Based on high-resolution 3D seismic data sets, we document the subsurface reservoir architecture and organization of a portion of the Oligocene-Miocene stratigraphy within the Congo Basin, offshore southwestern Africa. Within the 3D seismic volume, we have identified four levels of turbiditic palaeochannels, which are separated by low-amplitude continuous reflectors interpreted as hemipelagic sediments. Geochemical analyses on sediment samples taken within overlying seafloor pockmarks reveal the presence of thermogenic gases and oils, suggesting that deep-seated fluids have migrated through both the channel deposits and the impermeable layers between them, forming a conduit to the surface. Deep thermogenic fluids produced within Cretaceous source rocks are preferentially entrapped within coarse-grained turbiditic Oligocene-Miocene palaeochannels. We show in this study that the vertical stacking pattern of turbiditic palaeochannels allows the best pathway for fluids migration. Once the fluids migrate to the upper layer (i.e., Upper Miocene) of palaeochannels, they can reach the seafloor via migration along a highly faulted interval composed of polygonal faults. They are temporarily inhibited below an interpreted 300-m-thick gas hydrate layer marked by a strong BSR on seismic profiles. Fluids accumulate under the hydrate stability zone to form a thick layer of free gas. The generation of excess pore fluid pressure in the free gas accumulation leads to the release of fluids along faults of the highly faulted interval forming pockmarks on the seafloor. Ultimately, we show in this study that fluids are progressively concentrated in the sedimentary column and aligned pockmarks on the seafloor may represent a focused fluid flow from stacked turbiditic palaeochannels.

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Using high quality 3D seismic data within the Lower Congo Basin (LCB), we have identified pockmarks that are aligned above the sinuous belt of a buried turbiditic palaeo-channel, 1000 m beneath the seafloor. Geochemical analyses on cores (GC traces), taken in the centre of four of these pockmarks along this channel, show no clear evidence for migrated oil. But, some features of the GC traces, including elevated baselines (UCMO 34 mg/g) and a broad molecular weight range of n-alkanes with little odd-even preference, may be interpreted as indicating the presence of thermogenic hydrocarbons in the cores.Seismic profiles show that these pockmarks developed above two main features representative of pore fluid escape during early compaction: (1) closely spaced normal faults affecting the upper 0-800 ms TWT of the sedimentary column. This highly faulted interval (HFI) appears as a hexagonal network in plane view, which is characteristic of a volumetrical contraction of sediments in response to pore fluid escape. (2) Buried palaeo-pockmarks and their underlying chimneys seem to be rooted at the channel-levee interface. The chimneys developed during early stages of burial and are now connected to the HFI.This study shows that the buried turbiditic channel now concentrates thermogenic fluids that can migrate through early chimneys and polygonal faults to reach the seafloor within some pockmarks. Using a multidisciplinary approach within the Lower Congo Basin, combining 3D seismic data and geochemical analyses on cores, we trace the fluid history from early compaction expelling pore fluids to later migration of thermogenic hydrocarbons. q

Detailed surveying with an ROV found that a dense and diverse cold-seep community colonises a giant pockmark located at 3200 m depth, 8 km north from the deep Congo channel. Several types of assemblages, either dominated by Mytilidae and Vesicomyidae bivalves or Siboglinidae polychaetes, are distributed on the 800-m diameter active area. The site is characterised by a most active central zone in a depression with abundant carbonate concretions and high methane fluxes where highdensity clusters of mussels and siboglinids dominate. In contrast, the peripheral zones display large fields of dead and live vesicomyids on soft sediment, with a lower mean density and lower methane concentration in seawater. The associated megafauna includes Alvinocarididae shrimps, echinoids, holothurians of the family Synaptidae, several species of gastropods, two species of galatheids, and Zoarcidae and Ophidiidae fishes. Multivariate analyses of video transect data show that the distribution of these major megafauna species at the pockmark scale is influenced by the habitat heterogeneity due to fluid or gas emission, occurrence of hydrates, substratum variability and by the presence of large symbiont-bearing species. Several assemblages dominated either by mytilids, vesicomyids, or siboglinids have been sampled for megafauna densities and biomass estimations and stable isotope measurements (δ 13 C and δ 15 N) of dominant species and food sources. The highest estimates of megafauna densities have been obtained in mytilid beds. According to their stable isotopes values, non-symbiont-bearing species mainly rely on chemosynthesis-originated carbon, either as primary consumers of chemoautotrophic microorganisms, or at higher trophic level recycling organic matter, or relying on bivalve and tubeworm production. Most of them likely feed on different sources like shrimps, but differences according to habitat have been evidenced. Carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios of galatheids and benthic or benthopelagic fishes captured by trawls at increasing distances from the pockmark provide evidence of the high variability in the proportion of chemosynthesis-originated carbon in their diet, from 15% to 38%, according to the species captured as far as 4 km to the site.

During the scientific expedition GAZCOGNE2 at the Bay of Biscay nine gas seeps were sampled for the first time and their flux was measured using an in situ pressure-preservation sampler (PEGAZ, © IFREMER). Overall, three sites were investigated to determine the nature and the origin of the gases bubbling at the seafloor and forming acoustic plumes into the water column, as this was the question raised from the first geologic study of the area. This has guided our study and accordingly corresponds to the main purpose of the present article. Thus, the molecular and isotopic ( D and 13 C) analyses revealed that the gas seeps were primarily composed of methane. Both methane and ethane are of microbial origin, and the former has been generated by microbial reduction of carbon dioxide. Heavier hydrocarbons accounted for less than 0.06% mol of the total amount. Despite the microbial origin of methane, the samples exhibit subtle differences with respect to the 13 C CH 4 values, which varied between −72.7 and −66.1‰. It has been suggested that such a discrepancy was predominantly governed by the occurrence of anaerobic methane oxidation. The PEGAZ sampler also enabled us to estimate the local gas fluxes from the sampled streams. The resulting values are extremely heterogeneous between seeps, ranging from 35 to 368 mLn⋅min −1 . Assuming a steady discharge, the mean calculated methane emission for the nine seeps is of 38 kmol⋅yr −1 . Considering the extent of the seep area, this very local estimate suggests that the Aquitaine Shelf is a very appropriate place to study methane discharge and its fate on continental shelves.