Comparison of marine gas hydrates in sediments of an active and passive continental margin

Two sites of the Deep Sea Drilling Project in contrasting geologic settings provide a basis for comparison of the geochemical conditions associated with marine gas hydrates in continental margin sediments. Site 533 is located at 3191 m water depth on a spit-like extension of the continental rise on a passive margin in the Atlantic Ocean. Site 568, at 2031 m water depth, is in upper slope sediment of an active accretionary margin in the Pacific Ocean. Both sites are characterized by high rates of sedimentation, and the organic carbon contents of these sediments generally exceed 0.5%. Anomalous seismic reflections that transgress sedimentary structures and parallel the seafloor, suggested the presence of gas hydrates at both sites, and, during coring, small samples of gas hydrate were recovered at subbottom depths of 238m (Site 533) and 404 m (Site 568). The principal gaseous components of the gas hydrates wer methane, ethane, and CO₂. Residual methane in sediments at both sites usually exceeded 10 mll^?1 of wet sediment. Carbon isotopic compositions of methane, CO₂, and ΣCO₂ followed parallel trends with depth, suggesting that methane formed mainly as a result of biological reduction of oxidized carbon. Salinity of pore waters decreased with depth, a likely result of gas hydrate formation. These geochemical characteristics define some of the conditions associated with the occurrence of gas hydrates formed by in situ processes in continental margin sediments.     

CARBON DYNAMICS OF WETLAND IN THE SANJIANG PLAIN

1INTRODUCTIONWetlandsplayanimportant roleintheprocessofcar-bonstorage.Thetotalcarbonstoredindifferentkindsofwetlandsisabout15%-35%ofthetotalcarboninthegloballandsoils(POSTetal.,1982;GORHAM,1991).Inaddition,wetlandsaresignificantnaturalsources fortheatmospheric CH4 (MOORE,1994).It isestimatedthatabout110×1012gCH4 originates fromanaerobicdecompositioninthenaturalwetlands,CH4 emission fromthenaturalwetlandsis15%-30%oftheglobalCH4 emission andtheCH4 emission from thepeat land at hi…     

Simulating methane emission from a Chinese rice field as influenced by fertilizer and water level

Natural and agricultural wetlands are considered to be the major sources of global atmospheric methane (CH₄). A one‐dimensional model was developed to simulate methane emission and used to examine the influence of various physical processes on the rate of methane emission. Three processes involved in the methane emission are implemented in the model: production, reoxidation and transport. Three transport pathways were considered: diffusion across water–air or soil–air interfaces, ebullition and diffusion through plants. These pathways are influenced by soil properties, plant growth, water‐table conditions, temperature and external inputs (e.g. fertilizer). The model was used to examine the seasonal variation of the methane emission at a rice field in Hunan, China, which was observed during a field experiment for consecutive (early and late) rice seasons in 1992. The observed seasonal variations of methane emission, and role of plants in transporting methane to the atmosphere, are captured by the model simulation. Further model applications were conducted to simulate effects of fertilizer and water‐level condition on the methane emission. The results indicate that unfermented organic fertilizer produces a higher methane emission rate than mineral fertilizer. The simulations with treatments of a deep‐water covering and constant moisture reduced the methane emission. The rice field study provides a framework for further development of the model towards simulations based on spatially distributed variables (e.g. water table, soil temperature and vegetation) at a regional scale. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Methane‐related microbial gypsum calcitization in stromatolites of a marine evaporative setting (Münder Formation,Upper Jurassic,Hils Syncline,north Germany)

Fossil stromatolites may reveal information about their hydrochemical palaeoenvironment, provided that assignment to a specific microbial community and a corresponding biogeochemical mechanism of formation can be made. Tithonian stromatolites of the Münder Formation at Thüste, north Germany, have traditionally been considered as formed by intertidal cyanobacterial communities. However, thin sections of the stromatolites show elongated angular traces of former gypsum crystals in a dense arrangement, but no algal or cyanobacterial filament traces. Moreover, high Fe²⁺ and Mn²⁺ contents, oxygen‐isotope and sulphur‐isotope ratios of carbonate‐bound sulphates, and sulphurized hydrocarbon biomarkers of the stromatolitic carbonate indicate that CaCO₃ precipitation occurred near the oxic–anoxic interface as a result of intensive bacterial sulphur cycling rather than photosynthetic activity. Furthermore, anaerobic oxidation of methane by Archaea may have driven CaCO₃ precipitation in deeper parts of the biofilm community, as reflected by high concentrations of squalane with a strongly negative δ¹³C in conjunction with evaporite pseudomorphs showing extremely low δ¹³C_Carb ratios. Consequently, the Thüste stromatolites are now interpreted as having initially formed by gypsum impregnation of biofilms. Subsequently, early Mg‐calcitic calcitization within the biofilms occurred because of combined bacterial iron, manganese and sulphate reduction, with an increasing contribution of anaerobic oxidation of methane with depth. This model plausibly explains the prominent preservation of signals derived from oxygen‐independent metabolic pathways, whereas virtually no geochemical record exists for an aerobic community that may, nevertheless, have prevailed at the stromatolite surface. Photic‐zone stromatolites with a prominent signal of anaerobic oxidation of methane may be common in, and indicative of, oxygen‐depleted sulphate‐bearing environments with high rates of methane production, conditions that possibly were fulfilled at the Archaean to Proterozoic transition.     

高、低煤阶煤层气藏地质特征及控气作用差异性研究

高、低煤阶煤层气地质特征及控气作用差异性是研究煤层气富集成藏的重要组成部分,是煤层气勘探开发理论研究过程中重要的基础性研究领域之一。本文以中国沁水、阜新盆地和美国粉河盆地等典型的含气盆地为例,探讨了高、低煤阶煤层气的储层物性差异,分析了构造控气和水文地质控气作用的差异性。研究表明,高煤阶气藏含气量高,CH4百分含量高,δ13C1值大于-38.75‰,储层渗透率变化小,储层改造难,构造热事件对煤层气的生成、富集贡献大,持续的水动力使气藏遭到破坏,且破坏幅度大,现今地下水格局对气藏的形成具有一定的影响;低煤阶气藏含气量低,CH4百分含量低,δ13C1值大于-49.11‰,储层渗透率变化大,储层易改造,煤热演化史及煤阶影响着煤层气的生成、富集,在煤层气生成过程中活跃的水动力是甲烷生成的主要的水文地质条件之一,但持续的水动力使气藏遭到破坏,且破坏幅度小,而合适的地层水矿化度则是低煤阶煤层气生成的重要条件,地下水格局对气藏的调整和改造起到决定性的影响。     

超低频电磁探测信号能量的计算及其地质应用

被动式超低频电磁探测技术是一种有效的探测地下地质体和资源的手段,但采用现有的处理方法得到的探测曲线较容易受到各种噪声的干扰,影响了对所获得的探测曲线的解释。笔者将信号能量引入到超低频电磁探测信号的处理中。首先根据信号能量计算原理,计算不同深度的超低频探测信号的能量值．获取能量曲线。同时,根据具体应用目的,分析其曲线特征,并将信号能量曲线与现有的信号曲线,如最大值曲线、最小值曲线等进行对比分析。结果表明,与现有方法相比,笔者所提出的信号能量曲线方法能更准确地反映地下岩层特征,有利于曲线的地质解译。     

珠江口和琼东南盆地天然气水合物形成和稳定分布的地球化学边界条件及其分布区

通过对南海北部陆缘珠江口和琼东南盆地气田的天然气形成水合物的地球化学计算模拟及地质地球化学条件分析，对珠江口和琼东南盆地天然气形成水合物的地球化学边界条件及分布区进行了研究。认识到南海北部陆缘琼东南和珠江口盆地内的断裂构造是天然气向海底渗漏的通道，为天然气水合物在海底的形成提供了物源；盆地内巨厚的第四纪富有机质沉积也为天然气水合物形成提供了充足的细菌成因生物气源。在海底温度2－16℃范围内，琼东南盆地气田10种天然气和珠江口盆地气田18种天然气形成水合物的压力有比较大的范围，随温度增高，天然气水合物形成的压力增高；盆地间和各天然气样品之间形成水合物的压力均是不一致的。在南海海水平均盐度3．4％条件下，结合海底温度与水深变化资料，珠江口和琼东南盆地天然气水合物形成和稳定分布的海区是不同的，珠江口盆地小于230m水深的海区没有天然气水合物的形成，在230－760m水深的海区可能有天然气水合物的存在，天然气水合物的稳定分布区应该在大于860m水深的深水区；在琼东南盆地水深小于320m的海区不可能有天然气水合物的形成，在320－650m水深的海区可能有天然气水合物的存在，大于650m水深的海区是天然气水合物的稳定分布区。     

冲绳海槽天然气水合物BSR的地震研究

根据多道地震反射资料分析,在冲绳海槽南部和中部发现了拟海底反射层(BSR)现象。通过对海底异常反射层的振幅特征、速度异常和AVO属性分析,说明该BSR可能反映了天然气水合物的存在,并发现冲绳海槽断层与天然气水合物的形成有密切关系。     

GIS支持下的煤层气目标区模糊综合评价模型

地理信息系统(GIS)以空间数据库技术为核心,将空间要素与统计数据有机地结合在一起,具有直观灵活、分析功能强大、制表制图方便等优点。根据中国煤层气(CBM)目标区的特点,建立了4种原则下用于不同情形的煤层气目标区评价模型:第1种模型为全面考虑各个因素原则,第2种模型为只考虑重点因素原则,第3种模型为着重考虑重点因素原则,第4种模型为既全面考虑又兼顾重点因素原则。根据这4种模型,在常用GIS软件MapGIS基础上进行了二次开发并实现模型,以华北聚气区煤层气为例进行综合评价,目标区评价结果与实际情况基本相符。     

华北地台中元古代碳酸盐岩中的微生物成因构造及其生烃潜力

华北地台中元古界主要由环潮坪石英砂岩、浅海碳酸盐岩和浅海—泻湖相暗色页岩3种沉积相组合构成,以陆表海浅水碳酸盐岩占主导。碳酸盐岩中除含有丰富的微古植物、宏观藻类和微生物建隆外,还发育大量的微生物成因构造(MISS)和微生物诱发的碳酸盐沉淀(MMCP)。微生物席和MISS构造在高于庄组上部(约1.6 Ga)和雾迷山组下部(约1.45 Ga)碳酸盐岩中尤为发育,表明活跃的微生物活动和高有机质产量。在石化微生物席中,发现有丝状、球状细菌化石和草莓状黄铁矿;围岩中发现有针状文石、花瓣状重晶石、放射状菱铁矿、铁白云石和葡萄状碳酸盐胶结物等多种自生碳酸盐矿物,指示甲烷厌氧氧化(AOM)导致的自生碳酸盐沉淀。中元古代的温暖气候和海洋分层、缺氧、硫化条件有利于微生物的高生产量和高有机质埋藏率。气隆构造和核形石状碳酸盐结核反映浅埋藏条件下活跃的成烷作用和甲烷排放,围岩和MMCP中富沥青质。华北地台中元古界富微生物席碳酸盐岩有良好的生烃潜力,有可能形成重要的烃源岩。据微生物席、MISS构造及MMCP的研究,初步估算华北地台中元古代碳酸盐岩的概略生烃潜力约为10×108t石油当量。