The history and future trends of ocean warming‐induced gas hydrate dissociation in the SW Barents Sea

Vadakkepuliyambatta, Sunil; Chand, Shyam; Bünz, Stefan

doi:10.1002/2016gl071841

Cited by 29 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 46 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Microbial degradation of methane in sediments (Boetius et al, ) and in the water column (Steinle et al, ) significantly minimizes methane emission to the atmosphere. Therefore, dissociation of shallow gas hydrates due to ocean warming likely supplies less methane to the atmosphere than previously assumed (Biastoch et al, ; Ruppel & Kessler, ; Vadakkepuliyambatta et al, ). In turn, microbial turnover of methane plays an important role for seabed ecosystems (e.g., Niemann et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…Methane in gaseous, dissolved, and solid (gas hydrate) form is heterogeneously distributed in the continental margins of the Arctic Ocean constituting a significant carbon source (Kretschmer et al, ; Marín‐Moreno et al, ; Ruppel, ; Vadakkepuliyambatta et al, ). Methane generation rates and variability in upward migration and sequestration into a pressure and temperature sensitive gas hydrate stability zone (GHSZ) generally control the presence in shallow subsurface.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Geological Controls on Fluid Flow and Gas Hydrate Pingo Development on the Barents Sea Margin

Waage

Portnov

Serov

et al. 2019

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In 2014, the discovery of seafloor mounds leaking methane gas into the water column in the northwestern Barents Sea became the first to document the existence of nonpermafrost-related gas hydrate pingos (GHPs) on the Eurasian Arctic shelf. The discovered site is given attention because the gas hydrates occur close to the upper limit of the gas hydrate stability, thus may be vulnerable to climatic forcing. In addition, this site lies on the regional Hornsund Fault Zone marking a transition between the oceanic and continental crust. The Hornsund Fault Zone is known to coincide with an extensive seafloor gas seepage area; however, until now lack of seismic data prevented connecting deep structural elements to shallow seepages. Here we use high-resolution P-Cable 3-D seismic data to study the subsurface architecture of GHPs and underlying glacial and preglacial deposits. The data show gas hydrates, authigenic carbonates, and free gas within the GHPs on top of gas chimneys piercing a thin section of low-permeability glacial sediments. The chimneys connect to faults within the underlying tilted and folded fluid and gas-hydrate-bearing sedimentary rocks. Correlation of our data with regional 2-D seismic surveys shows a spatial connection between the shallow subsurface fluid flow system and the deep-seated regional fault zone. We suggest that fault-controlled Paleocene hydrocarbon reservoirs inject methane into the low-permeability glacial deposits and near-seabed sediments, forming the GHPs. This conceptual model explains the existence of climatesensitive gas hydrate inventories and extensive seabed methane release observed along the Svalbard-Barents Sea margin.Plain Language Summary Gas hydrates (concentrated hydrocarbon gases in cages of ice) are stable within high pressure and low temperature. At boundary conditions, minor increases in ocean temperature may trigger gas hydrate decay and the possibility that gas hydrates may dissociate due to future warming causes particular awareness. We present observations of a hydrate system expressed as ≤450-m wide and ≤10-m high gas hydrate pingos (seabed mounds bearing gas hydrates). The geological conditions controlling the formation of these shallow gas hydrate accumulations have not been previously investigated. Along a~700-km region that coincides with a regional fault system, the Hornsund Fault Zone, more than 1,200 seeps releasing gas from the seafloor have been observed. Linkage of this fault zone to the methane hotspots has been hypothesized but never supported by empirical data. Combining new and published data, we postulate the major preconditions for GHP development: geologically constrained focused release of methane from 55-65 million-year-old rocks, modern gas hydrate stability conditions, and a drape of muddy bottom sediments favorable for heaving due to hydrate growth. We observe a clear relationship between this methane system and the regional fault system, which potentially demonstrates a typical scenario of fault-controlled methane migration across the Svalba...

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geological Controls on Fluid Flow and Gas Hydrate Pingo Development on the Barents Sea Margin

Waage

Portnov

Serov

et al. 2019

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Vadakkepuliyambatta et al [55] investigated possible zones of GH distribution in the South-Western part of the Barents Sea, assuming hydrate-forming gas both as pure methane and as a mixture, also containing ethane and propane. It is worth noting, that GH studies are also conducted for the Antarctic.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This may initiate additional methane emission. Possible volumes of GH dissociation, connected with change of climatic conditions, were estimated in numerous studies [8,9,44,49,55,57,60]. GH, as well as PF, serve as a cap rock for subvertically migrating free gas, which can form large accumulations under GH deposits, also migrate laterally and blow out through permeable zones (taliks) to surface, forming giant craters.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forecast of Gas Hydrates Distribution Zones in the Arctic Ocean and Adjacent Offshore Areas

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Gas hydrates (GH) are perspective energy sources, containing significantly more gas resources compared with conventional fields. At the same time, GH pose a danger for exploration and production of hydrocarbon fields. Methane release to the atmosphere is also a substantial factor of climate change. The objective of this research was the forecast of distribution of zones, favorable for GH existence in the Arctic Ocean and adjacent offshore areas, limited by the 45° latitude. For conducting research, existent data of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on near-bottom water temperatures was analyzed. Using CSMHYD software, based on empirical equations of GH stability, minimal depths appropriate for methane hydrates formation at different temperatures were calculated. On the basis of obtained values, a cartographic scheme with a zone favorable for methane hydrates existence was created. The zone corresponded to distribution of BSRs defined in seismic sections, including those discovered for the first time on the continental slope of the Laptev Sea and in the TINRO Depression of the Sea of Okhotsk. Besides, the zone concurred with the results of other authors research, summarized in the geoinformation system “AWO” (The Arctic and the World Ocean), which could verify the validity of conducted forecast.

show abstract

“…Scientists from the USA, Canada, Japan, Australia, Norway, India are working in this direction. The proposed technological solutions for extraction of methane gas from gas hydrate deposits described in [26][27][28] are of a theoretical nature. Industrial development of gas hydrates needs further experimental research.…”

Section: Literature Review and Problem Statementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of mechanoactivated chemical additives on the process of gas hydrate formation

Bondarenko

Svietkina

Sai

2018

EEJET

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Досліджено вплив механохімічно активованих домішок на процес утворення газових гідратів метану. Встановлено, що процес утворення газогідратів метану у присутності активованих алюмосилікатів відбувається не по автокаталітичному характеру. Виявлено, що у складі газового гідрату метану з'являється етан. Визначено константи швидкості утворення газогідратів метану при Т=274 K і тиску 5 МПа у присутності механоактивованих домішок Ключові слова: газогідрати метану, механоактивація, гетерогенний каталіз, швидкість гідратоутворення, дисоціація, алюмосилікати, фазові перетворення Исследовано влияние механохимически активированных добавок на процесс образования газовых гидратов метана. Установлено, что процесс образования газогидратов метана в присутствии активированных алюмосиликатов происходит не по автокаталитическому характеру. Обнаружено, что в составе газового гидрата метана появляется этан. Определены константы скорости образования газогидрата метана при Т=274 K и давлении 5 МПа в присутствии механоактивированных добавок Ключевые слова: газогидраты метана, механоактивация, гетерогенный катализ, скорость гидратообразования, диссоциация, алюмосиликаты, фазовые превращения

show abstract

The history and future trends of ocean warming‐induced gas hydrate dissociation in the SW Barents Sea

Cited by 29 publications

References 46 publications

Geological Controls on Fluid Flow and Gas Hydrate Pingo Development on the Barents Sea Margin

Geological Controls on Fluid Flow and Gas Hydrate Pingo Development on the Barents Sea Margin

Forecast of Gas Hydrates Distribution Zones in the Arctic Ocean and Adjacent Offshore Areas

Effect of mechanoactivated chemical additives on the process of gas hydrate formation

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About