Faulting of gas-hydrate-bearing marine sediments -- contribution to permeability
Extensive faulting is observed in sediments containing high concentrations of methane hydrate off the southeastern coast of the United States. Faults that break the sea floor show evidence of both extension and shortening; mud diapirs are also present. The zone of recent faulting apparently extends from the ocean floor down to the base of gas-hydrate stability. The authors infer that the faulting resulted from excess pore pressure in gas trapped beneath the gas hydrate-bearing layer and/or weakening and mobilization of sediments in the region just below the gas-hydrate stability zone. In addition to the zone of surface faults, they identified two buried zones of faulting that may have similar origins. Subsurface faulted zones appear to act as gas traps.
- Research Organization:
- Naval Research Lab., Marine Geosciences Div., Stennis Space Center, MS (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 350652
- Report Number(s):
- AD-A--360151/XAB; NRL/PP--7432-97-0004; CONF-970570--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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