Discovery of massive seafloor gas seepage along the Wagner Fault, northern Gulf of California

Canet, Carles; Prol‐Ledesma, Rosa María; Dando, P. R.; Vázquez-Figueroa, Viridiana; Shumilin, Evgueni; Birosta, Elisabet; Sánchez, Alberto; Robinson, Carlos J.; Camprubí, Antoni; Tauler, Esperança

doi:10.1016/j.sedgeo.2010.05.004

Cited by 36 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…As a consequence of the high methane production rate, many methane-rich thermal plumes have been documented in Guaymas Basin, some extending at least 900 m above the 1500-2000 m deep seafloor (Merewether et al 1985). More recently, massive seafloor gas seepage from depths of 65 to 150 m was reported in the pull-apart Wagner and Consag basins (Canet et al 2010), which are located about 100 km northwest of our study area. Known tectonically-active zones in our study area are the Ballenas Transform Fault (BTF) system within the Ballenas Channel (BC), and Delfín Basin.…”

Section: Situación Geológica Y Filtración De Gas En El Golfo De Califmentioning

confidence: 56%

“…If no hydrothermal activity is present, then anoxic diagenesis of sedimentary organic matter can also form methane gas in the sediments, which may be released as bubbles to the water column. Release of methane bubbles from the sediments could be triggered (Canet et al 2010) by the extensive faulting known to be present in the BC sill area (Persaud et al 2003). Measurements of gas composition (i.e., ethane and propane) and methane stable isotope ratios could help to clarify the relative importance of the potential biogenic, thermogenic, and abiogenic sources and could also help constrain the importance of methane oxidation, but we were unable to obtain these measurements with our samples.…”

Section: Discusión Y Conclusionesmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Como consecuencia de la alta tasa de producción de metano, se han observado muchas plumas térmicas ricas en metano en la cuenca de Guaymas, algunas extendiéndose unos 900 m por arriba del lecho marino de 1500 a 2000 m de profundidad (Merewether et al 1985). Más recientemente, se registró una masiva filtración de gas de profundidades de 65 a 150 m en las cuencas de tracción de Wagner y Consag (Canet et al 2010), las cuales se localizan a unos 100 km al noroeste del área de estudio. Las zonas tectónicamente activas conocidas en el área de estudio son el sistema de falla transformante Ballenas (FTB) en el canal de Ballenas (CB) y la cuenca Delfín.…”

Section: Situación Geológica Y Filtración De Gas En El Golfo De Califunclassified

“…Gas seepage from the sediments is likely to be highly localized and would be difficult to detect by fixed station water column sampling. Underway echo sounding (e.g., Canet et al 2010) and/or deploying a towed or autonomous underwater vehicle with CTD and METS methane sensors (e.g., Merewether et al 1985, Newman et al 2008 would be a more efficient means of detecting methane and hydrothermal plumes over a wide area, such as the NGC, and would be helpful in pinpointing the locations of individual seeps, including the inferred seep near the BC sill. que han perforado el fondo marino muy cerca de nuestras estaciones 5 y 7 (Persaud et al 2003).…”

Section: Discusión Y Conclusionesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Es bien conocido que la región norte del golfo de California (GC) es tectónicamente activa y presenta intensa actividad hidrotermal. Estas características, junto con los sedimentos ricos en materia orgánica resultantes de la alta productividad y profundidades de aguas someras, proporcionan mecanismos adicionales para producir metano en los sedimentos y facilitar su liberación en la columna de agua y potencialmente la atmósfera (Campbell y Gieskes 1984, Canet et al 2010.…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

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Dissolved methane in the sills region of the Gulf of California

et al. 2013

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ABSTRACT. An unusual combination of features makes the Midriff Islands region of the northern Gulf of California (NGC) a strong atmospheric methane source. Oceanographic isolation by a series of sills and islands along with upward transport of nutrient-rich water enhanced by tidal currents, upwelling, and overflows results in high productivity. The resulting high phytoplankton biomass likely stimulates biogeochemical cycling that, in turn, may stimulate biological methane production in the water column and sediments. Additionally, venting of abiogenic methane-rich hydrothermal fluids in this tectonically active area and seepage of biogenic or thermogenic methane gas from the sediments may also be important sources. We found elevated methane concentrations throughout our study area, the highest within the Ballenas Channel, which was supersaturated with respect to atmospheric methane at all depths. Our vertical methane profiles show that elevated dissolved methane concentrations in the NGC are mainly associated with Gulf of California Water (GCW). Data from 22 stations suggest southward advection of methane via the methane-rich GCW, and lower methane concentrations south of the sills area. Our observations of supersaturated methane concentrations at all stations and all depths in the Ballenas Channel suggest that it is a strong source of methane to the atmosphere and to other parts of the NGC. In particular, station 7 at 50, 20, and 0 m depths had methane (CH 4 . These values are higher than those measured at many other high productivity sites worldwide including upwelling sites, and suggest input of methane via hydrothermal fluids or seepage from the sediments.Key words: dissolved methane, gas chromatography, potential methane sources and origin.RESUMEN. Una combinación inusual de rasgos oceanográficos hacen de la región de las grandes islas del norte del golfo de California (NGC) una importante fuente de metano hacia la atmósfera. El aislamiento oceanográfico por umbrales e islas y el transporte vertical de agua rica en nutrientes, aumentado por mareas, surgencias y desbordes, resultan en alta productividad. La alta biomasa fitoplanctónica probablemente estimula el reciclado biogeoquímico, que a su vez estimula la producción biológica de metano en el agua y sedimento. Adicionalmente, el venteo de fluidos hidrotermales ricos en metano en esta zona tectónicamente activa y las filtraciones de gas metano, termogénico o biogénico, del sedimento también pueden ser fuentes importantes. Se encontraron concentraciones elevadas de metano a lo largo del área de estudio, principalmente dentro del canal de Ballenas, con supersaturación respecto al metano atmosférico en todas las profundidades. Nuestros perfiles verticales de metano muestran que las elevadas concentraciones de metano en el NGC están asociadas al Agua del Golfo de California (AGC). Datos de 22 estaciones sugieren una advección de metano al sur vía AGC rica en metano, y concentraciones menores de metano al sur de los umbrales. La supersaturación en el canal d...

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Section: Situación Geológica Y Filtración De Gas En El Golfo De Califmentioning

confidence: 56%

Section: Discusión Y Conclusionesmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Situación Geológica Y Filtración De Gas En El Golfo De Califunclassified

Section: Discusión Y Conclusionesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionunclassified

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Dissolved methane in the sills region of the Gulf of California

et al. 2013

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Role of tectonic stress in seepage evolution along the gas hydrate‐charged Vestnesa Ridge, Fram Strait

Plaza‐Faverola

Bünz

Johnson

et al. 2015

Geophysical Research Letters

100

214

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Methane expulsion from the world ocean floor is a broadly observed phenomenon known to be episodic. Yet the processes that modulate seepage remain elusive. In the Arctic offshore west Svalbard, for instance, seepage at 200-400 m water depth may be explained by ocean temperature-controlled gas hydrate instabilities at the shelf break, but additional processes are required to explain seepage in permanently cold waters at depths >1000 m. We discuss the influence of tectonic stress on seepage evolution along the~100 km long hydrate-bearing Vestnesa Ridge in Fram Strait. High-resolution P-Cable 3-D seismic data revealed fine-scale (>10 m width) near-vertical faults and fractures controlling seepage distribution. Gas chimneys record multiple seepage events coinciding with glacial intensification and active faulting. The faults document the influence of nearby tectonic stress fields in seepage evolution along this deepwater gas hydrate system for at least the last~2.7 Ma.

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Non-calcareous Tubeworms in Ancient Hydrocarbon Seeps

Georgieva

Little

2022

Topics in Geobiology

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Discovery of massive seafloor gas seepage along the Wagner Fault, northern Gulf of California

Cited by 36 publications

References 61 publications

Dissolved methane in the sills region of the Gulf of California

Dissolved methane in the sills region of the Gulf of California

Role of tectonic stress in seepage evolution along the gas hydrate‐charged Vestnesa Ridge, Fram Strait

Non-calcareous Tubeworms in Ancient Hydrocarbon Seeps

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