Focused Fluid Flow, Shallow Gas Hydrate, and Cold Seep in the Qiongdongnan Basin, Northwestern South China Sea

The 3D seismic data acquired in the central Qiongdongnan Basin, northwestern South China Sea, reveal the presence of shallow gas hydrate, free gas, and focused fluid flow in the study area, which are indicated by multiple seismic anomalies, including bottom simulating reflectors, polarity reverses,...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Minghui Geng, Ruwei Zhang, Shengxiong Yang, Jun Guo, Zongheng Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-01-01
Series:Geofluids
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/5594980
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850165154158739456
author Minghui Geng
Ruwei Zhang
Shengxiong Yang
Jun Guo
Zongheng Chen
author_facet Minghui Geng
Ruwei Zhang
Shengxiong Yang
Jun Guo
Zongheng Chen
author_sort Minghui Geng
collection DOAJ
description The 3D seismic data acquired in the central Qiongdongnan Basin, northwestern South China Sea, reveal the presence of shallow gas hydrate, free gas, and focused fluid flow in the study area, which are indicated by multiple seismic anomalies, including bottom simulating reflectors, polarity reverses, pulldowns, minor faults, and gas chimneys intensively emplaced within the shallow strata. A new cold seep is also discovered at approximately 1520 m water depths with an ~40 m wide crater in the west part of the study area. Water column imaging, seafloor observation, and sampling using the remotely operated vehicle “Haima” demonstrate ongoing gas seepages and shallow gas hydrates at this site. Thermogenic gas in the study area migrates from the deep reservoir through the gas hydrate stability zone along deep faults and gas chimneys, forms shallow gas hydrate and free gas, and sustains localized gas seepage within this cold seep. The results provide insight into the relationship between shallow gas hydrate accumulation and deep hydrocarbon generation and migration and simultaneously have important implications for hydrocarbon explorations in the Qiongdongnan Basin, northwestern South China Sea.
format Article
id doaj-art-ebd1e8afb9604890bfa3146ac5e13c21
institution OA Journals
issn 1468-8115
1468-8123
language English
publishDate 2021-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Geofluids
spelling doaj-art-ebd1e8afb9604890bfa3146ac5e13c212025-08-20T02:21:49ZengWileyGeofluids1468-81151468-81232021-01-01202110.1155/2021/55949805594980Focused Fluid Flow, Shallow Gas Hydrate, and Cold Seep in the Qiongdongnan Basin, Northwestern South China SeaMinghui Geng0Ruwei Zhang1Shengxiong Yang2Jun Guo3Zongheng Chen4MNR Key Laboratory of Marine Mineral Resources, Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, China Geological Survey, Guangzhou 510760, ChinaMNR Key Laboratory of Marine Mineral Resources, Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, China Geological Survey, Guangzhou 510760, ChinaMNR Key Laboratory of Marine Mineral Resources, Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, China Geological Survey, Guangzhou 510760, ChinaMNR Key Laboratory of Marine Mineral Resources, Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, China Geological Survey, Guangzhou 510760, ChinaMNR Key Laboratory of Marine Mineral Resources, Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, China Geological Survey, Guangzhou 510760, ChinaThe 3D seismic data acquired in the central Qiongdongnan Basin, northwestern South China Sea, reveal the presence of shallow gas hydrate, free gas, and focused fluid flow in the study area, which are indicated by multiple seismic anomalies, including bottom simulating reflectors, polarity reverses, pulldowns, minor faults, and gas chimneys intensively emplaced within the shallow strata. A new cold seep is also discovered at approximately 1520 m water depths with an ~40 m wide crater in the west part of the study area. Water column imaging, seafloor observation, and sampling using the remotely operated vehicle “Haima” demonstrate ongoing gas seepages and shallow gas hydrates at this site. Thermogenic gas in the study area migrates from the deep reservoir through the gas hydrate stability zone along deep faults and gas chimneys, forms shallow gas hydrate and free gas, and sustains localized gas seepage within this cold seep. The results provide insight into the relationship between shallow gas hydrate accumulation and deep hydrocarbon generation and migration and simultaneously have important implications for hydrocarbon explorations in the Qiongdongnan Basin, northwestern South China Sea.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/5594980
spellingShingle Minghui Geng
Ruwei Zhang
Shengxiong Yang
Jun Guo
Zongheng Chen
Focused Fluid Flow, Shallow Gas Hydrate, and Cold Seep in the Qiongdongnan Basin, Northwestern South China Sea
Geofluids
title Focused Fluid Flow, Shallow Gas Hydrate, and Cold Seep in the Qiongdongnan Basin, Northwestern South China Sea
title_full Focused Fluid Flow, Shallow Gas Hydrate, and Cold Seep in the Qiongdongnan Basin, Northwestern South China Sea
title_fullStr Focused Fluid Flow, Shallow Gas Hydrate, and Cold Seep in the Qiongdongnan Basin, Northwestern South China Sea
title_full_unstemmed Focused Fluid Flow, Shallow Gas Hydrate, and Cold Seep in the Qiongdongnan Basin, Northwestern South China Sea
title_short Focused Fluid Flow, Shallow Gas Hydrate, and Cold Seep in the Qiongdongnan Basin, Northwestern South China Sea
title_sort focused fluid flow shallow gas hydrate and cold seep in the qiongdongnan basin northwestern south china sea
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/5594980
work_keys_str_mv AT minghuigeng focusedfluidflowshallowgashydrateandcoldseepintheqiongdongnanbasinnorthwesternsouthchinasea
AT ruweizhang focusedfluidflowshallowgashydrateandcoldseepintheqiongdongnanbasinnorthwesternsouthchinasea
AT shengxiongyang focusedfluidflowshallowgashydrateandcoldseepintheqiongdongnanbasinnorthwesternsouthchinasea
AT junguo focusedfluidflowshallowgashydrateandcoldseepintheqiongdongnanbasinnorthwesternsouthchinasea
AT zonghengchen focusedfluidflowshallowgashydrateandcoldseepintheqiongdongnanbasinnorthwesternsouthchinasea