Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Mauricio Silva, Camilo Roa, Nizar Bel Haj Ali, Carrie O'Reilly, Tarek Abichou, Ian R. MacDonald
Summary: In 2004, a Gulf of Mexico oil platform was destroyed by Hurricane Ivan, leading to a continuous discharge of oil and gas. In 2019, a containment device was installed to prevent oil from entering the water column. Plumes of oil and gas bubbles were observed using acoustic survey, visual inspection, and water column collections. Atmospheric methane concentrations were elevated above baseline, and oil rising to the surface was identified as the main source of methane to the atmosphere.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Chiharu Aoyama, Nidomu Maeda
Summary: This article discusses the discovery of methane plumes in various sea areas and proposes a method for accurately quantifying the methane seepage using acoustic observations. The focus is on mapping methane plumes and collecting methane bubbles at the seafloor using acoustic devices like echo sounders and sonars to estimate the amount of seeping methane.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xia Feng, Zice Jia, Xudong Wang
Summary: This study analyzes over 120 samples from the northern Gulf of Mexico and finds that the carbon isotopes in seep carbonates formed from hydrocarbon seepage vary over time, confirming the impact of multiple sources of dissolved inorganic carbon on carbonate formation. Additionally, there are common trends in the carbon isotopes of carbonates formed during different stages, suggesting the importance of the temporal evolution of fluid sources in carbonate isotope geochemistry.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
William P. Meurer, John Blum, Greg Shipman
Summary: Two field studies were conducted on the Bush Hill mud volcano in the Gulf of Mexico, using gliders equipped with methane sensors. The studies found that methane concentrations were highest near the seep source and decreased gradually with distance, showing a nearly radially symmetric dispersal pattern.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Geology
Ang Li, Feng Cai, Nengyou Wu, Qing Li, Guijing Yan, Yunbao Sun, Gang Dong, Di Luo, Xingxing Wang
Summary: This study used various geological methods to reveal the distribution of gas seeps in the back-arc basin of the Mid-Okinawa Trough, showing that these seeps are caused by tectonic stress-driven extensional faults providing permeable conduits. Different types of gas seeps are proposed to be influenced by methane supply, with the control of these seeps being diverse and complex geological features.
ORE GEOLOGY REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Chieh-Wei Hsu, Yann Marcon, Miriam Roemer, Thomas Pape, Ingo Klaucke, Markus Loher, Paul Wintersteller, Ian R. MacDonald, Christian dos Santos Ferreira, Gerhard Bohrmann
Summary: Mictlan Knoll in the southern Gulf of Mexico is characterized by extensive asphalt deposits, with a crater-like depression surrounded by an elevated rim. The area shows fresh asphalt deposits and high backscatter, indicating recent extrusion. Gas bubble emissions were detected and gas volume quantifications revealed significant methane emissions at the site.
MARINE AND PETROLEUM GEOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Carrie O'Reilly, Mauricio Silva, Samira Daneshgar Asl, William P. Meurer, Ian R. MacDonald
Summary: This study used synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite imaging data to analyze hydrocarbon seepage in the Gulf of Mexico. The results showed that hydrocarbon seep zones were mainly concentrated in the northern Gulf of Mexico, with an average recurrence rate of 11% and an average instantaneous flux of 9.8 mL/s. The study also found that production activities in the Gulf of Mexico have minimal impact on natural seepage.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alana K. Ayasse, Andrew K. Thorpe, Daniel H. Cusworth, Eric A. Kort, Alan Gorchov Negron, Joseph Heckler, Gregory Asner, Riley M. Duren
Summary: This study used imaging spectrometers and glint targeting to measure methane emissions from shallow water offshore oil and gas platforms. The findings show that the emissions from these platforms exhibit highly skewed super emitter behavior. The study also revealed that the persistence and loss rate of shallow water offshore infrastructure tend to be higher than typical onshore production.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Akihiro Hiruta, Ryo Matsumoto
Summary: The collection of microbial CH4 hydrates and methane-derived authigenic carbonates has increased around Sado Island in the Sea of Japan. This study compares the carbon isotopic composition of CaCO3 in these areas to that observed in thermogenic CH4 hydrate mounds offshore of Joetsu. The variations in carbon isotopes suggest differences in past geochemical dynamics and a possible link with deep oil and gas reservoirs.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Ang Li, Feng Cai, Nengyou Wu, Qing Li, Guijing Yan, Yunbao Sun, Gang Dong, Di Luo, Xingxing Wang
Summary: This study uses MBES, MCS data, and sediment core to investigate gas emissions near fault complex on the Mid-Okinawa Trough shelf. It reveals spatial relationship between gas emissions and faults, as well as two gas emissions within a simulated restraining step-over region in the numerical model of FEM.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jing-Chun Feng, Can-Rong Li, Li Tang, Xiao-Nan Wu, Yi Wang, Zhifeng Yang, Weiyu Yuan, Liwei Sun, Weiqiang Hu, Si Zhang
Summary: Microplastic pollution poses a major threat to marine ecosystems. This study demonstrates the deposition of microplastics in the Haima cold seep since the invention of plastics. It is found that the burial rates of microplastics significantly increased in non-seepage areas, but were lower in methane seepage areas, suggesting the degradation potential of microplastics in cold seeps.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jeffrey J. Marlow, Daniel Hoer, Sean P. Jungbluth, Linda M. Reynard, Amy Gartman, Marko S. Chavez, Mohamed Y. El-Naggar, Noreen Tuross, Victoria J. Orphan, Peter R. Girguis
Summary: The study suggests that carbonate rocks in marine methane seeps host methane-oxidizing microbial communities with substantial methanotrophic potential. Laboratory experiments showed that carbonates from Point Dume seep off the coast of Southern California exhibited the highest rates of anaerobic methane oxidation measured so far. The research highlights the importance of rock-hosted methanotrophy as a significant contributor to marine methane consumption.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Ellen Lalk, Thomas Pape, Danielle S. Gruen, Norbert Kaul, Jennifer S. Karolewski, Gerhard Bohrmann, Shuhei Ono
Summary: This study investigates submarine gas hydrate deposits from different regions of the world's oceans using isotope analysis, providing insights into the source and generation depth of methane. The findings suggest that the isotopic composition of methane can provide information about microbial and thermogenic sources, and the apparent temperature can be used to infer the depth of methane generation.
GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lu Shen, Daniel Zavala-Araiza, Ritesh Gautam, Mark Omara, Tia Scarpelli, Jianxiong Sheng, Melissa P. Sulprizio, Jiawei Zhuang, Yuzhong Zhang, Zhen Qu, Xiao Lu, Steven P. Hamburg, Daniel J. Jacob
Summary: Using TROPOMI satellite observations, a study found significantly higher methane emissions from the oil and gas sector in eastern Mexico compared to previous estimates, particularly from the southern onshore basin. This suggests the need for stronger mitigation measures to reduce the anthropogenic methane emissions footprint, especially from the oil and gas industry in Mexico.
REMOTE SENSING OF ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alexis R. Johnson, Kathleen A. Donohue, Dennis R. Watts, Karen L. Tracey, Maureen A. Kennelly
Summary: The separation cycle of the Loop Current Eddy (LCE) in the eastern Gulf of Mexico energizes deep circulation and transfers energy from the surface Loop Current to the lower layers. By deploying an array of current and pressure recording inverted echo sounders (CPIES), researchers have observed three LCE separation events and documented the generation and radiation of deep energy. The interaction between surface meanders and the sloping topography of the Mississippi Fan plays a crucial role in the generation of topographic Rossby Waves (TRWs), which are hazardous to oil and gas operations in the region.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Alexander Weinstein, Luis Navarrete, Carolyn Ruppel, Thomas C. Weber, Mihai Leonte, Matthias Y. Kellermann, Eleanor C. Arrington, David L. Valentine, Mary I. Scranton, John D. Kessler
GEOCHEMISTRY GEOPHYSICS GEOSYSTEMS
(2016)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Benjamin P. Scandella, Liam Pillsbury, Thomas Weber, Carolyn Ruppel, Harold F. Hemond, Ruben Juanes
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2016)
Article
Fisheries
Verena M. Trenkel, Nils Olav Handegard, Thomas C. Weber
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2016)
Article
Acoustics
John L. Heaton, Glen Rice, Thomas C. Weber
JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA
(2017)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Thomas C. Weber, Glen Rice, Michael Smith
MARINE GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH
(2018)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Ann E. A. Blomberg, Thomas C. Weber, Andreas Austeng
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Christian Stranne, Larry Mayer, Thomas C. Weber, Barry R. Ruddick, Martin Jakobsson, Kevin Jerram, Elizabeth Weidner, Johan Nilsson, Katarina Gardfeldt
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2017)
Article
Acoustics
Scott Loranger, Christopher Bassett, Justin P. Cole, Bret Boyle, Thomas C. Weber
JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA
(2018)
Article
Oceanography
Elizabeth Weidner, Thomas. C. Weber, Larry Mayer, Martin Jakobsson, Denis Chernykh, Igor Semiletov
CONTINENTAL SHELF RESEARCH
(2019)
Article
Oceanography
A. M. Padilla, S. Loranger, F. S. Kinnaman, D. L. Valentine, T. C. Weber
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-OCEANS
(2019)
Article
Acoustics
Scott Loranger, Geir Pedersen, Thomas C. Weber
JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA
(2019)
Article
Engineering, Ocean
Kevin M. Rychert, Thomas C. Weber
JOURNAL OF ATMOSPHERIC AND OCEANIC TECHNOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Fisheries
Sarah C. Stienessen, Christopher D. Wilson, Thomas C. Weber, Julia K. Parrish
AQUATIC LIVING RESOURCES
(2019)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Christian Stranne, Larry Mayer, Martin Jakobsson, Elizabeth Weidner, Kevin Jerram, Thomas C. Weber, Leif G. Anderson, Johan Nilsson, Goran Bjork, Katarina Gardfeldt