Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

High-resolution Surveys for Geohazards and Shallow Gas: NW Adriatic (Italy) and Iskenderun Bay (Turkey)

  • Published:
Marine Geophysical Researches Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The need for quantifying and understanding the distribution of shallow gas is both of academic interest and of relevance to offshore facilities. The combination of seafloor mapping, subbottom profiling, and multi-channel seismic data can provide information on regions of possible shallow gas, where the gas impacts the acoustic properties of the host material and the seafloor. In this paper, we present two case studies – one academic and one industry – that evaluate the distribution of shallow gas in two field areas in the Mediterranean. In the first case study, geophysical data from Iskenderun Bay, southeastern Turkey, indicate the presence and distribution of shallow gas. Pockmarks on the seafloor are associated with acoustic wipeout in the shallow subbottom data. Although deeper seismic data do not show bright spots or other indicators of possible gas, instantaneous frequency analysis clearly shows laterally restricted anomalies indicating gas-rich zones. The interpretation of possible shallow gas resulted in moving a proposed drilling location to a nearby area characterized by fewer (but still present) shallow gas signatures. In the second case study, cores acquired in the Po Delta, Adriatic Sea, provide quantitative ground-truthing of shallow gas – as suggested by geophysical data – and provide minimum estimates of the percentage of gas in the subsurface. Cores targeted on anomalous subbottom data yielded up to 41,000 ppm methane; cores with anomalous gas content are associated with thick recent flood deposits which may effectively isolate reactive terrigenous organic matter from biologic and physical re-working.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • A. Adriansyah G.A. McMechan (2002) ArticleTitleAnalysis and interpretation of seismic data from thin reservoirs: northwest Java Basin, Indonesia Geophysics 67 14–26 Occurrence Handle10.1190/1.1451317

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • A.E. Aksu T.J. Calon D.J.W. Piper S. Turgut E. Izdar (1992a) ArticleTitleArchitecture of late orogenic Quaternary basins in northeastern Mediterranean Sea Tectonophysics 210 191–213 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0040-1951(92)90322-W

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • A.E. Aksu A. Ulug D.J.W. Piper Y.T. Konuk S. Turgut (1992b) ArticleTitleQuaternary sedimentary history of Adana, Cicilia and Iskenderun Basins: northeast Mediterranean Sea Mar. Geol. 104 55–71 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0025-3227(92)90084-U

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • K.J. Campbell (1999) ArticleTitleDeepwater geohazards: how significant are they? Leading Edge 18 IssueID4 514 Occurrence Handle10.1190/1.1438329

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • A. Cattaneo A. Correggiari L. Langone F. Trincardi (2003) ArticleTitleThe late-Holocene Gargano subaqueous Delta, Adriatic shelf: sediment pathways and supply fluctuations Mar. Geol. 193 61–91 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0025-3227(02)00614-X

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cattaneo, A., Trincardi, F., Correggiari, A., Marsset, T. and Masson, D.G., 2002, Growth of mud reliefs within the Adriatic late-Holocene prodelta deposits through sediment load and fluid escape processes, in Briand, F. (Eds.), Mediterranean and Black Sea Turbidite Systems and deep-sea fans, Proceedings of CIESM Workshop Series 17, Bucharest, 5–8 June 2002 CIESM, Monaco France, pp. 33–36.

  • Q. Chen S. Sidney (1997) ArticleTitleSeismic attribute technology for reservoir forecasting and monitoring Leading Edge 16 IssueID5 445–456 Occurrence Handle10.1190/1.1437657

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • M. Ciabatti (1967) ArticleTitleRicerche sull’evoluzione del Delta Padano Giornale di Geologia 34 381–406

    Google Scholar 

  • A. Conti A. Stefanon G.M. Zuppi (2002) ArticleTitleGas seeps and rock formation in the northern Adriatic Sea Cont. Shelf Res. 22 2333–2344 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0278-4343(02)00059-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Correggiari, A, Cattaneo, A. and Trincardi, F., Depositional patterns in the late Holocene Po Delta system. in Bhattacharia, J. and Giosan, L. (Eds.). SEPM Special Publication on Deltas: Modern and Ancient, in press.

  • G. Gandolfi A. Mordenti L. Paganelli (1982) ArticleTitleComposition and longshore dispersal of sands from the Po and Adile Rivers since the pre-Etruscan age J. Sediment. Petrol. 52 797–806

    Google Scholar 

  • Gardline Surveys Limited, 2001, Lagos-1 prospect site survey, February–March 2001; survey report. Gardline internal project reference 5589: pp 49.

  • J.V. Gardner M.E. Field H. Lee B. Edwards D.G. Masson N. Kenyon R.B. Kidd (1991) ArticleTitleGround-truthing 6.5 kHz side scan sonographs: what are we really imaging? J. Geophys. Res. 96 5955–5974

    Google Scholar 

  • P. Giordani W. Helder E. Koning S. Miserocchi R. Danovaro A. Malaguti (2002) ArticleTitleGradients of benthic–pelagic coupling and carbon budgets in the Adriatic and Northern Ionian Sea J. Marine Syst. 33–34 365–387

    Google Scholar 

  • S.L. Gökçen G. Kelling N. Gökçen P.A. Floyd (1988) ArticleTitleSedimentology of a late Cenozoic collisional sequence: the Misis Complex, Adana, southern Turkey Sediment. Geol. 59 205–235

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill, A.W., 1996, The use of exploration 3D data in geohazard assessment: where does the future lie? Proceedings of Offshore Technology Conference, Houston, Texas, 6–9 May 1996, OTC 7966.

  • M. Hovland A. Judd (1988) Seabed Pockmarks and Seepages. Impact on Geology, Biology and the Marine Environment Graham & Trotman Ltd London 294

    Google Scholar 

  • M. Hovland J.V. Gardner A.G. Judd (2002) ArticleTitleThe significance of pockmarks to understanding fluid flow processes and geohazards Geofluids 2 127–136 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1468-8123.2002.00028.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IDROSER, 1983, Piano progettuale per la difesa della costa adriatica Emiliano-Romagnola IV. Il trasporto fluviale nei bacini tributari dell’Adriatico, pp 429.

  • L.D. Kulm E. Suess J.C. Moore B. Carson B.T. Lewis S.D. Ritger D.C. Kadko T.M. Thornburg R.W. Embley W.D. Rugh G.J. Massoth M.G. Langseth G.R. Cochrane R.L. Scamman (1986) ArticleTitleOregon subduction zone: venting, fauna, and carbonates Science 231 561–566

    Google Scholar 

  • Løseth, H, Wensaas, L. and Arntsen, B., 2003, Gas chimneys – indicating a fractured cap rock. American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Abstracts with Programs, 2003.

  • I.R. MacDonald (1998) ArticleTitleHabitat formation at Gulf of Mexico hydrocarbon seeps Cahiers de Biologie Marine 39 337–340

    Google Scholar 

  • S. Morgante (1940) ArticleTitleI ‘bromboli’ delle coste istriane Notiziario dell’ Istituto de Biologia Rovigno 16 IssueID2 1–12

    Google Scholar 

  • B.W. Nelson (1970) Hydrography, sediment dispersal, and recent historical development of the Po River Delta J.P. Morgan (Eds) Deltaic Sedimentation: Modern and Ancient Society of Sedimentary Geology New York 152–184

    Google Scholar 

  • T.W. Neurauter H.H. Roberts (1994) ArticleTitleThree generations of mud volcanoes on the Louisiana continental slope Geo-Mar. Lett. 14 120–125 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF01203723

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • F. Oldfield (1996) ArticleTitleThe PALICLAS project: synthesis and overview Memorie Istituto Italiano di Idrobiologia 55 329–357

    Google Scholar 

  • F. Oldfield A. Asioli S. Juggins L. Langone T. Rolph F. Trincardi G. Wolff Z. Gibbs L. Vigliotti M. Frignani K. Post ParticleVan der (2003) ArticleTitleA high resolution Late-Holocene palaeo-environmental record from the Adriatic Sea: core RF 93-30 Quaternary Sci. Rev. 22 161–184 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0277-3791(02)00088-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orange, D., García-García, A., Lorenson, T., Nittrouer, C., Milligan, T., Miserocchi, S., Langone, L., Correggiari, A. and Trincardi, F., Shallow gas and flood deposits on the Po Delta. ComDelta special issue. Mar. Geol., in press.

  • C.K. Paull A.C. Neumann (1987) ArticleTitleContinental margin brine seeps: their geological consequences Geology 15 545–548 Occurrence Handle10.1130/0091-7613(1987)15<545:CMBSTG>2.0.CO;2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • C.K. Paull B. Hecker R. Commeau R.P. Freeman-Lynde C. Neumann W.P. Corso S. Golubic J.E. Hook E. Sikes J. Curray (1984) ArticleTitleBiological communities at the Florida Escarpment resemble hydrothermal vent taxa Science 226 965–967

    Google Scholar 

  • J.F. Reilly I.R. MacDonald E.K. Biegert J.M. Brooks (1996) Geologic controls on the distribution of chemosynthetic communities in the Gulf of Mexico D. Schumacher M.A. Abrams (Eds) Hydrocarbon Migration and its Near-surface Expression American Association of Petroleum Geologists Tulsa, OK 38–61

    Google Scholar 

  • H.H. Roberts T.W. Neurauter (1990) ArticleTitleDirect observations of a large active mud vent on the Louisiana continental slope Am. Assoc. of Petr. Geol. Bull. 74 1508

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, H.H., Doyle, E.H., Booth, J.R., Clark, B.J., Kaluza, M.J. and Hartsook, A., 1996, 3D-seismic amplitude analysis of the seafloor: an important interpretive method for improved geohazards evaluations, Proceedings of Offshore Technology Conference Houston, Texas 6–9 May 1996, OTC 7988, pp. 283–292.

  • E. Suess B. Carson S.D. Ritger J.C. Moore L.D. Kulm G. Cochrane (1985) ArticleTitleBiological communities at vent sites along the subduction zones off Oregon Bull. Biol. Soc. Washington 6 475–484

    Google Scholar 

  • M.T. Taner (2001) ArticleTitleSeismic attributes CSEG Recorder 26 IssueID7 48–56

    Google Scholar 

  • M.T. Taner F. Koehler R.E. Sheriff (1979) ArticleTitleComplex seismic trace analysis Geophysics 44 IssueID6 1041–1063 Occurrence Handle10.1190/1.1440994

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • M.T. Taner R.E. Sheriff (1977) Application of amplitude, frequency and other attributes to stratigraphic and hydrocarbon determination C.E. Payton (Eds) Seismic Stratigraphy – Applications to Hydrocarbon Exploration AAPG Memoir 26 Tulsa, USA 301–327

    Google Scholar 

  • P.K. Trabant (1984) Applied High-resolution Geophysical Methods International Human Resources Development Corporation Boston 265

    Google Scholar 

  • F. Trincardi A. Cattaneo A. Asioli A. Correggiari L. Langone (1996) ArticleTitleStratigraphy of the late-Quaternary deposits in the central Adriatic basin and the record of short-term climatic events Memorie Istituto Italiano di Idrobiologia 55 39–70

    Google Scholar 

  • Vanneste, M., De Meersman, K., Guidard, S., Versteeg, W., Golmshtok, A.Y., Kremlev, A.N. and De Batist, M., 2001, Multi-frequency seismic study of the gas hydrate accumulations in Lake Baikal, Siberia. European Union of Geosciences (EUG) XI meeting, Strasbourg, France, 8–12 April 2001. Journal of Conference Abstracts 6: 153.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vanneste, M., Mienert, J., Guidard, S. and HYDRATECH-INGGAS partners, 2002, “Arctic” gas hydrates offshore Western Svalbard, Norway: Preliminary Results. Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Gas Hydrates. Yokohama, Japan, 19–23 May 2002, pp. 222–227.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, California, USA

    Daniel L. Orange & Ana García-García

  2. Marine Geoscience Division, Moss Landing, AOA Geophysics Inc., California, USA

    Daniel L. Orange

  3. Marine Geoscience Division, AOA Geophysics Inc., 1300 W. Sam Houston Parkway South, Suite 225, Houston, Texas, 77042, USA

    Dan McConnell

  4. Coastal and Marine Geology Team, U.S. Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Road, MS-999, Menlo Park, California, 94025, USA

    Tom Lorenson

  5. El Paso Production, Nine Greenway Plaza, Houston, Texas, 77046, USA

    Gary Fortier

  6. Istituto di Geologia Marina – ISMAR (CNR), Via P. Gobetti 101, I-40129, Bologna, Italy

    Fabio Trincardi

  7. Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO), Mustafa Kemal Mahallesi, 2 Cadde No:86, 06520, Esentepe, Ankara, Turkey

    Emrah Can

Authors
  1. Daniel L. Orange
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ana García-García
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Dan McConnell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Tom Lorenson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Gary Fortier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Fabio Trincardi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Emrah Can
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniel L. Orange.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Orange, D.L., García-García, A., McConnell, D. et al. High-resolution Surveys for Geohazards and Shallow Gas: NW Adriatic (Italy) and Iskenderun Bay (Turkey). Mar Geophys Res 26, 247–266 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11001-005-3722-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11001-005-3722-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation