Numerical modeling study of mineralization induced by methane cold seep at the sea bottom

In order to investigate the response of authigenic minerals to gas hydrate geo-systems, the biogeochemical processes and its induced mineralization were predicted by employing the comprehensive reactive transport modeling approach. Based on the available data extracted from the northern continental slope area of the South China Sea, a 1-D vertical column model was developed. Three cases with different upward methane flux rates and three cases with different mineral compositions, i.e., a total of six cases were designed to investigate the effects of variations in the depth of sulfate methane transition zone (SMTZ) and in the mineral composition on the formation of authigenic minerals. The simulation results indicate that the SMTZ depth influenced by both the upward methane flux rate and the initial composition played an important role in the formation of authigenic minerals. The AOM reaction is intensive at the interface, and the precipitation amount of calcite is large, which is mainly controlled by AOM. When the methane leakage rate is 20 times higher than the base case, aragonite starts to precipitate. During the simulation, oligoclase, k-feldspar, smectite-Na, smectite-Ca, chlorite dissolved. Our study specific to this area as a starting point may provide a quantitative approach for investigating carbonate and pyrite formation in hydrate-bearing sediments accounting for methane oxidation and sulfate reduction. The method presented here and the model built in this study can be used for other sites with similar conditions. In addition, this study may serve as an indication for the potential natural gas hydrate reservoir in depth, and is also significant for marine carbon and sulfur cycle.     

Three dimensional seismic studies of deep-water hazard-related features on the northern slope of South China Sea

Mass transport deposits and geological features related to fluid flow such as gas chimneys, mud diapirs and volcanos, pockmarks and gas hydrates are pervasive on the canyon dominated northern slope of the Pearl River Mouth basin of the South China Sea. These deposits and structures are linked to serious geohazards and are considered risk factors for seabed installations. Based on high resolution three dimensional seismic surveys, seismic characteristics, distributions and origins of these features are analyzed. A distribution map is presented and geometrical parameters and spatial distribution patterns are summarized. Results show that various groups of the mapped features are closely tied to local or regional tectonism and sedimentary processes. Mass transport complexes are classified as slides near the shelf break, initially deformed slumps on the flanks of canyons and highly deformed slumps on the lower slope downslope of the mouth of canyons. We propose them to be preconditioned by pore pressure changes related to sea level fluctuations, steep topography, and fluid and fault activities. Gas chimneys are mainly located in the vicinity of gas reservoirs, while bottom-simulating reflectors are observed within the gas chimney regions, suggesting gas chimneys serve as conduits for thermogenic gas. Mud diapirs/volcanos and pockmarks are observed in small numbers and the formation of pockmarks is related to underlying gas chimneys and faults. This study aims at reducing risks for deep-water engineering on the northern slope of South China Sea.     

漠河盆地多年冻土区天然气水合物地球化学调查及远景评价

漠河盆地是我国冻土发育的主要地区之一,发育良好的天然气水合物成藏系统,具有天然气水合物形成的良好条件。为了圈定天然气水合物远景区,识别油气聚集体,判别天然气水合物成因,在漠河盆地冻土较发育地区开展了1∶5万天然气水合物地球化学资源调查。结果表明：(1)在森林沼泽景观区,顶空气和荧光光谱指标是天然气水合物勘查的主要指标,借鉴青海木里冻土区天然气水合物地球化学勘查成功的经验,结合AMT、地质等资料分析,元宝山凹陷是天然气水合物较为有利的远景区;(2)岩心样品甲烷碳同位素分析显示,烃类气体分异明显,浅层烃类气体基本为生物气,深部烃类气源主要为混合成因气,个别解吸气为微生物气和热解气;(3)试验性应用了分形-GIS技术,可以细致可靠地进行异常区范围划定,消除干扰因素,有效地圈定水合物远景区。     

Natural ring structures on the Baikal ice cover: Analysis of experimental data and mathematical modeling

Hydrophysical studies and mathematical modeling of ring structures during ice cover on Lake Baikal have shown that their existence at the stage of ice cover degradation is due to anticyclonic currents. Such currents can be generated as a result of local upwelling, which we associate with the rise of methane hydrates from the top layer of bottom sediments and their dissociation. Analysis of satellite images shows that the radii of ice rings range from 1300 to 2400 m, which is close to the baroclinic Rossby radius. The measured ice thicknesses in the area of the rings are in agreement with model calculations. Deep water renewal in Lake Baikal can also be associated with the rise of hydrates.     

Multi-factor sensitivity analysis on the stability of submarine hydrate-bearing slope

There are many factors affecting the instability of the submarine hydrate-bearing slope (SHBS), and the interaction with hydrate is very complicated. In this paper, the mechanical mechanism of the static liquefaction and instability of submarine slope caused by the dissociation of natural gas hydrate (NGH) resulting in the rapid increase of pore pressure of gas hydrate-bearing sediments (GHBS) and the decrease of effective stress are analyzed based on the time series and type of SHBS. Then, taking the typical submarine slope in the northern South China Sea as an example, four important factors affecting the stability of SHBS are selected, such as the degree of hydrate dissociation, the depth of hydrate burial, the thickness of hydrate, and the depth of seawater. According to the principle of orthogonal method, 25 orthogonal test schemes with 4 factors and 5 levels are designed and the safety factors of submarine slope stability of each scheme are calculated by using the strength reduction finite element method. By means of the orthogonal design range analysis and the variance analysis, sensitivity of influential factors on stability of SHBS are obtained. The results show that the degree of hydrate dissociation is the most sensitive, followed by hydrate burial depth, the thickness of hydrate and the depth of seawater. Finally, the concept of gas hydrate critical burial depth is put forward according to the influence law of gas hydrate burial depth, and the numerical simulation for specific submarine slope is carried out, which indicates the existence of critical burial depth.     

Methane fluxes and gas hydrates as well as seismic activity in the Okhotsk Sea

The research works of methane concentration in water column of the Okhotsk Sea from 1984 to 2005 were reviewed. And some regularities of methane distribution in water column in the North-East Sakhalin slope of the Okhotsk Sea were concluded.     

天然气水合物和游离气饱和度估算的影响因素

讨论了不同水合物胶结类型的流体饱和多孔隙固体中地震波的衰减情况,分析了估算天然气水合物和游离气饱和度影响因素.结果表明, 地层孔隙度、纵波速度模型和弹性模量的计算方法是影响反演水合物和游离气饱和度的关键因素.含水合物地层的吸收与水合物胶结类型密切相关,当水合物远离固体颗粒,像流体一样充填在孔隙时,品质因子出现负异常,而当水合物胶结固体颗粒影响骨架的弹性性质,其品质因子出现正异常.根据布莱克海台地区164航次995井的测井资料,分别应用低频和高频速度模型估算了水合物和游离气饱和度.由低频速度模型得到的水合物饱和度(占孔隙空间的)10%～20%,游离气饱和度(占孔隙空间的)05%～1%;而由高频速度模型得到的水合物饱和度(占孔隙空间的)5%～10%,游离气饱和度(占孔隙空间的)1%～2%.     

东海冲绳海槽陆坡天然气水合物的地震学研究

本文通过对东海973 航次在冲绳海槽取得的多道地震数据进行有针对性的特殊处理,形成一套针对天然气水合物地震学研究行之有效的处理思路,提高速度分析的精度和分辨能力,压制浅层多次波,资料在保持一定信噪比的基础上尽可能的提高分辨率,相对振幅处理以及用于AVO分析的预处理等.在此基础上对天然气水合物进行识别和预测,我们发现在冲绳海槽南部西侧槽坡附近以及海槽内部发育有一系列泥底辟构造,在这些底辟构造的顶部明显存在与天然气水合物赋存相关的地球物理特征,如似海底反射层（BSR）、与海底反射同相轴极性相反,BSR上方的振幅空白区以及BSR上下的速度异常.从该区域的地质背景资料分析,冲绳海槽不仅具有很高的沉积速率并且海槽西侧的断层活跃,提供了富含有机质的物源以及用于天然气运移的通道,有利于天然气水合物的形成.     

基于水合物指示因子的地震识别方法

速度是水合物勘查的重要参数,但是速度的影响因素众多,给高精度识别水合物带来一定困难.水合物储层岩石物理是研究多种因素对速度影响的有效手段之一.考虑到水合物储层未固结等特征,本文采用SCA-DEM模型,重点对比了孔隙度、饱和度等对纵横波速度以及AVO特征的影响,并构建了一种新的水合物指示因子,消除了由于孔隙变化带来的假异...     

天然气水合物的形成与识别

探讨了天然气水合物矿藏的形成条件和机理、水合物矿藏的聚集方式。天然气水合物的形成除了必要的气体和水,还需要一定的温压和地质条件;其形成机理可用高渗漏系统和弱渗漏系统来解释;天然气水合物在沉积物中主要以构造聚集和地层聚集的方式存在。综述了天然气水合物矿藏的识别方法。