地貌特征进行了详细描述,将环状微洼地分为3种不同的类型,并利用地形地貌分析手段,结合收集的地质环境资料对该地貌的成因进行探讨,认为该地貌形态应与海底浅层气体或油气泄漏有关,且后期受到水动力的改造。     

The spatial pattern and drainage cell characteristics of a pockmark field,Nile Deep Sea Fan

Over 25,300 seabed pockmarks were mapped from the Rosetta Channel region of the Western Nile Deep Sea Fan (NDSF) using concurrent High Resolution 2D, Chirp profiler and multibeam bathymetry data which spans the Holocene–Pleistocene period. Within the region, a pockmark field containing >13,800 pockmarks was analysed using spatial statistics to determine the distribution of pockmarks within the field. Pockmarks within the field are small (∼16 m diameter), shallow (∼0.5 m deep) circular depressions which formed within the last ∼ 6500 years. The fluid source for the field is identified as an accumulation/generation of gas beneath a hemipelagic seal c. 20–40 ms beneath the seabed. The position of the pockmarks is shown to be unrelated to the depth to the fluid source and an irregular high amplitude acoustic anomaly which is tentatively interpreted as a possible carbonate precipitate of biogenic microbial activity. Statistical spatial analysis of the field confirms the distribution of pockmarks is not random. An exclusion zone surrounding each individual pockmark is identified. The exclusion zone is a unique minimum radius around each pockmark which is not penetrated by any other pockmark. The exclusion zone works in unison with Self-Organised Criticality (SOC) in determining the spatial distribution of pockmarks within the field. The exclusion zone is interpreted as a pockmark “drainage cell”. A conceptual model for a pockmark drainage cell is proposed whereby pockmark formation dissipates a radius/area of fluid and overpressure, thereby preventing the formation of another pockmark within that cell. Consequently, pockmarks are observed to separate or produce anti-clustering tendencies within the field.