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Joint interpretation of geophysical field experiments in the Danube deep-sea fan, Black Sea

Joint interpretation of geophysical field experiments in the Danube deep-sea fan, Black Sea
Joint interpretation of geophysical field experiments in the Danube deep-sea fan, Black Sea
Gas hydrates are naturally-occurring solid compounds of gas and water within almost all sediment-rich continental margins. Due to the large amounts of methane stored in submarine gas hydrates, they might serve as future reservoirs for offshore marine gas production. Assessing the reservoir characteristics requires reliable estimates of both the gas and gas hydrate concentration, which can be best addressed using geophysical and geological investigations. Here, we demonstrate the power of joint interpretation of interdisciplinary geophysical techniques and geological laboratory experiments. Regional 2D multichannel seismic data provide the broad overview of a hydrate-bearing area. High-resolution 2D and 3D seismic reflection data provide detailed images of two working areas, the buried S1 channel-levee system at 1500 m water depth (well within the gas hydrate stability zone) and a slope failure location, located at 665 m water depth (top limit of the hydrate formation) next to the S2 channel. Detailed compressional and shear wave (Vs) velocity-depth models were derived from four component ocean-bottom seismic data, the latter from P- to S-conversion upon reflection. Due to their steep reflection angles, shear wave events result in less resolved Vs models. Nevertheless, in case of a change in elasticity of the sediment matrix due to gas hydrate cementation, shear wave events can be used as an indicator. As such, Vs can give insight into the nature of hydrate formation throughout the GHSZ. We present new developments in the application of common reflection surface, normal-incidence-point tomography and full waveform inversion techniques to enhance model resolution for the seismic data sets. 2D and 3D controlled-source electromagnetic measurements provide volume information of the resistivity-depth distribution models. Electrical resistivity of the sediment formation depends on its porosity and the resistivity of the pore fluid. Gas hydrate and free gas generally have much higher electrical resistivities than saline pore fluid, and can be assessed using empirical relationships if the porosity and pore fluid salinity are known. Calibration with logging data, laboratory experiments on hydrate- or ice-bearing sediments, and resulting velocity and resistivity values, guide the joint interpretation into more accurate saturation estimations. Beyond that, a joint inversion framework supporting forward calculation of specialized geophysical methods at distributed locations is under development. In this paper, we summarize these individual components of a multi-parameter study, and their joint application to investigate gas hydrate systems, their equilibrium conditions and preservation of bottom-simulating-reflectors. We analyze data from two working areas at different locations and depth levels along the slope of the Danube Fan, which are both characterized by multiple bottom simulating reflectors indicating the presence of gas hydrate. In the first working area we located two depth windows with indications for moderate 16%–24% gas hydrate formation, but no vertical gas migration. In the second working area we observed fluid migration pathways and active gas seepage, limiting gas hydrate formation to less than 10% at the BSR. Some discrepancies remain between seismic-based and electromagnetic-based models of gas and gas hydrate distribution and saturation estimates, indicating that further in-situ investigations are likely required to better understand the gas hydrate systems at our study areas and to calibrate the inversion processes, which will be required for a joint inversion framework as well.
Gas hydrates, Geochemistry, Seismic, Controlled source electromagnetics, Pressure experiments, Converted shear waves, Full waveform tomography, Joint interpretation
0264-8172
Bialas, J.
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Bohlen, T.
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Dannowski, A.
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Eisenberg-Klein, G.
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Gassner, L.
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Gehrmann, R.
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Heeschen, K.
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Hölz, S.
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Jegen, M.
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Klaucke, I.
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Krieger, M.
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Mann, J.
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Müller, C.H.
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Prüßmann, J.
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Schicks, J.
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Schünemann, E.
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Schwalenberg, K.
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Sommer, M.
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Smilde, P.L.
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Spangenberg, E.
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Trappe, H.
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Zander, T.
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Bialas, J.
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Bohlen, T.
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Dannowski, A.
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Eisenberg-Klein, G.
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Gassner, L.
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Gehrmann, R.
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Heeschen, K.
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Hölz, S.
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Jegen, M.
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Klaucke, I.
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Krieger, M.
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Mann, J.
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Müller, C.H.
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Prüßmann, J.
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Schicks, J.
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Schünemann, E.
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Schwalenberg, K.
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Sommer, M.
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Smilde, P.L.
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Spangenberg, E.
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Trappe, H.
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Zander, T.
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Bialas, J., Bohlen, T., Dannowski, A., Eisenberg-Klein, G., Gassner, L., Gehrmann, R., Heeschen, K., Hölz, S., Jegen, M., Klaucke, I., Krieger, M., Mann, J., Müller, C.H., Prüßmann, J., Schicks, J., Schünemann, E., Schwalenberg, K., Sommer, M., Smilde, P.L., Spangenberg, E., Trappe, H. and Zander, T. (2020) Joint interpretation of geophysical field experiments in the Danube deep-sea fan, Black Sea. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 121, [104551]. (doi:10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2020.104551).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Gas hydrates are naturally-occurring solid compounds of gas and water within almost all sediment-rich continental margins. Due to the large amounts of methane stored in submarine gas hydrates, they might serve as future reservoirs for offshore marine gas production. Assessing the reservoir characteristics requires reliable estimates of both the gas and gas hydrate concentration, which can be best addressed using geophysical and geological investigations. Here, we demonstrate the power of joint interpretation of interdisciplinary geophysical techniques and geological laboratory experiments. Regional 2D multichannel seismic data provide the broad overview of a hydrate-bearing area. High-resolution 2D and 3D seismic reflection data provide detailed images of two working areas, the buried S1 channel-levee system at 1500 m water depth (well within the gas hydrate stability zone) and a slope failure location, located at 665 m water depth (top limit of the hydrate formation) next to the S2 channel. Detailed compressional and shear wave (Vs) velocity-depth models were derived from four component ocean-bottom seismic data, the latter from P- to S-conversion upon reflection. Due to their steep reflection angles, shear wave events result in less resolved Vs models. Nevertheless, in case of a change in elasticity of the sediment matrix due to gas hydrate cementation, shear wave events can be used as an indicator. As such, Vs can give insight into the nature of hydrate formation throughout the GHSZ. We present new developments in the application of common reflection surface, normal-incidence-point tomography and full waveform inversion techniques to enhance model resolution for the seismic data sets. 2D and 3D controlled-source electromagnetic measurements provide volume information of the resistivity-depth distribution models. Electrical resistivity of the sediment formation depends on its porosity and the resistivity of the pore fluid. Gas hydrate and free gas generally have much higher electrical resistivities than saline pore fluid, and can be assessed using empirical relationships if the porosity and pore fluid salinity are known. Calibration with logging data, laboratory experiments on hydrate- or ice-bearing sediments, and resulting velocity and resistivity values, guide the joint interpretation into more accurate saturation estimations. Beyond that, a joint inversion framework supporting forward calculation of specialized geophysical methods at distributed locations is under development. In this paper, we summarize these individual components of a multi-parameter study, and their joint application to investigate gas hydrate systems, their equilibrium conditions and preservation of bottom-simulating-reflectors. We analyze data from two working areas at different locations and depth levels along the slope of the Danube Fan, which are both characterized by multiple bottom simulating reflectors indicating the presence of gas hydrate. In the first working area we located two depth windows with indications for moderate 16%–24% gas hydrate formation, but no vertical gas migration. In the second working area we observed fluid migration pathways and active gas seepage, limiting gas hydrate formation to less than 10% at the BSR. Some discrepancies remain between seismic-based and electromagnetic-based models of gas and gas hydrate distribution and saturation estimates, indicating that further in-situ investigations are likely required to better understand the gas hydrate systems at our study areas and to calibrate the inversion processes, which will be required for a joint inversion framework as well.

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Bialas_2020 - Accepted Manuscript
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Accepted/In Press date: 18 June 2020
e-pub ahead of print date: 7 July 2020
Published date: November 2020
Additional Information: Funding Information: We acknowledge captains and crews of R/V MARIA S MERIAN who provided excellent support during cruises MSM-34 and 35 enabling the data acquisition. The SUGAR project was jointly funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (grants 03G0819A , 03SX20A , 03G0856 ). The German Science Foundation (DFG) provided ship time of R/V MARIA S MERIAN. Research cruise MSM34 received funding from the MIDAS project (EU grant 603418 ) and from the SUGAR project. Publisher Copyright: © 2020 Elsevier Ltd
Keywords: Gas hydrates, Geochemistry, Seismic, Controlled source electromagnetics, Pressure experiments, Converted shear waves, Full waveform tomography, Joint interpretation

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 442850
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/442850
ISSN: 0264-8172
PURE UUID: 3233cbb5-0fac-4df1-912b-6bbfcf5ce5c4
ORCID for R. Gehrmann: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-3099-2771

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Date deposited: 29 Jul 2020 16:31
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 05:45

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Contributors

Author: J. Bialas
Author: T. Bohlen
Author: A. Dannowski
Author: G. Eisenberg-Klein
Author: L. Gassner
Author: R. Gehrmann ORCID iD
Author: K. Heeschen
Author: S. Hölz
Author: M. Jegen
Author: I. Klaucke
Author: M. Krieger
Author: J. Mann
Author: C.H. Müller
Author: J. Prüßmann
Author: J. Schicks
Author: E. Schünemann
Author: K. Schwalenberg
Author: M. Sommer
Author: P.L. Smilde
Author: E. Spangenberg
Author: H. Trappe
Author: T. Zander

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