Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Kevin Meazell, Peter B. Flemings
Summary: This study uses 3D seismic data to track seafloor gas mounds and their leakage points in the Terrebonne Basin, Walker Ridge block 313 of the northern Gulf of Mexico. It predicts overpressure within sand bodies and explains the accumulation and release of free gas at the base of the hydrate stability zone. The study shows how the hydrate stability zone can impact fluid expulsion and be influenced by warm, rising, saline fluids sealed by hydrate.
EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
David R. Cox, Mads Huuse, Andrew M. W. Newton, Arka D. Sarkar, Paul C. Knutz
Summary: An extensive 3D seismic dataset was used to study the contemporary hydrocarbon distribution and historical fluid migration in Melville Bay offshore northwest Greenland, providing the first inventory of shallow gas and gas hydrate in this area. The study found that gas accumulation is influenced by underlying paleo-rift topography and multiple glacial events, which have led to gas concentration in Cenozoic stratigraphy above the ridge. Gas hydrate deposits mainly adjusted to glacial-interglacial changes by expansion and dissociation at the base, and are relatively inert to current global warming levels.
Review
Energy & Fuels
Liping Liu, Fengyou Chu, Nengyou Wu, Lei Zhang, Xiaohu Li, Huaiming Li, Zhenggang Li, Weiyan Zhang, Xiao Wang
Summary: Compared to deep-sea gas hydrate deposits, shallow subsurface and seafloor gas hydrates have attracted more attention due to their concentrated distribution, high saturation, and easy access. This paper reviews and summarizes global gas hydrate systems based on gas sources, migration pathways, and accumulation processes, categorizing them into four types.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
G. Bohrmann, C. Berndt, S. Lin, T. -H. Tu, A. T. Lin, H. -H. Hsu, M. -C. Lai, W. -C. Chi, C. Deusner, J. Elger, K. Wallmann, T. Freudenthal, S. Mau, T. Pape, Y. -T. Tseng, P. -S. Yu, L. -F. Fan, J. -N. Chen, S. -C. Chen, T. -T. Chen, K. -Y. Wei
Summary: Gas hydrate presence in the marine environment southwest of Taiwan was confirmed through the use of various proxies such as negative chloride anomalies, cold spots detected by infrared thermal scans, increased resistivity, and lithological parameters. However, recovery of gas hydrates was not successful due to small crystal sizes. In situ gas hydrate saturation values were estimated to be between 1 and 10% at depths of 15-42 meters below seafloor and even higher values of up to 38% below 100 meters in certain sections. The presence of higher gas hydrate saturation values was linked to the sealing effect of carbonate precipitation and the occurrence of sand layers in the drilled sections.
MARINE AND PETROLEUM GEOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jiangong Wei, Tingting Wu, Xiguang Deng, Syed Waseem Haider, Sanober Kahkashan, Shengxiong Yang
Summary: Seafloor methane emissions have significant impacts on global climate change and ocean acidification, but systematic knowledge of submarine methane seepage is lacking. A recent geological survey on the Makran continental margin detected numerous gas flares, with methane flux accounting for a small percentage of global emissions. Methane flares disappeared in the water column, indicating oxidation or dissolution by seawater.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Chaoqi Zhu, Zhenghui Li, Duanxin Chen, Sanzhong Li, Xiaoshuai Song, Hongxian Shan, Yonggang Jia
Summary: Gas hydrate dissociation can lead to seafloor deformation, with visible gas pipes and gas pockets forming during the process. The study provides insights into the impact of hydrate dissociation on geohazards, marine environments, and global climate. Experiment results suggest that monitoring overpressure can help forecast imminent geohazards related to hydrate dissociation.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Richard J. Davies, Jinxiu Yang, Mark T. Ireland, Christian Berndt, Miguel Angel Morales Maqueda, Mads Huuse
Summary: This study reveals that methane can migrate at least 40 km below the base of the hydrate stability zone and vent through pockmarks at the shelf break. It suggests that methane bound in deeper water distal hydrates can reach the seafloor and vent into the ocean.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
M. Ketzer, D. Praeg, A. H. Augustin, L. F. Rodrigues, A. K. Steiger, M. Rahmati-Abkenar, A. R. Viana, D. J. Miller, A. Malinverno, G. R. Dickens, J. A. Cupertino
Summary: Seafloor methane emissions can impact Earth's climate and ocean chemistry, especially in continental slopes with high sediment accumulations. The collapse of thick slope sediment accumulations due to gravity creates pathways for gas migration, leading to the release of seafloor methane.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Pascal Kunath, Gareth Crutchley, Wu-Cheng Chi, Christian Berndt, Char-Shine Liu, Judith Elger, Dirk Klaeschen, Gerhard Bohrmann
Summary: The Formosa Ridge cold seep system on the northern South China Sea passive margin slope has recorded multiple distinct gas migration episodes between 300,000 and 127,000 years ago, separated by periods of dormancy. Episodic seepage still seems to occur at present, which may be associated with enhanced seafloor sedimentation.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
M. Ketzer, D. Praeg, A. H. Augustin, L. F. Rodrigues, A. K. Steiger, M. Rahmati-Abkenar, A. R. Viana, D. J. Miller, A. Malinverno, G. R. Dickens, J. A. Cupertino
Summary: Seafloor methane emissions, caused by the release of methane from gas hydrate and free gas through the collapse of sediment accumulations on continental slopes, have significant effects on Earth's climate and ocean chemistry. This study highlights the importance of collapsing sediment accumulations as pathways for gas migration, resulting in seafloor emissions. The observed emissions in the study region are three times greater than estimates for the entire US North Atlantic margin, indicating the significance of collapsing sediment accumulations for ocean carbon cycling. Similar outgassing systems exist on other sediment-laden continental slopes.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Fanbao Cheng, Xiang Sun, Yanghui Li, Xin Ju, Yaobin Yang, Xuanji Liu, Weiguo Liu, Mingjun Yang, Yongchen Song
Summary: Low gas production efficiency and high cost pose significant challenges to the commercial viability of marine gas hydrate exploitation. We propose a joint production approach that focuses on unexplored characteristics such as fluid seepage and local deformation due to interlayer interface. Our research reveals that joint production can surpass commercialization threshold by enabling gas production rates with minimum proportion of free gas exceeding 0.5 during depressurization. The presence of free gas in the reservoir promotes energy recovery and is correlated with permeability. We observe interlayer interference leading to local gas accumulation and heterogeneous permeability change within the reservoir. Geomechanically, maximum displacement occurs in the free gas layer, while simultaneous compaction and dilation are observed in different parts of the wellbore. This study provides crucial insights into the characteristics and challenges of hydrate and shallow gas joint production related to interlayer interference.
Article
Engineering, Marine
Ana Maria Osorio-Granada, Bismarck Jigena-Antelo, Juan Vidal-Perez, Enrico Zambianchi, Edward G. Osorio-Granada, Cristina Torrecillas, Jeanette Romero-Cozar, Hermann Leon-Rincon, Karem Oviedo-Prada, Juan J. Munoz-Perez
Summary: High-resolution seismic analysis and bathymetry data have revealed seabed and sub-surface anomalies in the Offshore Sinu Fold Belt (OSFB), which are likely caused by shallow gas presence in the sedimentary records. These anomalies are widely detected through abnormal acoustic reflections, including acoustic blanking, enhanced reflections, acoustic plumes, pockmarks, and dome structures. The identification of these anomalies is valuable for assessing marine geohazards and serving as a hydrocarbon exploration tool.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Ya Yang, Shigang Yang, Qin Fang, Hengbo Xiang, Wenshen Sun, Xin Liu
Summary: Through experiments and numerical simulations, the venting behavior and venting load of a gas explosion in an urban shallow buried pipe trench were studied. It was found that adding vents to the top of the trench reduced the upstream overpressure and overall impulse, and also attenuated the overpressure to a greater degree.
TUNNELLING AND UNDERGROUND SPACE TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
Aoxing Qu, Dawei Guan, Zhibo Jiang, Qi Fan, Qingping Li, Lunxiang Zhang, Jiafei Zhao, Lei Yang, Yongchen Song
Summary: This study investigates the impact of the characteristics of the underlying free gas layer on gas and water production in marine gas hydrate reservoirs. The results show that a dense distribution of hydrates leads to slower gas production due to sluggish gas permeation and limited heat supply. However, when the underlying free gas layer is more water-saturated, these issues are not observed. Moreover, a water-rich bottom layer can effectively enhance the maximum gas production rate.
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
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Ramon Yosvanis Batista Cruz, Loic Peiffer, Bodo Weber, Juan Carlos Herguera, Marcello Liotta, Antonio Gonzalez Fernandez, Rosa Maria Barragan Reyes, Thomas Gunter Kretzschmar
APPLIED GEOCHEMISTRY
(2020)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Nicholas A. O'Mara, Anson H. Cheung, Christopher S. Kelly, Samantha Sandwick, Timothy D. Herbert, James M. Russell, Jose Abella-Gutierrez, Sylvia G. Dee, Peter W. Swarzenski, Juan Carlos Herguera
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2019)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Maricela Juarez-Rodriguez, Gisela Heckel, Juan Carlos Herguera-Garcia, Fernando R. Elorriaga-Verplancken, Sharon Z. Herzka, Yolanda Schramm
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
David A. Clague, Julie F. Martin, Jennifer B. Paduan, David A. Butterfield, John W. Jamieson, Morgane Le Saout, David W. Caress, Hans Thomas, James F. Holden, Deborah S. Kelley
GEOCHEMISTRY GEOPHYSICS GEOSYSTEMS
(2020)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
C. Geoffrey Wheat, Robert A. Zierenberg, Jennifer B. Paduan, David W. Caress, David A. Clague, William W. Chadwick
GEOCHEMISTRY GEOPHYSICS GEOSYSTEMS
(2020)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Raquel Negrete-Aranda, Florian Neumann, Juan Contreras, Robert N. Harris, Ronald M. Spelz, Robert Zierenberg, David W. Caress
Summary: Heat flow measurements in the Southern Pescadero Basin indicate upflow of hydrothermal fluids associate with rifting release heat in excess of 10 W/m(2) along faults several kilometers in length, while longer faults do not vent. Heat flow anomalies decay slowly to background values of 2 W/m(2) about 1 km away from faults following an inverse square-root distance law. Modeling of heat transport near faults suggests a reservoir depth of around 5.7 km, with permeability and flow rates in fracture systems and basin aquitards.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH
(2021)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
L. A. Vega-Ramirez, R. M. Spelz, R. Negrete-Aranda, F. Neumann, D. W. Caress, D. A. Clague, J. B. Paduan, J. Contreras, J. G. Pena-Dominguez
Summary: The study applied LDA for fault detection in the Gulf of California, utilizing an idealized model based on geometric representations identified by geomorphologists. Results showed LDA performed well in detecting faults longer than 3 km, while distinguishing shorter faults was challenging.
Article
Oceanography
J. A. Valencia-Gasti, V. F. Camacho-Ibar, J. C. Herguera
Summary: In this study, water mass fractions in the deepwater region of the southern Gulf of Mexico were estimated based on samples collected in June 2016. The study identified five dominant water masses and their core contributions, as well as the control of mesoscale eddies on the depth variability of water masses.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-OCEANS
(2022)
Article
Oceanography
Linda M. Barranco, J. Martin Hernandez Ayon, Daniel Pech, Cecilia Enriquez, Jorge Herrera, Ismael Marino, Juan Carlos Herguera
Summary: This study explored the dynamics and distribution of the carbonate system over the Yucatan Shelf, influenced by factors such as submarine groundwater discharges and upwelling. Significant biogeochemical differences were found between different seasons, highlighting the complex interactions shaping the carbonate system in this region.
CONTINENTAL SHELF RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Anson H. Cheung, Samantha Sandwick, Xiaojing Du, Jose Abella-Gutierrez, Richard S. Vachula, Timothy D. Herbert, Baylor Fox-Kemper, Juan Carlos Herguera
Summary: This study investigates the millennial-scale variability of sea surface temperature (SST) and primary productivity in the northeast Pacific using marine sediment records. The results show spatial variations in SST, with higher latitudes experiencing greater changes than lower latitudes. The study also finds no evidence for coherent variability in primary producer community or carbon export.
PALEOCEANOGRAPHY AND PALEOCLIMATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Yiting Tseng, Miriam Roemer, Saulwood Lin, Thomas Pape, Christian Berndt, Tzu-Ting Chen, Charles K. Paull, David W. Caress, Gerhard Bohrmann
Summary: Hydroacoustic surveys in the accretionary wedge southwest of Taiwan identified an active hydrocarbon seepage area known as Yam Seep, covering approximately 49,000 m(2) on the northern crest of the Four-Way Closure Ridge. Data from multibeam and side-scan sonar revealed rugged topography and high seafloor backscatter in the area. Further investigations using video sleds, sediment sampling, and drilling confirmed that the seepage has been ongoing for thousands of years and is characterized by intensely fractured methane-derived carbonates. Gas bubble emission sites were detected in the water column in 2019, indicating the presence of gas hydrates in the subsurface.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EARTH SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
M. Wolfson-Schwehr, C. K. Paull, D. W. Caress, R. Gwiazda, N. M. Nieminski, P. J. Talling, C. Carvajal, S. Simmons, G. Troni
Summary: This study demonstrates how ultra-high resolution seabed mapping using new technology can help understand the processes shaping submarine canyons. The study conducted time-lapse surveys of the Monterey Canyon axis, revealing centimeter-scale seabed textures and the effects of turbidity currents and internal tides. The results suggest that the scale gap between modern seafloor surveys and the ancient rock record may eventually be bridged with new mapping technology.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-EARTH SURFACE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rainer M. W. Amon, Jose Ochoa, Julio Candela, Sharon Z. Herzka, Paula Perez-Brunius, Julio Sheinbaum, Victor F. Camacho Ibar, Juan Carlos Herguera, Martin Hernandez Ayon, Robert M. Key, Sergey Molodtsov
Summary: This study investigates the ventilation in the deep Gulf of Mexico, its connection to the North Atlantic, and its sensitivity to changes in Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). Using radiocarbon data and transport measurements, it is found that the residence time of deep water in the Gulf of Mexico is approximately 100 years. Comparisons with previous radiocarbon observations suggest that the deep Gulf of Mexico has aged in recent years, which is consistent with temperature increases and CMIP6 global circulation model simulations. The distribution of radiocarbon indicates that there is a time lag of around 160 years between North Atlantic convection and complete ventilation of the deep Gulf of Mexico, suggesting that the aging and warming of deep waters in the Gulf of Mexico were initiated in the North Atlantic before approximately 1890, which aligns with the reported rapid and persistent weakening of AMOC since the Little Ice Age.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
James P. Barry, Steven Y. Litvin, Andrew Devogelaere, David W. Caress, Chris F. Lovera, Amanda S. Kahn, Erica J. Burton, Chad King, Jennifer B. Paduan, C. Geoffrey Wheat, Fanny Girard, Sebastian Sudek, Anne M. Hartwell, Alana D. Sherman, Paul R. Mcgill, Aaron Schnittger, Janet R. Voight, Eric J. Martin
Summary: Do hydrothermal springs contribute to the biology and ecology of deep-sea creatures? In central California, octopuses migrate to hydrothermal springs near an extinct volcano to mate and die, forming the largest known aggregation on Earth. The warmth from the springs raises metabolic rates and speeds up embryonic development, leading to faster reproduction compared to other deep-sea octopods. This study provides insight into the importance of these unique and undiscovered habitats for warm-tolerant species.
Article
Engineering, Marine
Elizabeth Burke Watson, Alejandro Hinojosa-Corona, Johannes R. Krause, Juan Carlos Herguera, Julianna McDonnell, Karen Raquel Villegas Manriquez, Michelle E. Gannon, Andrew B. Gray
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2020)