IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v15y2022i19p6921-d921387.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Gas Sources, Migration, and Accumulation Systems: The Shallow Subsurface and Near-Seafloor Gas Hydrate Deposits

Author

Listed:
  • Liping Liu

    (Key Laboratory of Submarine Geosciences, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China)

  • Fengyou Chu

    (Key Laboratory of Submarine Geosciences, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China)

  • Nengyou Wu

    (Key Laboratory of Gas Hydrate, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, Qingdao 266237, China)

  • Lei Zhang

    (Drilling Technology Research Institute of Shengli Petroleum Engineering Corporation Limited, SINOPEC, Dongying 257017, China)

  • Xiaohu Li

    (Key Laboratory of Submarine Geosciences, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China)

  • Huaiming Li

    (Key Laboratory of Submarine Geosciences, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China)

  • Zhenggang Li

    (Key Laboratory of Submarine Geosciences, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China)

  • Weiyan Zhang

    (Key Laboratory of Submarine Geosciences, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China)

  • Xiao Wang

    (Key Laboratory of Submarine Geosciences, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China)

Abstract

Compared with the deeply buried marine gas hydrate deposits, gas hydrates in the shallow subsurface, close to and at the seafloor, have attracted more attention owing to their concentrated distribution, high saturation, and easy access. They accumulate at relatively shallow depths <100–120 m and occur as gas hydrate-bearing mounds (also known as hydrate outcrops, pingoes) at the seafloor derived from the growth of hydrates in the shallow subsurface or as pure hydrate chunks formed by gas leakage. This paper reviews and summarizes such gas hydrate systems globally from the perspective of gas sources, migration pathways, and accumulation processes. Here, we divided them into four categories: fault-chimney-controlled, diapir-fault-controlled, fault-controlled, and submarine mud volcano-controlled deposits. Gas chimneys originate immediately above the restricted regions, mostly affected by faults where high gas concentrations trigger elevated pore fluid pressures. Diapirism derives a dendritic network of growth faults facilitating focused gas discharge and hydrate formation near the seafloor. Furthermore, pre-existing faults or fractures created by overpressured gas from greater depths in accretionary tectonics at convergent margins act as preferential pathways channeling free gas upwards to the seafloor. Gas flux rates decrease from the submarine mud volcano center to its margins, creating a concentric pattern of distributing temperature, gas concentrations, and hydrate contents in shallow sediments around the mud volcano. Hydrate-bound hydrocarbons are commonly of thermogenic origin and correspond to high-background geothermal conditions, whereas microbial gas is dominant in a few cases. The presence of heavier hydrocarbons mitigates the inhibition of hydrate formation by salt or heat. Fluid migration and pathways could be compared to the “blood” and “bones” in an organic system, respectively. The root of a pathway serves as the “heart” that gathers and provides considerable free gas concentrations in a restricted area, thereby triggering pore fluid pressures as one important drive force for focused fluid flow in impermeable sediments (the organic system). Besides the suitable temperature and pressure conditions, a prerequisite for the formation and stability of hydrate deposits in the shallow subsurface and at the seafloor is the sufficient supply of gas-rich fluids through the hydrate stability zone. Thus, the proportion of gas migrating from deep sources is significantly larger than that trapped in hydrates. As such, such marine hydrate deposits seem more like temporary carbon storage rather than the main culprit for climate warming at least in a short period.

Suggested Citation

  • Liping Liu & Fengyou Chu & Nengyou Wu & Lei Zhang & Xiaohu Li & Huaiming Li & Zhenggang Li & Weiyan Zhang & Xiao Wang, 2022. "Gas Sources, Migration, and Accumulation Systems: The Shallow Subsurface and Near-Seafloor Gas Hydrate Deposits," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-42, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:19:p:6921-:d:921387
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/19/6921/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/19/6921/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hailong Lu & Yu-taek Seo & Jong-won Lee & Igor Moudrakovski & John A. Ripmeester & N. Ross Chapman & Richard B. Coffin & Graeme Gardner & John Pohlman, 2007. "Complex gas hydrate from the Cascadia margin," Nature, Nature, vol. 445(7125), pages 303-306, January.
    2. Kim Senger & Stefan Bünz & Jürgen Mienert, 2010. "First-Order Estimation of In-Place Gas Resources at the Nyegga Gas Hydrate Prospect, Norwegian Sea," Energies, MDPI, vol. 3(12), pages 1-26, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Lee, Joonseop & Lee, Dongyoung & Seo, Yongwon, 2021. "Experimental investigation of the exact role of large-molecule guest substances (LMGSs) in determining phase equilibria and structures of natural gas hydrates," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 215(PB).
    2. Bettina Beeskow-Strauch & Judith Maria Schicks, 2012. "The Driving Forces of Guest Substitution in Gas Hydrates—A Laser Raman Study on CH 4 -CO 2 Exchange in the Presence of Impurities," Energies, MDPI, vol. 5(2), pages 1-18, February.
    3. Ludovic Nicolas Legoix & Livio Ruffine & Christian Deusner & Matthias Haeckel, 2018. "Experimental Study of Mixed Gas Hydrates from Gas Feed Containing CH 4 , CO 2 and N 2 : Phase Equilibrium in the Presence of Excess Water and Gas Exchange," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-12, July.
    4. Li, Wei & Younger, Paul L. & Cheng, Yuanping & Zhang, Baoyong & Zhou, Hongxing & Liu, Qingquan & Dai, Tao & Kong, Shengli & Jin, Kan & Yang, Quanlin, 2015. "Addressing the CO2 emissions of the world's largest coal producer and consumer: Lessons from the Haishiwan Coalfield, China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 400-413.
    5. Sun, You-Hong & Zhang, Guo-Biao & Carroll, John J. & Li, Sheng-Li & Jiang, Shu-Hui & Guo, Wei, 2018. "Experimental investigation into gas recovery from CH4-C2H6-C3H8 hydrates by CO2 replacement," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 229(C), pages 625-636.
    6. Jung-Tae Kim & Ah-Ram Kim & Gye-Chun Cho & Chul-Whan Kang & Joo Yong Lee, 2019. "The Effects of Coupling Stiffness and Slippage of Interface Between the Wellbore and Unconsolidated Sediment on the Stability Analysis of the Wellbore Under Gas Hydrate Production," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-23, November.
    7. Choi, Wonjung & Mok, Junghoon & Lee, Yohan & Lee, Jaehyoung & Seo, Yongwon, 2021. "Optimal driving force for the dissociation of CH4 hydrates in hydrate-bearing sediments using depressurization," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 223(C).
    8. Sergey Misyura & Pavel Strizhak & Anton Meleshkin & Vladimir Morozov & Olga Gaidukova & Nikita Shlegel & Maria Shkola, 2023. "A Review of Gas Capture and Liquid Separation Technologies by CO 2 Gas Hydrate," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-20, April.
    9. Lee, Yohan & Choi, Wonjung & Seo, Young-ju & Lee, Joo Yong & Lee, Jaehyoung & Seo, Yongwon, 2018. "Structural transition induced by cage-dependent guest exchange in CH4 + C3H8 hydrates with CO2 injection for energy recovery and CO2 sequestration," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C), pages 229-239.
    10. Xu, Jiuping & Tang, Min & Liu, Tingting & Fan, Lurong, 2024. "Technological paradigm-based development strategy towards natural gas hydrate technology," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 289(C).
    11. Mok, Junghoon & Choi, Wonjung & Lee, Jonghyuk & Seo, Yongwon, 2022. "Effects of pressure and temperature conditions on thermodynamic and kinetic guest exchange behaviors of CH4 − CO2 + N2 replacement for energy recovery and greenhouse gas storage," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PB).
    12. Li, Xiao-Sen & Xu, Chun-Gang & Zhang, Yu & Ruan, Xu-Ke & Li, Gang & Wang, Yi, 2016. "Investigation into gas production from natural gas hydrate: A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 286-322.
    13. Seo, Young-ju & Park, Seongmin & Kang, Hyery & Ahn, Yun-Ho & Lim, Dongwook & Kim, Se-Joon & Lee, Jaehyoung & Lee, Joo Yong & Ahn, Taewoong & Seo, Yongwon & Lee, Huen, 2016. "Isostructural and cage-specific replacement occurring in sII hydrate with external CO2/N2 gas and its implications for natural gas production and CO2 storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 579-586.
    14. Chong, Zheng Rong & Yang, She Hern Bryan & Babu, Ponnivalavan & Linga, Praveen & Li, Xiao-Sen, 2016. "Review of natural gas hydrates as an energy resource: Prospects and challenges," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 1633-1652.
    15. Lee, Yohan & Lee, Dongyoung & Lee, Jong-Won & Seo, Yongwon, 2016. "Enclathration of CO2 as a co-guest of structure H hydrates and its implications for CO2 capture and sequestration," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 51-59.
    16. Wang, Yanhong & Yin, Kaidong & Fan, Shuanshi & Lang, Xuemei & Yu, Chi & Wang, Shenglong & Li, Song, 2021. "The molecular insight into the “Zeolite-ice” as hydrogen storage material," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 217(C).
    17. Yang, Mingjun & Chong, Zheng Rong & Zheng, Jianan & Song, Yongchen & Linga, Praveen, 2017. "Advances in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques for the investigation of clathrate hydrates," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 1346-1360.
    18. Zhixue Sun & Ying Xin & Qiang Sun & Ruolong Ma & Jianguang Zhang & Shuhuan Lv & Mingyu Cai & Haoxuan Wang, 2016. "Numerical Simulation of the Depressurization Process of a Natural Gas Hydrate Reservoir: An Attempt at Optimization of Field Operational Factors with Multiple Wells in a Real 3D Geological Model," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-20, September.
    19. Li, Cong & Xie, Heping & Gao, Mingzhong & Chen, Ling & Zhao, Le & Li, Cunbao & Wu, Nianhan & He, Zhiqiang & Li, Jianan, 2021. "Novel designs of pressure controllers to enhance the upper pressure limit for gas-hydrate-bearing sediment sampling," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:19:p:6921-:d:921387. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.