Variability of the bottom-simulating reflector (BSR) and its association with tectonic structures in the Chilean margin between Arauco Gulf (37°S) and Valdivia (40°S)

Multichannel seismic reflection data recorded between Arauco Gulf (37°S) and Valdivia (40°S), on the Chilean continental margin, were processed and modeled to obtain seismic images and sub-surface models, in order to characterize the variability of the bottom-simulating reflector (BSR), which is a geophysical marker for the presence of gas hydrates. The BSR is discontinuous and interrupted by submarine valleys, canyons, as well as by faults or fractures. The BSR occurrence is more common south of Mocha Island due to moderate slopes and greater organic matter contribution by rivers in that area. Tectonic uplift and structural instability change the stability gas hydrate zone and consequently the BSR position, creating in some cases missing or double BSRs. Our modeling supports the presence of gas hydrate above the BSR and free gas below it. Higher BSR amplitudes support higher hydrate or free gas concentrations. In the study area, gas hydrate concentration is low (an average of 3.5%) suggesting disseminated gas hydrate distribution within the sediments. Also higher BSR amplitudes are associated with thrust faults in the accretionary prism, which serve as conduits for gas flow from deeper levels. This extra gas supply produces a wider thickness of gas hydrates or free gas.     

Geological controls on BSR occurrences in the incipient arc-continent collision zone off southwest Taiwan

Bottom simulating reflectors (BSRs) observed on seismic sections are often considered as indicators for the existence of free gas, delineating the base of the gas hydrate stability zone. Abundant BSRs seen on seismic sections acquired off the SW coast of Taiwan indicate the likely and prevalent existence of gas hydrates in the study area. This study aims to characterize the occurrence of BSRs off SW Taiwan and to understand their relationship to topography, tectonic activity, and possible migration paths of gas-bearing fluids in this area.     

Gas-hydrate promotion by smectite–bioproduct interactions

Gas hydrates accumulate on the Gulf of Mexico seafloor around hydrocarbon seeps in waters sufficiently deep to provide adequate pressure/temperature combinations. High microbial activities occur around the hydrate accumulations. To understand apparent catalytic effects of bioproducts on hydrate formation, the mechanism of sII hydrate nucleation in unconsolidated porous media was investigated in our laboratory. Because smectite clays interacting with biopolymers had been shown to promote laboratory hydrates by decreasing induction times, increasing formation rates and altering morphology, these materials commonly found in near-surface sediments were selected for study as possible nucleating agents. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) with a helium–neon laser was used to measure particle diameters down to about 2 nm. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was utilized to verify particle sizes and to give additional information on biopolymer–clay associations. This paper presents evidence that nanometer-sized particles of mineral–bioproduct associations of about 80 nm–450 nm diameter may act as nucleation sites for hydrate crystal initiations in sediments and then remain dispersed throughout the accumulated hydrate mass. Emulsan biopolymer was shown by SEM to apparently unfold and associate with the smectite (nontronite) in a backbone arrangement and to give multiple hydrate nucleation sites along a linear network. SEM and DLS measurements were in agreement on particle sizes and shapes. X-ray diffraction suggested that biopolymer intercalates the smectite interlayer, probably driven by clay associations with biopolymer hydrophilic groups. It is hypothesized that hydrocarbon gases attach to biopolymer hydrophobic fatty-acid branches protruding from clay interlayers and subsequently facilitate hydrate structure formation by interacting with nearby water associated with the hydrophilic segments of the biopolymer.     

东海海水中的溶存甲烷

基于1994年秋季航次在东海的调查资料,较详细地分析了溶存甲烷在水体中的分布规律、成因和来源.表层水中溶存甲烷呈过饱和状态,饱和度127%～254%,温跃层以上水体中,甲烷的断面分布不同于营养盐的分布,各站测值相近,没有显示出受长江冲淡水的影响,而呈现的舌状分布,在陆架底层水中有明显的高浓度甲烷水体,表明甲烷从沉积物中迅速扩散进入底层水.黑潮次表层水的涌升过程稀释了陆架边缘底层水中的甲烷.在陆架和大洋区测站上,甲烷的垂直分布不同,前者主要受物理混合过程所控制;后者呈大洋区分布特征,在温跃层附近出现甲烷的次表层最大,这可能是陆架底层高浓度甲烷沿等密度面的输送所致.     

珠江口淇澳岛海岸带沉积物中硫酸盐还原和不同形态硫的分布

对珠江口淇澳岛海岸带3个站位(QA-11,QA-9和QA-14)的沉积物中不同形态的还原硫(酸可挥发性硫,黄铁矿和有机硫)、总有机碳(TOC)和孔隙水中SO42-,甲烷浓度进行了测定,并且利用稳态扩散模型计算其中2个站位(QA-9和QA-14)硫酸盐还原通量[1.74和1.14 mmol/(m2.d)]和甲烷厌氧氧化通量[0.34和0.29 mmol/(m2.d)]。研究结果表明由于潮间带沉积物受到SO42-供给的限制,因此位于潮间带的QA-11站位硫酸盐还原带较浅(约16 cm);在潮下带的QA-9和QA-14站位,随离海岸距离和水深的增加,硫酸盐还原通量呈现减小的趋势,并且硫酸还原逐渐受到可利用活性有机质的限制;甲烷厌氧氧化对硫酸盐还原的贡献表现出增加的趋势,由19.2%增加至25.5%。三个站位沉积物中按不同形态还原硫含量由大到小列出,它们是有机硫(OS)、黄铁矿(DS)、酸可挥发性硫(AVS)。沉积物中AVS的空间分布与硫酸盐还原通量有正相关性。QA-11和QA-14站位的黄铁矿与AVS硫的含量比值大于3,分别为7.9和3.6,表明两个站位的黄铁矿形成可能受硫酸盐还原作用的控制;QA-9站位黄铁矿与AVS硫的含量比值为2.2,暗示AVS向黄铁矿转化受到可利用活性铁的限制。     

Application of the clustering method in molecular dynamics simulation of the diffusion coefficient

Using molecular dynamics （MD） simulation, the diffusion of oxygen, methane, ammonia and carbon dioxide in water was simulated in the canonical NVT ensemble, and the diffusion coefficient was analyzed by the clustering method. By comparing to the conventional method （using the Einstein model） and the differentiation-interval variation method, we found that the results obtained by the clustering method used in this study are more close to the experimental values. This method proved to be more reasonable than the other two methods.     

硫酸盐-甲烷界面与甲烷通量及下伏水合物赋存的关系

硫酸盐-甲烷界面在富甲烷和含天然气水合物的海洋沉积区已经成为一个重要的生物地球化学识别边界.在硫酸盐-甲烷界面之上,沉积物中的硫酸盐因参与分解有机质和甲烷厌氧氧化反应而被消耗,而界面之下沉积物中的甲烷则不断生成,含量逐渐增加.根据该界面附近硫酸盐浓度和甲烷浓度的变化特征,可以判断该区甲烷流体通量的大小,从而指示下伏天然气水合物的可能赋存状况.南海北部陆坡的柱状沉积物孔隙水数据的分析显示,其硫酸盐-甲烷界面埋深比较浅,表明该海域的甲烷通量较高.这种高甲烷通量很可能是由下伏的天然气水合物所引起的,并暗示着该区下伏海底可能有天然气水合物沉积层赋存.     

南海北部地区海洋沉积物中孔隙水的氢、氧同位素组成特征

海洋沉积物中孔隙水的H、O同位素地球化学研究可以有效示踪天然气水合物的存在，中国南海地区由于地处三大板块交会处，地质构造特殊，沉积地层厚，沉积速率高，有机质丰富，并有指示天然气水合物存在的地球物理证据BSR存在，符合天然气水合物的赋存条件。本文对南海北部地区部分海域浅层沉积物中孔隙水样品进行了H、O同位素分析，试图探讨与天然气水合物赋存有关的地球化学异常。通过研究认为，①南海处于三大板块的交界处，具有特殊的地球物理场和构造沉积特征以及较适合天然气水合物赋存的温压条件，特别是南海北部地区有利于天然气水合物的生成；②南海北部地区部分海域的浅表层沉积物的H、O同位素测试中可以看出，总体上与海水的正常值一致，可能来自海水，但是在其中A14站位8个样品表现出了与天然气水合物有关的重同位素随深度增加的趋势。也许指示该区有天然气水合物存在的可能性。     

Seismic imaging of a fractured gas hydrate system in the Krishna–Godavari Basin offshore India

Gas hydrate was discovered in the Krishna–Godavari (KG) Basin during the India National Gas Hydrate Program (NGHP) Expedition 1 at Site NGHP-01-10 within a fractured clay-dominated sedimentary system. Logging-while-drilling (LWD), coring, and wire-line logging confirmed gas hydrate dominantly in fractures at four borehole sites spanning a 500 m transect. Three-dimensional (3D) seismic data were subsequently used to image the fractured system and explain the occurrence of gas hydrate associated with the fractures. A system of two fault-sets was identified, part of a typical passive margin tectonic setting. The LWD-derived fracture network at Hole NGHP-01-10A is to some extent seen in the seismic data and was mapped using seismic coherency attributes. The fractured system around Site NGHP-01-10 extends over a triangular-shaped area of ∼2.5 km² defined using seismic attributes of the seafloor reflection, as well as “seismic sweetness” at the base of the gas hydrate occurrence zone. The triangular shaped area is also showing a polygonal (nearly hexagonal) fault pattern, distinct from other more rectangular fault patterns observed in the study area. The occurrence of gas hydrate at Site NGHP-01-10 is the result of a specific combination of tectonic fault orientations and the abundance of free gas migration from a deeper gas source. The triangular-shaped area of enriched gas hydrate occurrence is bound by two faults acting as migration conduits. Additionally, the fault-associated sediment deformation provides a possible migration pathway for the free gas from the deeper gas source into the gas hydrate stability zone. It is proposed that there are additional locations in the KG Basin with possible gas hydrate accumulation of similar tectonic conditions, and one such location was identified from the 3D seismic data ˜6 km NW of Site NGHP-01-10.     

Methane sources,sinks and fluxes in a temperate tidal Lagoon: The Arcachon lagoon (SW France)

The Arcachon lagoon is a 156 km² temperate mesotidal lagoon dominated by tidal flats (66% of the surface area). The methane (CH₄) sources, sinks and fluxes were estimated from water and pore water concentrations, from chamber flux measurements at the sediment–air (low tide), sediment–water and water–air (high tide) interfaces, and from potential oxidation and production rate measurements in sediments. CH₄ concentrations in waters were maximal (500–1000 nmol l⁻¹) in river waters and in tidal creeks at low tide, and minimal in the lagoon at high tide (<50 nmol l⁻¹). The major CH₄ sources are continental waters and the tidal pumping of sediment pore waters at low tide. Methanogenesis occurred in the tidal flat sediments, in which pore water concentrations were relatively high (2.5–8.0 μmol l⁻¹). Nevertheless, the sediment was a minor CH₄ source for the water column and the atmosphere because of a high degree of anaerobic and aerobic CH₄ oxidation in sediments. Atmospheric CH₄ fluxes at high and low tide were low compared to freshwater wetlands. Temperate tidal lagoons appear to be very minor contributor of CH₄ to global atmosphere and to open ocean.