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Faulting of gas-hydrate-bearing marine sediments - contribution to permeability

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Abstract

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. We infer that the faulting resulted from excess pore pressure in gas trapped beneath the gas hydrate-beating 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, we identified two buried zones of faulting, that may have similar origins. Subsurface faulted zones appear to act as gas traps.

Suggested Citation

Dillon, W.P., Holbrook, W., Drury, R., Gettrust, J., Hutchinson, D., Booth, J., Taylor, M., 1997, Faulting of gas-hydrate-bearing marine sediments - contribution to permeability, in Proceedings of the Annual Offshore Technology Conference, v. 1, Houston, TX, USA, 5 May 1997 through 8 May 1997.

Publication type Conference Paper
Publication Subtype Conference Paper
Title Faulting of gas-hydrate-bearing marine sediments - contribution to permeability
Volume 1
Year Published 1997
Language English
Publisher Offshore Technol Conf
Publisher location Richardson, TX, United States
Larger Work Title Proceedings of the Annual Offshore Technology Conference
First page 8296
Conference Title Proceedings of the 1997 29th Annual Offshore Technology Conference, OTC. Part 2 (of 4)
Conference Location Houston, TX, USA
Conference Date 5 May 1997 through 8 May 1997
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