Recurring emergence of the mud islands on shelf of the Arabian Sea along the Makran coast of Pakistan – Historical perspective using remote sensing techniques

Recurring emergences of mud islands on shelf of the Arabian Sea, along the Makran coast of Pakistan are now known to be submarine mud volcanoes. They are expressions of enhanced extrusions of fluidized mud and gases coupled with compressional tectonics in convergent margin settings. Since 1945 the Malan island has emerged four times, and some other mud islands have also been emerging repeatedly, at their own positions.The first known emergence, during November 1945, was concurrent with an earthquake of magnitude 8.0 (M8.0), the 2^nd and 3^rd emergences, in March 1999 and November 2010 respectively, were not related apparently with earthquakes. The 4^th emergence concurred with the Awaran earthquake (M7.7) of 24th September 2013. Landsat images of March 1999 and November 2010 emergences indicate appearance of round-shaped island of 4.4 and 5.2 hectare area, followed by erosion and disappearance. The island was composed of mud breccias and circular vents spewing mud slurry and methane gas.The emergence of Malan island, in March 1999 and November 2010 was compared with earthquake data before and after the emergences. The earthquakes data, two years before March 1999 and November 2010 emergences and two years afterwards, shows correlation with both small and large earthquakes, prior to the emergence, in the radius of over 400 km. It is proposed that mud islands develop in response to the episodes of enhanced mud extrusion, which inturn are related with the enhanced compressional and/or seismic events. These events are followed by periods of relative quiescence characterized by normal activity of mud extrusion and marine erosion.     

Methane and sulfide fluxes in permanent anoxia: In situ studies at the Dvurechenskii mud volcano (Sorokin Trough, Black Sea)

The Dvurechenskii mud volcano (DMV) is located in permanently anoxic waters at 2060 m depth (Sorokin Trough, Black Sea). The DMV was studied during the RV Meteor expedition M72/2 as an example of an active mud volcano system, to investigate the significance of submarine mud volcanism for the methane and sulfide budget of the anoxic Black Sea hydrosphere. Our studies included benthic fluxes of methane and sulfide, as well as the factors controlling transport, consumption and production of both compounds within the sediment. The pie-shaped mud volcano showed temperature anomalies as well as solute and gas fluxes indicating high fluid flow at its summit north of the geographical center. The anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) coupled to sulfate reduction (SR) was repressed in this zone due to the upward flow of sulfate-depleted fluids through recently deposited subsurface muds, apparently limiting microbial methanotrophic activity. Consequently, the emission of dissolved methane into the water column was high, with an estimated rate of 0.46 mol m⁻² d⁻¹. On the wide plateau and edge of the mud volcano surrounding the summit, fluid flow and total methane flux were lower, allowing higher SR and AOM rates correlated with an increase in sulfate penetration into the sediment. Here, between 50% and 70% of the methane flux (0.07-0.1 mol m⁻² d⁻¹) was consumed within the upper 10 cm of the sediment. The overall amount of dissolved methane released from the entire mud volcano structure into the water column was significant with a discharge of 1.3 × 10⁷ mol yr⁻¹. The DMV maintains also high areal rates of methane-fueled sulfide production and emission of on average 0.05 mol m⁻² d⁻¹. This is a difference to mud volcanoes in oxic waters, which emit similar amounts of methane, but not sulfide. However, based on a comparison of this and other mud volcanoes of the Black Sea, we conclude that sulfide and methane emission into the hydrosphere from deep-water mud volcanoes does not significantly contribute to the sulfide and methane inventory of the Black Sea.     

Isotopic-geochemical characteristics of free gases of the South Sakhalin mud volcano and their relationship to regional seismicity

This paper discusses the results of long-term monitoring observations on the chemical and isotopic composition of free gases in gryphons of the South Sakhalin mud volcano on Sakhalin Island. It was shown that during seismic activation in the region, the chemical composition of free gases changes, whereas the isotopic composition of carbon in methane and carbon dioxide remains constant. A possible interpretation of the obtained data was suggested. The depth of the gas reservoir that supplies the South Sakhalin mud volcano was estimated as well.     

Simulation of the 2011 South Sakhalin mud volcano eruption based on the GPS data

Sakhalin Island is the only region in the Russian Far East where mud volcanism is manifested on land. The South Sakhalin mud volcano is located in the south of the island in the zone of the Central Sakhalin Fault (upthrow-thrust). The horizontal and vertical displacements of the earth’s surface after this mud volcano erupted in 2011 are revealed for the first time based on the GPS observation data. On the basis of the inversion of the measured displacements for the homogeneous elastic half-space, a model of the finite spherical eruption source is constructed. The coordinates, depth, and possible size of the source are defined and the volumes of the erupted clay rock, water, and gas are estimated.     

Regional and local geothermal conditions in the northern Black Sea

More than 100 new heat flow measurements have been collected in recent years (2002–2004) in different tectonic environments of the northern Black Sea. The northern periphery of the Black Sea is characterized by strong geodynamic and seismic activity, high sedimentation rates, diapiric structures, mud volcanism, and fluid and gas escape at the sea floor. We present new thermal data from the shelf, continental slope and deep-water basin, measured off-shore using a marine thermo-probe and on-shore in drill holes. Heat flow density ranges from 20 to more than 2,000 mW/m². For two local areas (the Dnieper gas seeps and the Dvurechenski mud volcano area), we discuss the relation between heat flow variability and the geological and physical processes in the near-bottom sediment layer. The Dnieper gas seeps area is characterized by strong small-scale heat flow variability and is controlled by fluid and gas migration. In the Dvurechenski active mud volcano, the near-bottom temperature in sediments is anomalously elevated because additional heat is carried out by mass flows of fluids and clay minerals. Away from the mud volcano heat flow quickly decreases to background values.     

多年冻土区天然气水合物研究综述

由于多年冻土区天然气水合物的潜在资源价值和对气候、环境的影响,各国纷纷开展了大量的研究,取得了很好的研究进展。本文主要分析了天然气水合物与多年冻土间的关系、多年冻土区天然气水合物的蕴藏情况以及典型多年冻土区天然气水合物研究现状。其结果表明多年冻土控制了天然气水合物形成的温压条件,且在多年冻土层间发现具自保护效应的天然气水合物。同时多年冻土可影响分散性土体中游离气体的聚集和迁移,多年冻土融化可提高孔隙水压力。目前多年冻土区天然气水合物的蕴藏情况的估算并不完整,各国仅对典型多年冻土区天然气水合物储量进行了初步的估算。天然气水合物储量估算结果表明,在美国阿拉斯加地区大约为1.0~1.2×1012 m3,加拿大马更些三角洲Beaufort海地区大约为1.6×1013 m3,俄罗斯西西伯利亚盆地250 m深度范围内可达1.7×1013 m3。我国青藏高原多年冻土区亟待搞清天然气水合物存在与否的直接证据和储量估算等关键问题。     

Isotopic evidence (He,B, C) for deep fluid and mud mobilization from mud volcanoes in the Caucasus continental collision zone

The Caucasian orogenic wedge formed as a consequence of the closure of the Tethyan Ocean, and numerous fields of active mud volcanoes pepper the area adjacent to the Black and Caspian Seas. Stable isotope ratios of boron, helium, and carbon have been measured for gas, fluid and sediment samples from active mud volcanoes of Taman Peninsula and Georgia to estimate the sources and mobilization depths of the fluid phase and mud. Boron concentrations in mud volcano fluids were found to be 5–35× higher than seawater. Fluid isotope ratios vary between ¹¹B=22 and 39, while isotope ratios of the smectite- and illite-rich extruded mud are considerably depleted in heavy ¹¹B (¹¹B=–8 to +7). B contents of these muds are ~8× higher than modern marine sediments. This suggests that liquefaction prior to mud volcanism was accompanied by both B enrichment and isotope fractionation, most likely at an intermediate depth mud reservoir at 2–4 km.The hydrocarbon-generating source beds to the mud volcanoes are located at 7 to >10 km depth in the folded Maikop Formation and are of proposed Oligocene–Miocene age. The most likely mechanism is re-hydration of these shales by both hydrocarbons and a geochemically mature fluid from greater depth within the orogenic wedge. Such a deep fluid source is supported by our results from gas analyses, which imply an admixture of minor amounts (less than 1%vol) of ³He (Georgia), thermogenic ¹³C in methane as well as "ultraheavy" ¹³C in CO₂ (both Taman and Georgia). The overall results attest active local flow of geochemically different fluids along deep-seated faults penetrating the two study areas in the Caucasian orogenic wedge, with the waters as well as the gases coming from below the Maikop Formation.     

Mud volcanic natural phenomena in the South Caspian Basin: geology,fluid dynamics and environmental impact

The South Caspian sedimentary basin is a unique area with thick Mesozoic-Cenozoic sediments (up to 30–32 km) characterized by an extremely high fluid generation potential. The large amount of active mud volcanoes and the volumes of their gas emissions prove the vast scale of fluid generation. Onshore and offshore mud volcanoes annually erupt more than 10⁹ cubic meters of gases consisting of CH₄ (79–98%), and a small admixture of C₂H₆, C₃H₈, C₄H₁₀, C₅H₁₂, CO₂, N, H₂S, Ar, He. Mud volcanism is closely connected to the processes occurring in the South Caspian depression, its seismicity, fluctuations of the Caspian Sea level, solar activity and hydrocarbon generation.The large accumulations of gas hydrates are confined to the bottom sediments of the Caspian Sea, mud volcanoes crater fields (interval 0–0.4 m, sea depth 480 m) and to the volcanoes body at the depth of 480–800 from the sea bottom. Resources of HC gases in hydrates saturated sediments up to a depth of 100 m and are estimated at 0.2×10¹⁵–8×10¹⁵ m³. The amount of HC gases concentrated in them is 10¹¹–10¹² m³.The Caspian Sea, being an inland closed basin is very sensitive to climatic and tectonic events expressed in sea level fluctuations. During regressive stages as a result of sea level fall and the reducing of hydrostatic pressure the decomposition of gas hydrates and the releasing of a great volume of HC gases consisting mainly of methane are observed.From the data of deep drilling, seismoacoustics, and deep seismic mud volcanic activity in the South Caspian Basin started in the Lower Miocene. Activity reached its highest intensity at the boundary between the Miocene and Pliocene and was associated with dramatic Caspian Sea level fall in the Lower Pliocene of up to 600 m, which led to the isolation of the PaleoCaspian from the Eastern ParaTethys. Catastrophic reduction of PaleoCaspian size combined with the increasing scale of mud volcanic activity caused the oversaturation and intoxication of water by methane and led to the mass extinction of mollusks, fishes and other groups of sea inhabitants. In the Upper Pliocene and Quaternary mud volcanism occurred under the conditions of a semi-closed sea periodically connected with the Pontian and Mediterranean Basins. Those stages of Caspian Sea history are characterized by the revival of the Caspian organic world.Monitoring of mud volcanoes onshore of the South Caspian demonstrated that any eruption is predicted by seismic activation in the region (South-Eastern Caucasus) and intensive fluid dynamics on the volcanoes.     

Comparison of methods for estimation of 50-year peak discharge from a small,rural watershed in North Carolina

Four applied hydrologic methods were used to estimate the 50-year peak storm discharge (Q₅₀) from a 15.8-ha agricultural (67%) and forested (33%) watershed in North Carolina, U.S.A. The methods (and Q₅₀ results) were the NCDOT (North Carolina Department of Transportation) method (0.42 m³/s), the USGS (U.S. Geological Survey) regression method (0.50 m³/s), the rational method (1.2 m³/s), and the NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service) TR-55 method (2.6 m³/s). The wide range of results (coefficient of variation=84%, factor of >6 between highest and lowest estimates) indicates significant inaccuracy in one or more of the methods, and presents a practical problem for use of the methods in the design of drainage systems. The NRCS method likely overestimates Q₅₀, and the NCDOT and USGS methods have other potential drawbacks for the study watershed. The least problematic approach in this case is probably the rational method. The best estimate of Q₅₀ from the study watershed is likely ~1 m³/s. The results suggest the importance of developing improved methods for estimation of peak storm discharge from small, rural watersheds.     

东海泥质区单体正构烷烃的碳同位素组成及物源分析 *

利用气相色谱(GC)和气相色谱/同位素比值质谱(GC/IRMS)对东海近岸泥质区、济州岛西南泥质区和冲绳海槽北部表层沉积物中正构烷烃的单体碳同位素组成及分布进行了分析。结果显示东海不同泥质区典型海洋藻类源正构烷烃C₁₉同位素组成基本相似,在-27.4 ‰ ~-28.0 ‰ 之间,平均为-27.7 ‰ 。典型海洋水生植物源C₂₃同位素组成在-28.5 ‰ ~-31.6 ‰ 之间,平均为-30.5 ‰ ,碳同位素组成从近岸泥质区到冲绳海槽北部逐渐变重,表明海槽区与陆架区海洋水生植物种类有所不同。陆架区长链正构烷烃(C₂₅~C₃₁)部分随着碳数的增加,其同位素组成逐渐变轻,但海槽区这一变化不大,显示陆架区的陆源高等植物蜡具有相似的物源,而冲绳海槽北部由于黑潮主干区和黑潮分支(对马暖流)对陆架沉积物进入深海的控制性阻隔作用,其物源与陆架区区别较大。现代输入东海的陆源植物以C₃植物为显著优势,C₃植物对近岸泥质区北部、近岸泥质区南部、远端济州岛西南泥质区和冲绳海槽北部陆源植物的贡献分别为83 % ,95 ％,75 % 和70 % 。     

A geochemical study on mud volcanoes in the Junggar Basin, China

A comprehensive study was performed to characterize, for the first time, the mud, water, and gases released from onshore mud volcanoes located in the southern margin of the Junggar Basin, northwestern China. Chemical compositions of mud, along with the geology of the basin, suggest that a source of the mud is Mesozoic or Cenozoic shale. Oxygen and H isotope compositions of the released water suggest a local meteoric origin. Combined with the positive Eu anomalies of the water, a large ¹⁸O shift of the water suggests extensive interaction with rocks. Gases discharged from the mud volcanoes are predominantly thermogenic hydrocarbons, and the high δ¹³C values (>+20‰ VPDB) for CO₂ gases and dissolved carbonate in muddy water suggest secondary methanogenesis with CO₂ reduction after oil biodegradation.The enrichments of Eu and ¹⁸O in water and the low thermal gradient of the area suggest that the water-rock interactions possibly occur deeper than 3670 ± 200 m. On the other hand, considering the relationship to the petroleum reservoir around the mud volcanoes, the depth of the gases can be derived from about 3600 m, a depth that is greater than that generally estimated for reservoirs whose gas is characterized by ¹³C-enriched CO₂. Oil biodegradation with CO₂ reduction likely occurs at a shallower depth along the seepage system of the mud volcano. The results contribute to the worldwide data set of gas genesis in mud volcanoes. Moreover, they further support the concept that most terrestrial mud volcanoes release thermogenic gas produced in very deep sediments and may be early indicators of oil biodegradation, an important problem in the petroleum industry.     

Gases of mud volcanoes in the Copper River Basin,Alaska

The gases emitted from mud volcanoes in the Copper River Basin of Alaska fall into two distinct types which are not mixed during vertical migration. The gases in the eastern volcanoes are nearly pure carbon dioxide, whereas the western ones contain methane and nitrogen and almost no carbon dioxide. Chemical and carbon isotopic compositions suggest the carbon dioxide rich gases originated by solution of limestones and that methane rich gases probably formed by thermal decomposition of coals.Permafrost may be a strong factor in separating the Copper River Basin gases. Extending downward for several hundred feet, the permafrost would prevent shallow lateral migration and focus the energy of the gas into occasional mud volcano vents. Soil gas analyses show rapidly decreasing amounts of the methane to about 150 m and of carbon dioxide to about 20–40 m away from the mud volcano pools. Isotopic variations of these natural methane and carbon dioxide gases, which are not intermixed, indicate that calculations of formation temperatures based on δ¹³C ratios cannot be used generally.     

Fracture flow and groundwater compartmentalization in the Rollins Sandstone, Lower Mesaverde Group, Colorado, USA

 This paper presents a site-specific conceptual model of groundwater flow in fractured damage zones associated with faulting in a package of sedimentary rocks. The model is based on the results of field and laboratory investigations. Groundwater and methane gas inflows from fault-fracture systems in the West Elk coal mine, Colorado, USA, have occurred with increasing severity. Inflows of 6, 160 and 500 L s⁻¹ discharged almost instantaneously from three separate faults encountered in mine workings about 460 m below ground level. The faults are about 600 m apart. The δ ²H and δ ¹⁸O compositions of the fault-related inflow waters and the hydrodynamic responses of each fault inflow indicate that the groundwaters discharge from hydraulically isolated systems. ¹⁴C data indicate that the groundwaters are as much as 10,500 years old. Discharge temperatures are geothermal (≈30°C), which could indicate upwelling from depth. However, calculations of geothermal gradients, analysis of solute compositions of groundwater in potential host reservoirs, geothermometer calculations, and results of packer testing indicate that the fractured groundwater reservoir is the Rollins Sandstone (120 m thick) directly beneath the coal seams. The packer test also demonstrates that the methane gas is contained in the coal seams. A geothermal gradient of 70–80°C km⁻¹, related to an underlying intrusion, is probably responsible for the slightly elevated discharge temperatures. Large discharge volumes, as great as 8.2×10⁵m³ from the 14 South East Headgate fault (14 SEHG), rapid declines in discharge rates, and vertical and horizontal permeability (matrix permeability generally <0.006 Darcy) indicate fracture flow. An in-mine pumping test demonstrates that the 14 SEHG fault has excellent hydraulic communication with fractures 50 m from the fault. Aeromagnetic data indicate that the faults are tectonically related to an igneous body that is several thousand meters below the coal seams. Exploratory drilling has confirmed a fourth fault, and two additional faults are projected, based on the aeromagnetic data. The conceptual model describes a series of parallel, hydraulically separate groundwater systems associated with fault-specific damage zones. The faults are about 600 m apart. Groundwater stored in fractured sandstone is confined above and below by clayey layers. Received March 1999 / Revised, November 1999 / Accepted, December 1999     

Fluid migration and origin of a mud volcano in the Northern Apennines (Italy): the role of deeply rooted normal faults

ABSTRACT In the foothills of the Northern Apennines mud volcanoes are locally aligned along active normal faults, which allow surface leakage of fluids derived from deep sources (>3–6 km). The chemical and isotopic analysis of the fluids of a mud volcano, coupled with the reconstruction of its geological setting, allowed an investigation of the processes of migration and fluid flow. The fault system associated with the Regnano mud volcano drains a deep Miocene reservoir (foredeep marine deposits), which supplies formation water and thermogenic methane that has migrated from underlying Mesozoic carbonates. The muds from the volcano contain late Eocene microfossils and are extruded only during paroxysmal events. They have a shallower origin (about 1 km) from the base of Tertiary marine deposits deposited upon the upper tectonic nappe of the chain (Ligurian unit). This case study suggests that normal faults are very effective in controlling surface emissions.     

Gases in Taiwan mud volcanoes: Chemical composition,methane carbon isotopes,and gas fluxes

Mud volcanoes are important pathways for CH₄ emission from deep buried sediments; however, the importance of gas fluxes have hitherto been neglected in atmospheric source budget considerations. In this study, gas fluxes have been monitored to examine the stability of their chemical compositions and fluxes spatially, and stable C isotopic ratios of CH₄ were determined, for several mud volcanoes on land in Taiwan. The major gas components are CH₄ (>90%), “air” (i.e. N₂ + O₂ + Ar, 1–5%) and CO₂ (1–5%) and these associated gas fluxes varied slightly at different mud volcanoes in southwestern Taiwan. The Hsiao-kun-shui (HKS) mud volcano emits the highest CH₄ concentration (CH₄ > 97%). On the other hand, the Chung-lun mud volcano (CL) shows CO₂ up to 85%, and much lower CH₄ content (<37%). High CH₄ content (>90%) with low CO₂ (<0.2%) are detected in the mud volcano gases collected in eastern Taiwan. It is suggestive that these gases are mostly of thermogenic origin based on C₁ (methane)/C₂ (ethane) + C₃ (propane) and δ¹³C_CH4 results, with the exception of mud volcanoes situated along the Gu-ting-keng (GTK) anticline axis showing unique biogenic characteristics. Only small CH₄ concentration variations, <2%, were detected in four on-site short term field-monitoring experiments, at Yue-shi-jie A, B, Kun-shui-ping and Lo-shan A. Preliminary estimation of CH₄ emission fluxes for mud volcanoes on land in Taiwan fall in a range between 980 and 2010 tons annually. If soil diffusion were taken into account, the total amount of mud volcano CH₄ could contribute up to 10% of total natural CH₄ emissions in Taiwan.     

Stress tensor analysis of the 1998–1999 tectonic swarm of northern Quito related to the volcanic swarm of Guagua Pichincha volcano, Ecuador

The phreatic activity and the subsequent dacitic dome growth in 1998–1999 at Guagua Pichincha volcano, Ecuador, were associated with two seismic swarms: one located in the northern part of Quito (population: 1,500,000) and another one, just below the active volcano, about 15–20 km SW from the first one. Quito swarm tectonic events have high frequencies (from 1 to 10–15 Hz). We registered more than 3200 events (among which 2354 events of 1.4≤M_L≤4.2) between June 1998 and December 1999 at the −2- and −17-km depth. The volcanic events below the Guagua Pichincha caldera have high (from 1 to 10–15 Hz) and low (less than 3 Hz) frequencies. Approximately, 130,000 events were registered between September 1998 and December 1999 at the +2.4- and −3.5-km depth. Here, we study the stress tensors of these two swarms deduced from the polarities of P first motions and compare them to the regional stress tensor deduced from CMT Harvard focal mechanisms. The Quito swarm stress tensor is relatively close to the regional stress tensor (the σ₁ axis was oriented N117°E close to the N102°E direction of the plate motion found by the GPS measurement, and σ₃ is nearly vertical). The difference may be due to the action of the closely active Guagua Pichincha volcano. The Guagua Pichincha stress tensor is very different from the regional tectonic one. The σ₁ axis of the volcano is oriented N214°E, almost perpendicular to the σ₁ of the swarm of Quito and σ₃ is almost horizontal. Even if these two tensors are different, they can be explained in a more general tectonic scheme. The almost horizontal direction of σ₃ just below the volcano is compatible with an extensional horizontal direction that may be expected in the shallow extrados part of a compressional region and consistent with an opening of the top of the Guagua Pichincha volcano. The movement of the fluids (magma, gas and/or groundwater) produced by the closely active Guagua Pichincha volcano seems to have an influence in the acceleration of the generation of seismic events.     

Mud volcano gas hydrates in the Gulf of Cadiz

ABSTRACT This paper presents new geochemical data on gas-hydrate-bearing mud volcanoes discovered for the first time in the Gulf of Cadiz during cruises TTR9 and TTR10 of the R/V Professor Logachev in 1999–2000. The estimated gas hydrate content is 3–16% of sediment volume and 5–31% of pore space volume. Estimated values of the water isotopic composition for the Ginsburg mud volcano are very heavy for δ¹⁸O (up to +53‰) and light for δD (up to − 210‰). Gas released from the hydrates contains 81% of C₁ and 19% of C₂₊. The inferred source of the gas in the hydrates is enriched in C₂–C₆ (≤ 5%), indicating that the gas has a thermogenic origin. Gas hydrate of cubic structure II should be formed from a gas of such composition. It is interpreted that the composition of the mud volcano fluid corresponds to deep oil basins below the Gulf of Cadiz.     

Chaetognaths in lower Narragansett Bay

A field study of the chaetognaths of lower Narragansett Bay was conducted from March 1975 through May 1976.Sagitta elegans Verrill 1873 was the predominant species, present in all months except August.S. elegans was most abundant in April and May in both 1975 and 1976. Maximum densities exceeded 100 m^?3 in May 1976. It appeared thatS. elegans was replenished in Narragansett Bay by influxes of chaetognaths from Rhode Island Sound. This species was restricted to the sound when bay temperatures exceeded 15 °C. In the bay, maturing chaetognaths were found deeper in the water column than juveniles. This phenomenon may have limited the frequency of older animals in bay plankton samples by concentrating them extremely close to the bottom, out of the reach of conventional plankton nets. The presence of chaetognath eggs in samples taken in Rhode Island Sound, and their absence from bay samples, indicated that breeding took place primarily offshore. Size-frequency analysis showed that peak breeding activity occurred in January, April, and July.     

泥火山——天然气水合物存在的活证据

海底天然气水合物大多与通过切穿沉积盖层的断裂的上升烃类流体相关，这些高渗透带包括泥火山和底辟等侵入构造，所以泥火山、底辟和海底断裂等构造周围可能赋存水合物；实际钻探结果也证实，泥火山和水合物的形成与聚集有较为密切的关系。泥火山，它是地层内部圈闭气体由于压力释放上冲的结果，也是气体向上运移的通道。文章初步总结了泥火山与水合物的成矿关系，认为泥火山是水合物赋存的标志之一，是水合物存在的活证据。本文对我国泥火山与水合物的发育和赋存进行了分析预测，并对泥火山构造中水合物的成矿模式进行了初步探讨。     

利用套管井补偿中子时间推移测井识别气层及侵入

根据泥浆侵入气层前后补偿中子测井响应值的变化,设计了套管井内补偿中子时间推移测井试验。结果表明,该方法对识别渗透率在(1～3)×10^-3μm²以上的砂岩气层有明显效果,为鄂尔多斯盆地上古生界低渗透砂岩可疑气层、低阻气层、泥浆污染气层的识别和老井资料复查提供了一种新的手段。