Abstract
Natural gas hydrate (NGH) is one of the important clean energy at present and even in the future. The study of its sedimentary environment and minerogenetic condition has long been a hot issue that has received much concern from geologists all over the world. China has successfully obtained the samples of NGH in Shenhu and Dongsha sea areas in 2007, 2013 and 2015, respectively. From this, the continental slope north of the South China Sea becomes an important test site for the study of NGH sedimentary genesis and minerogenetic condition. NGH has been found in Shenhu, Dongsha and Qiongdongnan areas within the continental slope north of South China Sea, at different depths of water, with different sedimentary characteristics, gas genesis, and minerogenetic conditions. Using a seismic sedimentology theory, combining seismic facies results of each facies, sedimentary facies and evolution of each area are documented in turn establishing a sedimentary model by considering palaeogeomorphology, sea level change and tectonic movement. The channel system and MTD (Mass Transport Deposition) system among these three areas were compared focusing on the developing position, appearance and controlling factors. Relative location among three areas is firstly defined that Dongsha area in a nearprovenance steep upper slope, Shenhu area in a normal gentle slope and Qiongdongnan area in an awayprovenance flat plain. Besides, their channel systems are classified into erosional, erosional-aggradational and aggradational channel, and MTD systems into headwall domain, translational domain and toe domain.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abreu V, Sullivan M, Pirmez C, et al. 2003. Lateral accretion packages (LAPs): An important reservoir element in deep water sinuous channels. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 20(6–8): 631–648, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2003.08.003
Beydoun W, Kerdraon Y, Lefeuvre F, et al. 2002. Benefits of a 3DHR survey for girassol field appraisal and development, Angola. The Leading Edge, 21(11): 1152–1155, doi: https://doi.org/10.1190/1.1523744
Borowski W S. 2004. A review of methane and gas hydrates in the dynamic, stratified system of the Blake Ridge region, offshore southwestern North America. Chemical Geology, 205(3–4): 311–346, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2003.12.022
Colwell F, Matsumoto R, Reed D. 2004. A review of the gas hydrates, geology, and biology of the Nankai Trough. Chemical Geology, 205(3–4): 391–404, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2003.12.023
Deptuck M E, Steffens G S, Barton M, et al. 2003. Architecture and evolution of upper fan channel-belts on the Niger Delta slope and in the Arabian Sea. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 20(6–8): 649–676, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2003.01.004
Fang Y, Jin X, Li M, et al. 2003. Study on seismic identification and distribution characters of marine gas hydrate in Okinawa Trough. In: EUG Joint Assembly, Abstracts from the meeting. Nice, France: EGU
Ginsburg G D, Soloviev V A. 1997. Methane migration within the submarine gas-hydrate stability zone under deep-water conditions. Marine Geology, 137(1–2): 49–57, doi: 10.1016/S0025-3227(96)00078-3
Katz D L V. 1959. Handbook of Natural Gas Engineering. New York: McGraw-Hill
Li Lun, Lei Xinhua, Zhang Xin, et al. 2013. Gas hydrate and associated free gas in the Dongsha Area of northern South China Sea. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 39(1): 92–101, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2012.09.007
Liu Changling, Ye Yuguang, Meng Qingguo, et al. 2012. The characteristics of gas hydrates recovered from Shenhu Area in the South China Sea. Marine Geology, 307–310: 22–27, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.margeo.2012.03.004
Lüdmann T, Wong H K, Wang Pinxian. 2001. Plio-Quaternary sedimentation processes and neotectonics of the northern continental margin of the South China Sea. Marine Geology, 172(3–4): 331–358, doi: 10.1016/S0025-3227(00)00129-8
McHargue T, Pyrcz M J, Sullivan M D, et al. 2011. Architecture of turbidite channel systems on the continental slope: Patterns and predictions. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 28(3): 728–743, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2010.07.008
Milkov A V. 2004. Global estimates of hydrate-bound gas in marine sediments: how much is really out there?. Earth-Science Reviews, 66(3–4): 183–197, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2003.11.002
Mitchum R M, Vail P R. 1977. Seismic Stratigraphy and Global Changes of Sea Level, Part 7. Seismic Stratigraphic Interpretation Procedure: Seismic Stratigraphy—applications to hydrocarbon exploration, 951–7
Reesink A J H, Ashworth P J, Smith G H S, et al. 2014. Scales and causes of heterogeneity in bars in a large multi-channel river: Río Paraná, Argentina. Sedimentology, 61(4): 1055–1085, doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/sed.12092
Sawyer D E, Flemings P B, Dugan B, et al. 2009. Retrogressive failures recorded in mass transport deposits in the Ursa Basin, Northern Gulf of Mexico. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 114(B10102): 1–20, doi: https://doi.org/10.1029/2008JB006159
Sloan E D. 1998. Clathrate Hydrates of Natural Gases. 2nd ed. New York: Marcel Dekker
Sylvester Z, Pirmez C, Cantelli A. 2011. A model of submarine channel-levee evolution based on channel trajectories: implications for stratigraphic architecture. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 28(3): 716–727, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2010.05.012
Wang Shuhong, Yan Wen, Song Haibin. 2006. Mapping the thickness of the gas hydrate stability zone in the South China Sea. Terrestrial Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, 17(4): 815, doi: 10.3319/TAO.2006.17.4.815(GH)
Wang Xiujuan, Collett T S, Lee M W, et al. 2014. Geological controls on the occurrence of gas hydrate from core, downhole log, and seismic data in the Shenhu area, South China Sea. Marine Geology, 357: 272–292, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.margeo.2014.09.040
Wu S, Zhang G, Huang Y, et al. 2005. Gas hydrate occurrence on the continental slope of the northern South China Sea. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 22(3): 403–412, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2004.11.006
Yu Xinghe, Wang Jianzhong, Li Shengli, et al. 2013. The relationship between tectonic subsidence and BSR of upper neogene in the deep-water area of the Northern Continental Slope, South China Sea. Acta Geologica Sinica, 87(3): 804–818, doi: 10.1111/acgs.2013.87.issue-3
Yang Shengxiong, Zhang Haiqi, Wu Nengyou. 2008. High concentrations of hydrate in disseminated forms found in very finegrained sediments of Shenhu area, north slope of South China Sea. International Conference on Gas Hydrates. Vancover Canada
Yu Xinghe, Wang Jianzhong, Liang Jinqiang, et al. 2014. Depositional characteristics and accumulation model of gas hydrates in northern South China Sea. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 56: 74–86, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2014.03.011
Zhang Guangxue, Huang Yongyang, Zhu Youhai, et al. 2002. Prospect of gas hydrate resources in the South China Sea. Marine Geology and Quaternary Geology (in Chinese), 22(1): 75–81
Zühlsdorff C, Wien K, Stuut J B W, et al. 2007. Late Quaternary sedimentation within a submarine channel-levee system offshore Cap Timiris, Mauritania. Marine Geology, 240(1–4): 217–234, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.margeo.2007.02.005
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fu, C., Yu, X., Dong, Y. et al. Sedimentary characteristics comparison and genesis analysis of the deepwater channel in the hydrate enrichment zones on the north slope of the South China Sea. Acta Oceanol. Sin. 38, 103–113 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13131-019-1403-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13131-019-1403-9