Migration and accumulation characteristics of natural gas hydrates in the uplifts and their slope zones in the Qiongdongnan Basin,China

Various factors controlling the accumulation of natural gas hydrates (NGHs) form various enrichment and accumulation modes through organic combination. This study mainly analyzes the geological and geophysical characteristics of the NGHs occurrence in the uplifts and their slope zones within the deep-water area in the Qiongdongnan (QDN) Basin (also referred to as the study area). Furthermore, it investigates the dominant governing factors and models of NGHs migration and accumulation in the study area. The results are as follows. (1) The uplifts and their slope zones in the study area lie in the dominant pressure-relief direction of fluids in central hydrocarbon-rich sags in the area, which provide sufficient gas sources for the NGHs accumulation and enrichment through pathways such as gas chimneys and faults. (2) The top and flanks of gas chimneys below the bottom simulating reflectors (BSRs) show high-amplitude seismic reflections and pronounced transverse charging of free gas, indicating the occurrence of a large amount of gas accumulation at the heights of the uplifts. (3) Chimneys, faults, and high-porosity and high-permeability strata, which connect the gas hydrate temperature-pressure stability zones (GHSZs) with thermogenic gas and biogenic gas, form the main hydrate migration system. (4) The reservoir system in the study area comprises sedimentary interlayers consisting of mass transport deposits (MTDs) and turbidites. In addition, the reservoir system has developed fissure- and pore-filling types of hydrates in the pathways. The above well-matched controlling factors of hydrate accumulation enable the uplifts and their slope zones in the study area to become the favorable targets of NGHs exploration.©2022 China Geology Editorial Office.     

Widespread Occurrence of Ephemeral Funnel Hoarfrost and Related Air Ventilation in Coarse‐Grained Sediments of a Relict Rock Glacier in the Seckauer Tauern Range,Austria

This paper examines the occurrence of ephemeral hoarfrost crystals at funnel openings (funnel hoarfrost) detected between large blocks at the surface of the presumably relict Schöneben Rock Glacier. Field mapping on 25 November 2011 identified 51 individual funnel openings with notable hoarfrost crystals distributed over the entire rock glacier. Hoarfrost was no longer detectable a few days after the initial mapping campaign. At least in the period 20–25 November 2011 temperature conditions at the rock glacier surface were favourable for hoarfrost formation and preservation as indicated by different types of measurements. A period of 24–48 h of hoarfrost‐suitable weather conditions would have been sufficient to form the observed hoarfrost if crystal growth rates of 2–4 mm h^?1 are assumed. The void systems with funnel hoarfrost seem to be rather localised and limited in horizontal (10s of metres) and vertical (some metres) extent. Presumably the observed funnel hoarfrost was caused by the so‐called chimney effect, although no larger reversible air circulation systems with warm air exhalation were identified. Continuous ground temperature data from several sites at the rock glacier surface (period November 2011–December 2012) showed that hoarfrost sites are cooler and thermally buffered compared with non‐hoarfrost sites at similar elevations. This seems to be related to the decoupling of the air above the rock glacier and the pore air during periods of atmospheric warming. Only the combination of specific micro‐climatic (temperature/humidity), geometric (open void systems) and sedimentological (grain size/sediment structure) conditions allow the formation of the ephemeral funnel hoarfrost at this rock glacier.     

碎石层的"热半导体"作用

碎石层在冰缘地区有广泛分布.众多文献报道,碎石层具有降低其下地温的作用,根据这些现象,对其致冷形成机理进行了研究.结果表明:对封闭的倾斜碎石层,其致冷机制主要基于Rayleigh-Bènard对流;对开放的倾斜碎石层,其致冷机制包括“烟囱效应”和风引起的强迫对流.并进一步用模型试验、数值模拟和现场的实体试验对致冷机理进行了验证.碎石层己在青藏铁路建设中得到广泛应用,并被证明起到了冷却路基的作用.这一措施效果显著、施工简便、环境友好且成本相对较低,可用于多种冻土工程,以适应全球变暖的影响.     

Diapir structure and its constraint on gas hydrate accumulation in the Makran accretionary prism,offshore Pakistan

The Makran accretionary prism is located at the junction of the Eurasian Plate, Arabian Plate and Indian Plate and is rich in natural gas hydrate (NGH) resources. It consists of a narrow continental shelf, a broad continental slope, and a deformation front. The continental slope can be further divided into the upper slope, middle slope, and lower slope. There are three types of diapir structure in the accretionary prism, namely mud diapir, mud volcano, and gas chimney. (1) The mud diapirs can be grouped into two types, namely the ones with low arching amplitude and weak-medium activity energy and the ones with high arching amplitude and medium-strong activity energy. The mud diapirs increase from offshore areas towards onshore areas in general, while the ones favorable for the formation of NGH are mainly distributed on the middle slope in the central and western parts of the accretionary prism. (2) The mud volcanoes are mainly concentrated along the anticline ridges in the southern part of the lower slope and the deformation front. (3) The gas chimneys can be grouped into three types, which are located in piggyback basins, active anticline ridges, and inactive anticline ridges, respectively. They are mainly distributed on the middle slope in the central and western parts of the accretionary prism and most of them are accompanied with thrust faults. The gas chimneys located at different tectonic locations started to be active at different time and pierced different horizons. The mud diapirs, mud volcanoes, and gas chimneys and thrust faults serve as the main pathways of gas migration, and thus are the important factors that control the formation, accumulation, and distribution of NGH in the Makran accretionary prism. Mud diapir/gas chimney type hydrate develop in the middle slope, mud volcano type hydrate develop in the southern lower slope and the deformation front, and stepped accretionary prism type hydrate develop on the central and northern lower slope. The middle slope, lower slope and deformation front in the central and western parts of the Makran accretionary prism jointly constitute the NGH prospect area.     

Seismic fragility assessment of nonstructural components in unreinforced clay brick masonry buildings

The results of an investigation of the probability of earthquake damage to nonstructural unreinforced masonry (URM) components are presented. The components include parapets, chimneys, and out-of-plane loaded facades typical of low-rise pre-1940 construction in Australia and New Zealand. The study is based on a street survey of component geometry, in situ data on material strength, and simplified mechanical models. Uncertainties in capacity and demand were quantified based on, respectively, stochastic and deterministic approaches. The damage probabilities were compared with relevant guidelines and empirical damage data from three earthquakes. The study established a link between the qualitative damage states reported in existing guidelines and the quantitative URM component damage states. While some median damage state thresholds correlated well with the data from the guidelines, a larger dispersion value was found in the current study due to the large variations in component properties. Comparisons with empirical data suggest that the developed fragility data provide a realistic estimate of nonstructural component damage that occurred in similar buildings, with a reasonable level of conservatism. The outcome is useful in rapid assessment of the seismic risks due to nonstructural component collapse in URM precincts.     

Hydrocarbon leakage interpreted on seismic data

In an active petroleum system the amount of trapped hydrocarbons is the difference between the volumes charged and the volumes that have leaked or are otherwise destroyed. This paper focuses on the leakage processes taking place above a hydrocarbon-filled trap and how leakage is expressed on seismic data. A variety of seismic anomalies related to hydrocarbon leakage are interpreted and illustrated.     

琼东南盆地气烟囱构造特点及其与天然气水合物的关系

气烟囱是由于天然气(或流体)垂向运移在地震剖面上形成的异常反射,是气藏超压、构造低应力和泥页岩封隔层综合作用而形成。气烟囱在形成过程中携带大量富含甲烷气的流体向上运移到天然气水合物稳定带,其形成之后仍可作为后期活动的油气向上运移的特殊通道。在中中新世后,气烟囱是琼东南盆地气体向上运移的通道。地震识别出的似海底反射(BSR)分布区存在大量的气烟囱构造,通过速度、泥岩含量、流体势等属性参数及钻井资料,判断该烟囱构造为有机成因的泥底辟型烟囱构造。     

龟山岛附近海底热液自然硫烟囱体的硫同位素研究

利用稳定同位素质谱仪对龟山岛附近海底热液自然硫烟囱体分层取样的硫同位素分析,获得了自然硫烟囱体的硫同位素特征。结果表明,龟山岛附近海底热液自然硫烟囱体的δ34S值变化不大,幅宽只有0.913,说明自然硫的来源较为单一,受控因素相对较少。根据硫同位素值的特征,划分出三种类型的烟囱体,它们是由热液流体中的硫同位素值和海水与烟囱体外壁的反应来控制,Ⅰ型烟囱体、Ⅱ型烟囱体的外壁与海水发生化学反应,形成一定量的自然硫沉淀,烟囱体的生长是向内、向外两个角度同时生长;Ⅲ型烟囱体则主要是向内一个角度生长。热液流体中的δ34S值(H2S)随时间的变化是由于海水端元和玄武岩端元不同比例的混合所致。     

塔北雅克拉地区油气藏上方"烟筒效应”的磁学与矿物学证据

依据位于塔北雅克拉油气田内的沙田井、沙七井、沙十五井及位于油水边界的沙六井岩屑与岩心的磁学（包括磁化率、磁滞回线及热磁分析）与矿物学（包括重矿物、电子探针及扫描电子显微镜）的综合分析测试结果，获得了已知油气井内生、储、盖层与地表第四纪土壤中与烃运移相关的蚀变矿化作用（即烟筒效应）的物质证据．本区位于油气藏上方的蚀变矿化作用以磁铁矿化与菱铁矿化作用为主；而位于油水边界处的沙六井则以磁铁矿化与黄铁矿化为主．随着地层深度的减小，虽然“烟筒效应”的强度明显减北，但在地表仍可检测到明显的磁学与矿物学异常．综合磁学与矿物学研究结果表明，本区岩屑中发现的球粒状磁铁矿是“烟筒效应”的产物，它是与烃运移相关的次生低温磁性矿物重要的形貌特征     

华北中元古代硫化物黑烟囟发现的初步报道

海底黑烟囟为当代海洋地质调查的重要发现，对于揭示地史时期块状硫化物的成矿过程中以及生命起源具有重要意义。本文初步报道在冀东中元古代块状硫化物矿床中首次发现保存完好的黑烟囟构造，它们保留了成矿流体运移的通道构造，围绕通道构造还显示良好的矿物分带现象。完全可以与现代海底黑烟囟对比，黑烟囟的发现证明了该区硫化物矿床的形成与海底喷流过程密切相关。