The methane hydrate formation and the resource estimate resulting from free gas migration in seeping seafloor hydrate stability zone

It is a typical multiphase flow process for hydrate formation in seeping seafloor sediments. Free gas can not only be present but also take part in formation of hydrate. The volume fraction of free gas in local pore of hydrate stable zone (HSZ) influences the formation of hydrate in seeping seafloor area, and methane flux determines the abundance and resource of hydrate-bearing reservoirs. In this paper, a multiphase flow model including water (dissolved methane and salt)-free gas hydrate has been established to describe this kind of flow-transfer-reaction process where there exists a large scale of free gas migration and transform in seafloor pore. In the order of three different scenarios, the conversions among permeability, capillary pressure, phase saturations and salinity along with the formation of hydrate have been deducted. Furthermore, the influence of four sorts of free gas saturations and three classes of methane fluxes on hydrate formation and the resource has also been analyzed and compared. Based on the rules drawn from the simulation, and combined information gotten from drills in field, the methane hydrate(MH) formation in Shenhu area of South China Sea has been forecasted. It has been speculated that there may breed a moderate methane flux below this seafloor HSZ. If the flux is about 0.5 kg m⁻² a⁻¹, then it will go on to evolve about 2700 ka until the hydrate saturation in pore will arrive its peak (about 75%). Approximately 1.47 × 10⁹ m³ MH has been reckoned in this marine basin finally, is about 13 times over preliminary estimate.     

广西那坡盆地火山岩-碳酸盐岩混杂型滑塌堆积:特殊的弧前域构造指相标志及其大地构造意义

本文详细调查揭示,位于中越边境地区的那坡弧前盆地北部边缘发育17处滑塌堆积,有些表现为火山岩-碳酸盐岩块混杂型滑塌堆积,即由火山岩滑塌块体和碳酸盐岩滑塌块体无序堆积而成;有些只是具软沉积变形特征的薄层碳酸盐岩滑塌块体;还有些是砂屑灰岩滑塌块体与碳酸盐岩(或钙质)浊积岩组合以及单一的碳酸盐岩浊积岩或碳酸盐岩碎屑流。碳酸盐岩质块体流和碎屑流一般夹于大型或巨型滑塌块体间,而碳酸盐岩(或钙质)浊积岩和块状砂岩等一般发育于滑塌堆积的远端,有的覆盖于滑塌块体之上。无论是时代还是地球化学组成,滑塌堆积中的具枕状构造的火山岩块与盆地北侧富宁县架街一带的早-中三叠世弧火山岩完全一致。具软沉积变形特征的薄层碳酸盐滑塌岩块中发育有厚30cm左右的风暴沉积层,暗示这些滑塌岩块是发育于火山弧边缘的或其上的局部的碳酸盐岩台地(主要为潮坪-潟湖相)沉积。与全球不同造山带弧前盆地对比表明,这些滑塌堆积是一种发育于构造活动强烈的弧前盆地边缘的特殊的事件沉积,可作为识别弧前域大地构造相单元的普适性沉积标志,也可用以分析断定俯冲增生造山极性。本文对碳酸盐岩滑塌块体的原始层理和软沉积变形的滑塌褶皱轴面方位测量统计揭示火山弧斜坡大体向南西方向(232°~240°)倾斜,滑塌堆积远端浊积岩古水流测量与校正结果揭示沉积物搬运方向为南或南西向,这表明华南地块与北越地块之间的古特提斯分支洋盆在早三叠世期间是向北俯冲消化减的。     

Coexistence of natural gas hydrate,free gas and water in the gas hydrate system in the Shenhu Area,South China Sea

Shenhu Area is located in the Baiyun Sag of Pearl River Mouth Basin, which is on the northern continental slope of the South China Sea. Gas hydrates in this area have been intensively investigated, achieving a wide coverage of the three-dimensional seismic survey, a large number of boreholes, and detailed data of the seismic survey, logging, and core analysis. In the beginning of 2020, China has successfully conducted the second offshore production test of gas hydrates in this area. In this paper, studies were made on the structure of the hydrate system for the production test, based on detailed logging data and core analysis of this area. As to the results of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) logging and sonic logging of Well GMGS6-SH02 drilled during the GMGS6 Expedition, the hydrate system on which the production well located can be divided into three layers: (1) 207.8–253.4 mbsf, 45.6 m thick, gas hydrate layer, with gas hydrate saturation of 0–54.5% (31% av.); (2) 253.4–278 mbsf, 24.6 m thick, mixing layer consisting of gas hydrates, free gas, and water, with gas hydrate saturation of 0–22% (10% av.) and free gas saturation of 0–32% (13% av.); (3) 278–297 mbsf, 19 m thick, with free gas saturation of less than 7%. Moreover, the pore water freshening identified in the sediment cores, taken from the depth below the theoretically calculated base of methane hydrate stability zone, indicates the occurrence of gas hydrate. All these data reveal that gas hydrates, free gas, and water coexist in the mixing layer from different aspects.     

BSRs and Associated Reflections as an Indicator of Gas Hydrate and Free Gas Accumulation: An Example of Accretionary Prism and Forearc Basin System along the Nankai Trough, off Central Japan

Abstract. Multi-channel seismic data obtained from the Nankai accretionary prism and forearc basin system has been studied to elucidate the migration and accumulation process of gas to the BGHS and examine the distribution pattern of BSRs and characteristic reflections associated with them.
BSRs are distributed widely in the Nankai accretionary prism and associated forearc basins (33,000 km²) and 90 % of them have migration and recycling origins. The widest distribution of the BSRs can be seen at the prism. A correlation between the BSR distributions and prism size shows that the BSRs tend to be more well-developed in a prism of large size. This suggests that a large prism may produce much amount of gas-bearing fluids that migrate to the BGHS and form the BSRs (tectonic control), hi the forearc basins, the BSRs are identified at topographic highs, anticlines and basin margins (structural control).
The upward migration of gas-bearing fluids is carried out through permeable sand layers and as a result, the distribution of BSRs is confined to alternating beds of sand and mud facies (sedimentary control). However, if there is enough time for upward migration and accumulation of gas to the BGHS, the BSRs can be generated widely in low-permeable mud facies (time control).
Those results imply that structural, tectonic, sedimentary and time controls are primary factors to decide the distribution of BSRs in the Nankai Trough area.     

Estimation of viscoelastic attenuation of real seismic data by use of ray tracing software: Application to the detection of gas hydrates and free gas

Analysis of P wave velocity profiles and seismic data recorded over the 2002 Hydratech cruise conducted in the Storegga region, North of Norway, has shown the existence of anomalies (a velocity decrease) in some layers of the medium. An elastic propagation model is not sufficient to explain clearly these anomalies, since the viscoelastic attenuation, represented by the quality factor Q_P, is sensitive to physical phenomena of geological media. The combination of the quality factor profile with the velocity profile leads to realistic explanations of these anomalies. In this article, we explain the procedure which we developed for determining the Q_P profile from the P wave velocity profile and the seismic data recorded during Hydratech cruise. Both the Q_P and velocity profiles indicate anomalies in the same layers. Based on previous studies, we interpret that these anomalies are being due to existence of gas hydrates and free gas within these layers.     

利用包裹体中气体地球化学特征与源岩生气模拟实验探讨鄂尔多斯盆地靖边气田天然气来源

鄂尔多斯盆地上、下古生界地层包裹体气体与气藏中气体地球化学性质对比表明:上古生界气藏中气体与包裹体中气体地球化学性质相似,气藏中气体的地球化学性质能代表成藏初期气体的原始特征;而下古生界气藏中气体与包裹体中气体的地球化学性质差别很大,下古生界气藏中的气体与下古生界源岩模拟生成气体也有非常大的差别。因此,下古生界气藏中的气体不能代表来自下古生界源岩产生天然气。结合前人关于奥陶系源岩的模拟生成天然气、包裹体中气体以及靖边气田天然气的地球化学特征,提出来源于奥陶系的天然气应具有δ¹³C₁<-38‰、δ¹³C₂<-28‰的特征。下古生界地层包裹体中气体与气藏中气体地球化学性质对比表明,下古生界气田天然气乙烷碳同位素的变化范围也比甲烷碳同位素的变化范围大很多,乙烷碳同位素不适合作为判断靖边气田天然气来源的标准。在此基础上,以上古生界天然气甲烷碳同位素的平均值(-32.90‰)与下古生界δ¹³C₁<-38‰天然气甲烷碳同位素的平均值(-39.04‰)分别作为上、下古生界来源天然气甲烷碳同位素的界限值,通过简单计算认为靖边气田大约85%的天然气来源于上古生界煤系。     

低煤级煤储层游离气含量计算——以准噶尔盆地东南缘为例

我国低煤级煤层气资源量大,约占煤层气资源总量的43.5%。由于对低煤级煤层气赋存特征的认识程度有限,影响了低煤级煤层气的勘探开发。通过对准噶尔盆地南缘低煤级煤储层孔隙与裂隙、吸附特征、含气性等方面的分析,认为该区煤的吸附性能较好,煤中宏观裂隙与显微裂隙发育。相对于中、高煤级煤,该区煤储层大、中孔所占比例较高,为游离气赋存提供了场所。运用气体方程估算了准噶尔盆地东南缘西山窑组B煤组主力煤层中的游离气含量,得出煤层总含气量为2.85~8.94 m³/t,平均为6.12 m³/t。其中游离气占总含气量的2.89%~5.14%,平均3.90%。游离气含量的估算为研究区更加科学合理的进行煤层气勘探开发提供了依据。     

A 3D basin modeling study of the factors controlling gas hydrate accumulation in the Shenhu Area of the South China Sea

Great advancement has been made on natural gas hydrates exploration and test production in the northern South China Sea. However, there remains a lot of key questions yet to be resolved, particularly about the mechanisms and the controls of gas hydrates enrichment. Numerical simulaution would play signficant role in addressing these questions. This study focused on the gas hydrate exploration in the Shenhu Area, Northern South China Sea. Based on the newly obtained borehole and multichannel reflection seismic data, the authors conducted an integrated 3D basin modeling study on gas hydrate. The results indicate that the Shenhu Area has favorable conditions for gas hydrate accumulation, such as temperature, pressure, hydrocarbon source, and tectonic setting. Gas hydrates are most concentrated in the Late Miocene strata, particularly in the structual highs between the Baiyun Sag and the Liwan Sag, and area to the south of it. It also proved the existence of overpressure in the main sag of source rocks, which was subject to compaction disequilibrium and hydrocarbon generation. It also shown that the regional fault activity is not conducive to gas hydrate accumulation due to excess gas seepage. The authors conjecture that fault activity may slightly weaken overpressure for the positive effect of hydrocarbon expulsion and areas lacking regional fault activity have better potential.©2022 China Geology Editorial Office.     

Seismic fine imaging and its significance for natural gas hydrate exploration in the Shenhu Test Area,South China Sea

Shenhu area in South China Sea includes extensive collapse and diapir structures, forming high-angle faults and vertical fracture system, which functions as a fluid migration channel for gas hydrate formation. In order to improve the imaging precision of natural gas hydrate in this area, especially for fault and fracture structures, the present work propose a velocity stitching technique that accelerates effectively the convergence of the shallow seafloor, indicating seafloor horizon interpretation and the initial interval velocity for model building. In the depth domain, pre-stack depth migration and residual curvature are built into the model based on high-precision grid-tomography velocity inversion, after several rounds of tomographic iterations, as the residual velocity field converges gradually. Test results of the Shenhu area show that the imaging precision of the fault zone is obviously improved, the fracture structures appear more clearly, the wave group characteristics significantly change for the better and the signal-to-noise ratio and resolution are improved. These improvements provide the necessary basis for the new reservoir model and field drilling risk tips, help optimize the favorable drilling target, and are crucial for the natural gas resource potential evaluation.     

Geochemical characteristics of sediment pore water from Site XS-01 in the Xisha trough of South China Sea and their significance for gas hydrate occurrence

Gas hydrate is a recently-found new source of energy that mostly exists in marine sediments. In recent years, we have conducted gas hydrate exploration in the South China Sea. The Xisha trough, one of the promising target areas for gas hydrate, is located in the northern margin of the South China Sea, adjacent to several large oil and gas fields. The Xisha trough extends 420 km long with the water depth of 1 500 m in the west part and 3 400 m in the east part and deposits thick sediments with organic matter content of 0.41%–1.02%. Previous studies on topographical features, geological P-T conditions, structural geology, sedimentary geology and geophysical bottom simulating reflectors (BSR) in the Xisha trough suggest that this area is favorable for the formation and accumulation of gas hydrate. In this paper, we present geochemical analyses for the sediment and pore water from a piston core at Site XS-01 in the Xisha trough. Seven pore water samples were analyzed for their anion (Cl⁻, SO₄ ²⁻, Br⁻, I⁻) contents, cation (Na, K, Ca, Mg) contents and trace element (Li, B, Sr, Ba, Rb, Mn) contents. Eight sediment samples were analyzed for stable carbon and oxygen isotopic compositions. A number of geochemical anomalies such as anions (e.g. Cl⁻, SO₄ ²⁻), cations (e.g. Ca, Mg) and trace elements (e.g. Sr, Ba, B) were found in this study. For example, the concentrations of Cl⁻ and SO₄ ²⁻ in pore water show a decreasing trend with depth. The estimated sulfate/methane interface (SMI) is only 18 m, which is quite similar to the SMI value of 23 m in the ODP164 Leg 997 at Blake Ridge. The Ca, Mg and Sr concentrations of pore water also decrease with depth, but concentrations of Ba, and Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca ratios increase with depth. These geochemical anomalies are quite similar to those found in gas hydrate locations in the world such as the Blake Ridge and may be related to the formation and dissociation of gas hydrates. The salt exclusion effect during the gas hydrate formation will cause an increase in major ion concentrations in the pore waters that diffused upward such as Cl. The anaerobic methane oxidation (AMO) may lead to the change of SO₄ ²⁻ and other cations such as Ca, Mg, Sr and Ba in pore water. Low δ ¹³C value of authigenic carbonates is a good indicator for gas hydrate occurrence. However, the bulk sediment samples we analyzed all show normal δ ¹³C values similar to biogenic marine carbonates, and this may also suggest that no gas hydrate-related authigenic carbonates exist or their amount is so small that they are not detectable by using this bulk analytical method. In conclusion, we suggest that the Site XS-01 in the Xisha trough of the northern margin of the South China Sea is a potential target for further gas hydrate exploration. Translated from Quaternary Sciences, 2006, 26(3): 442–448 [译自: 第四纪研究]     

塔西南玄武岩年代学和地球化学特征及其对二叠纪地幔柱岩浆演化的制约

本文通过对塔西南达木斯剖面中玄武岩进行K-Ar同位素定年,获得年龄为289.6Ma,并结合Ar-Ar坪年龄结果(290.1Ma)和古生物以及沉积特征,认为290Ma的年龄代表了塔西南玄武岩形成于早二叠世,对应于盆地内下二叠统库普库兹满组下段层位的年龄.地球化学特征显示塔西南熔岩为分异的碱性玄武岩并含45%SiO2和4%MgO含量.塔西南玄武岩与盆地内柯坪玄武岩具有相近的主量元素含量和稀土配分与微量元素蜘蛛网图型、无Eu异常、富集轻稀土元素、较高的其它不相容元素(如高场强元素).但塔西南玄武岩比柯坪玄武岩具有较高的A12O2和CaO含量及稀土总量(288×10-6～358×10-6),偏低的Na2O,P2O5和FeO含量.K、Rb和Cs丰度的无系统性变化主要受这些元素丰度本身变化的影响.对其它不活动组分,塔西南玄武岩具有高Ti(Ti/Y=522～624)和Nb含量(30×10-6～40×10-6)及低zr/Nb比值,暗示其来自富集的地幔源区.其Nb含量相对La含量无显著变化以及相对低的Nb/U(近30)和Ce/Pb比值(近15),指示塔西南玄武熔岩来自大陆岩石圈或受一定程度的地壳混染.塔里木盆地大规模的火山喷发以及富集不相容元素的地球化学特征支持这样一种假设,即塔西南玄武岩来自地幔柱火山作用,或由于地幔柱的供热和上升导致富集的岩石圈地幔部分熔融而形成.且岩浆作用过程以部分熔融为主,结晶分异作用较弱.基于塔西南玄武岩和柯坪玄武岩相近的时代、源区成分和/或岩浆作用过程以及处于陆内稳定构造环境,笔者认为塔里木二叠纪玄武岩的分布范围可以从塔里木盆地内的塔中、柯坪一带一直延伸到塔西南地区.     

Dissociation of gas hydrates by hydrocarbon migration and accumulation-derived slope failures: An example from the South China Sea

The mechanism of slope failure associated with overpressure that is caused by hydrocarbon migration and accumulation remains unclear. High-resolution seismic data and gas hydrate drilling data collected from the Shenhu gas hydrate field (site SH5) offer a valuable opportunity to study the relations between submarine slope failure and hydrocarbon accumulation and flow that is associated with a ～2 km-diameter gas chimney developed beneath site SH5 where none gas hydrates had been recovered by drilling and sampling despite the presence of distinct bottom simulating reflectors (BSRs) and favorable gas hydrate indication. The mechanism of submarine slope failure resulted from buoyancy extrusion and seepage-derived deformation which were caused by overpressure from a ～1100 m-high gas column in a gas chimney was studied via numerical simulation. The ～9.55 MPa overpressure caused by hydrocarbons that migrated through the gas chimney and then accumulated beneath subsurface gas hydrate-bearing impermeable sediments. This may have resulted in a submarine slope failure, which disequilibrated the gas hydrate-bearing zone and completely decomposed the gas hydrate once precipitated at site SH5. Before the gas hydrate decomposition, the largely impermeable sediments overlying the gas chimney may have undergone a major upward deformation due to the buoyancy extrusion of the overpressure in the gas chimney, and slope failure was initiated from plastic strain of the sediments and reduced internal strength. Slope failure subsequently resulted in partial gas hydrate decomposition and sediment permeability increase. The pressurized gas in the gas chimney may have diffused into the overlying sediments controlled by seepage-derived deformation, causing an effective stress reduction at the base of the sediments and significant plastic deformation. This may have formed a new cycle of submarine slope failure and finally the total gas hydrate dissociation. The modeling results of buoyancy extrusion and seepage-derived deformation of the overpressure in the gas chimney would provide new understanding in the development of submarine slope failure and the link between slope failure and gas hydrate accumulation and dissociation.     

川中太和气区震旦系灯影组二段储层成岩流体演化及油气成藏史——来自岩石学、原位地球化学、流体包裹体及年代学的证据

川中地区震旦系灯影组四段已获得巨大勘探突破,太和含气区灯二段目前也已展示出较大勘探潜力。但灯二段储层时代老、埋深大、成岩演化历史长,经历了多期次构造运动,储层中矿物胶结充填期次复杂,成岩演化与油气充注关系不清,一定程度上制约了灯二段油气勘探。本文基于岩石组构分析,利用阴极发光、原位微区分析、流体包裹体及白云石U- Pb年代学等方法厘定了川中太和气区灯二段储层成岩序列,明确了不同期次白云石胶结充填物的成岩环境、成岩流体特征、形成时间及代表的油气充注事件,明确了其油气地质意义及灯二段油气成藏历史。研究表明区内灯二段储层孔洞中沥青及胶结充填物的成岩序列为：第一世代海底环境纤维状白云石→第二世代表生成岩环境大气淡水白云石→第三世代浅埋藏环境粉—细晶粒状白云石→第Ⅰ期氧化降解沥青→第四世代中埋藏环境中晶白云石→第五世代深埋藏环境粗晶白云石→第Ⅱ期热裂解沥青→第六世代深埋藏环境巨晶- 鞍状白云石→第七世代抬升埋藏环境石英、萤石等矿物。主要反映了四种不同类型的成岩流体特点：① 具有高Na、K含量,低Fe、Mn含量,负Ce异常,Y正异常特征的高盐度海源流体;② 具有较低Fe、Mn含量,平缓REE模式,无Eu异常特征的淡水与残余海水的混合流体;③ 具有高Fe、Mn含量,Eu明显正异常特征的高温热液流体与早期海水的混合流体;④ 具有高Mn含量,Fe/Mn＜1,HREE较富集,Eu正异常特征且自生石英、萤石矿物沉淀的深部与高温热液相关的酸性、还原性流体。不同世代矿物的充填关系、流体包裹体相态、均一温度以及白云石U- Pb年代学分析表明,开始发育含烃包裹体的第三世代粉—细晶白云石与形成于加里东运动导致的构造隆升期的第Ⅰ期沥青分别记录了加里东期古油藏的形成及破坏;第四世代中晶白云石及第五世代粗晶白云石记录了印支期古油藏的形成,部分第五世代粗晶白云石及第Ⅱ期沥青记录了印支期古油藏裂解事件;第六世代巨晶- 鞍形白云石及第七世代石英、萤石等矿物记录了古干气藏形成及气藏形成、调整和定型的成藏事件。