ASSOCIATION OF GAS HYDRATES AND OIL SEEPAGE IN THE GULF-OF-MEXICO Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Gas hydrates were recovered from eight sites on the Louisiana slope of the Gulf of Mexico. The gas hydrate discoveries ranged in water depths from 530 to 2400 m occurring as small to medium sized (0.5-50 mm) nodules, interspersed layers (1-10 mm thick) or as solid masses (> 150 mm thick). The hydrates have gas:fluid ratios as high as 170:1 at STP, C1/(C2 + C3) ratios ranging from 1.9 to > 1000 and 13C ratios from -43 to -71. Thermogenic gas hydrates are associated with oil-stained cores containing up to 7% extractable oil exhibiting moderate to severe biodegradation. Biogenic gas hydrates are also associated with elevated bitumen levels (10-700 ppm). All gas hydrate associated cores contain high percentages (up to 65%) of authigenic, isotopically light carbonate. The hydrate-containing cores are associated with seismic "wipeout" zones indicative of gassy sediments. Collapsed structures, diapiric crests, or deep faults on the flanks of diapirs appear to be the sites of the shallow hydrates. 1986.

published proceedings

  • ORGANIC GEOCHEMISTRY

altmetric score

  • 3

author list (cited authors)

  • BROOKS, J. M., COX, H. B., BRYANT, W. R., KENNICUTT, M. C., MANN, R. G., & MCDONALD, T. J.

citation count

  • 191

complete list of authors

  • BROOKS, JM||COX, HB||BRYANT, WR||KENNICUTT, MC||MANN, RG||MCDONALD, TJ

publication date

  • January 1986