Abstract
We analyzed original and published seismic data to investigate the distribution and characteristics of subsurface fluid flow features in the gas hydrate provinces along the northeastern South China Sea (SCS) continental slope, including Jiulong Ridge, Horseshoe Ridge, Pointer Ridge, and Formosa Ridge. Numerous features indicating the presence/migration of hydrocarbons, such as bottom simulating reflections (BSRs), bright spots, gas chimneys, and fluid flow through faults, are identified. The results reveal that the hydrofracturing-induced gas chimneys act as the primary conduits for the overall focused fluid flow in the study area, though fluid flow along permeable faults is also observed at Pointer Ridge. Thirty-three gas chimneys identified are categorized into two types depending on their capability for focused fluid flow migrating into the gas hydrate stability zone (GHSZ). The type-I chimneys that transport fluids into the GHSZ contribute to gas hydrate formation and may even lead to seafloor seepage. Buried by a considerable thickness of sediments, the type-II chimneys cannot directly contribute to generating gas hydrate and surface seepage. Our results suggest that the sedimentary processes and fluid accumulation significantly control the development of gas chimneys in the study area. Since the focused fluid flow conduits that indicate overpressured fluids are critical pathways that feed gas into the GHSZ and form gas hydrates, utmost attention should be paid to them during hydrocarbon exploration.
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Data availability
The MCS seismic and bathymetric data used in this study are confidential. The MGL seismic data are available through the Marine Geoscience Data System (MGDS).
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Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Dr. Yun-Shuen Wang and Dr. Song-Chuen Chen for their research project efforts. The captains and crew of the OR1, technicians of the OR1 Instrumentation Center, and S. D. Chiou of the Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, are thanked for helping to collect the seismic data. We acknowledge the teamwork of the Seismic Exploration Laboratory, Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University. We especially thank the three anonymous reviewers for their constructive reviews on the early version of this paper.
Funding
This research is funded by grants from the Central Geological Survey, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Taiwan (No. 103-5226904000-03-01 and 104-5226904000-02-01), and the Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan (No. 106-2917-I-002-037 and 107-3113-M002-004).
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W-CH and LC jointly conceived the original idea and conducted data analyses, including seismic attribute analysis and interpretations. C-SL collected/calibrated the seismic data and assisted in proofreading the manuscript. The main manuscript was written by W-CH. All authors contributed to the writing, design, and content of the manuscript.
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Han, WC., Chen, L. & Liu, CS. Distribution and characteristics of gas chimneys in the passive margin offshore SW Taiwan. Mar Geophys Res 42, 25 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11001-021-09447-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11001-021-09447-9