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Electromagnetic surveying of seafloor mounds in the northern Gulf of Mexico

Electromagnetic surveying of seafloor mounds in the northern Gulf of Mexico
Electromagnetic surveying of seafloor mounds in the northern Gulf of Mexico
Seafloor controlled source electromagnetic data, probing the uppermost 30 m of seafloor sediments, have been collected with a towed magnetic dipole–dipole system across two seafloor mounds at approximately 1300 m water depth in the northern Gulf of Mexico. One of these mounds was the focus of a recent gas hydrate research drilling program. Rather than the highly resistive response expected of massive gas hydrate within the confines of the mounds, the EM data are dominated by the effects of raised temperatures and pore fluid salinities that result in an electrically conductive seafloor. This structure suggests that fluid advection towards the seafloor is taking place beneath both mounds. Similar responses are seen at discrete locations away from the mounds in areas that might be associated with faults, further suggesting substantial shallow fluid circulation. Raised temperatures and salinities may inhibit gas hydrate formation at depth as has been suggested at other similar locations in the Gulf of Mexico.

Electromagnetics, Gas hydrate, Resistivity, Gulf of Mexico, Ocean drilling
0264-8172
960-968
Ellis, M.
c8b8bfe7-48a0-4acf-abc3-94c7f19738e9
Evans, R.L.
451d64b5-c2c4-40a0-8255-e4ae7b5e7917
Hutchinson, D.
9f57d2f0-d0ed-4b43-9dbf-9856c63625a0
Hart, P.
f024c00a-585e-490f-82ab-654f40ca8514
Gardner, J.
bfe7b66f-4a4a-4ca2-857b-99ab7e5b9cdb
Hagen, R.
3f4d6a3e-42c2-4829-9f8c-779c645fc27f
Ellis, M.
c8b8bfe7-48a0-4acf-abc3-94c7f19738e9
Evans, R.L.
451d64b5-c2c4-40a0-8255-e4ae7b5e7917
Hutchinson, D.
9f57d2f0-d0ed-4b43-9dbf-9856c63625a0
Hart, P.
f024c00a-585e-490f-82ab-654f40ca8514
Gardner, J.
bfe7b66f-4a4a-4ca2-857b-99ab7e5b9cdb
Hagen, R.
3f4d6a3e-42c2-4829-9f8c-779c645fc27f

Ellis, M., Evans, R.L., Hutchinson, D., Hart, P., Gardner, J. and Hagen, R. (2008) Electromagnetic surveying of seafloor mounds in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 25 (9), 960-968. (doi:10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2007.12.006).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Seafloor controlled source electromagnetic data, probing the uppermost 30 m of seafloor sediments, have been collected with a towed magnetic dipole–dipole system across two seafloor mounds at approximately 1300 m water depth in the northern Gulf of Mexico. One of these mounds was the focus of a recent gas hydrate research drilling program. Rather than the highly resistive response expected of massive gas hydrate within the confines of the mounds, the EM data are dominated by the effects of raised temperatures and pore fluid salinities that result in an electrically conductive seafloor. This structure suggests that fluid advection towards the seafloor is taking place beneath both mounds. Similar responses are seen at discrete locations away from the mounds in areas that might be associated with faults, further suggesting substantial shallow fluid circulation. Raised temperatures and salinities may inhibit gas hydrate formation at depth as has been suggested at other similar locations in the Gulf of Mexico.

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More information

Published date: November 2008
Keywords: Electromagnetics, Gas hydrate, Resistivity, Gulf of Mexico, Ocean drilling

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 65031
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/65031
ISSN: 0264-8172
PURE UUID: 08288dc2-18b9-4a25-b408-e161b2b2c31e

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Date deposited: 27 Jan 2009
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 12:05

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Contributors

Author: M. Ellis
Author: R.L. Evans
Author: D. Hutchinson
Author: P. Hart
Author: J. Gardner
Author: R. Hagen

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