Thermal evolution of the New Zealand Hikurangi subduction margin: Impact on natural gas generation and methane hydrate formation – A model study

Kroeger, Karsten F.; Plaza‐Faverola, Andreia; Barnes, Philip M.; Pecher, Ingo

doi:10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2015.01.020

Cited by 65 publications

(69 citation statements)

References 103 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…For calibration it is assumed that the BSR indicates the lower limit of the present‐day stability field of pure methane hydrate. This is consistent with earlier results suggesting that the widespread BSR at the southern Hikurangi Margin primarily formed from diffusive migration of biogenic methane (Kroeger et al, ). There is no indication of strongly transient thermal conditions, such as the occurrence of “metastable” hydrate resulting in double BSRs in the trough basin (Pegasus Basin).…”

Section: Methodssupporting

confidence: 93%

“…Empirically, around 10 % of the available TOC is converted to methane during burial (Clayton, ). Incorporation of these parameters into a PetroMod™ model resulted in a predicted maximum of microbial methane generation deep below the sea‐floor (1,600 m below seafloor in the model of Kroeger et al, ). Other models and measured data, however, suggest that microbial gas generation is at maximum near the seafloor and decreases with increasing burial and age (Middelburg, ; Wallmann et al, ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Quantification of gas hydrate occurrence is essential for addressing these topics, but available geophysical methods are associated with significant quantitative uncertainties whilst well data globally are sparse. Hydrate systems modeling can be used as an additional tool to identify sites of potential concentrated hydrate deposits for further detailed geophysical studies and to estimate masses of hydrates on a basin scale (Burwicz et al, ; Crutchley et al, ; Fujii et al, ; Kroeger et al, , )…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…PetroMod™ 2‐D and 3‐D models have been used to successfully reproduce hydrate distributions inferred from seismic data (Crutchley et al, ; Fujii et al, ; Kroeger et al, , ). Consistent with geochemical data, most models suggested that microbially generated methane is the most important source for widespread gas hydrate formation (Burwicz et al, ; Crutchley et al, ; Fujii et al, ; Kroeger et al, ). Models further suggested that the formation of concentrated hydrate deposits commonly relied on focused migration of either microbial methane or thermogenic natural gas, often as a free gas phase through interconnected permeable strata, faults, and fracture zones.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Map of the study area showing the outline of the PetroMod™ 3‐D model (yellow polygon), seismic reflection surveys used in this study (white lines), the location of the 2‐D model of Kroeger et al (, red line), plate convergence vectors (yellow arrows) based on Beavan and Haines (,), and thrusts of the principal deformation front (black lines, after Barnes et al, and Micallef et al, ). The blue line indicates the transect shown in Figure .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

A 3‐D Model of Gas Generation, Migration, and Gas Hydrate Formation at a Young Convergent Margin (Hikurangi Margin, New Zealand)

Kroeger

Crutchley

Kellett

et al. 2019

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We present a three‐dimensional gas hydrate systems model of the southern Hikurangi subduction margin in eastern New Zealand. The model integrates thermal and microbial gas generation, migration, and hydrate formation. Modeling these processes has improved the understanding of factors controlling hydrate distribution. Three spatial trends of concentrated hydrate occurrence are predicted. The first trend (I) is aligned with the principal deformation front in the overriding Australian plate. Concentrated hydrate deposits are predicted at or near the apexes of anticlines and to be mainly sourced from focused migration and recycling of microbial gas generated beneath the hydrate stability zone. A second predicted trend (II) is related to deformation in the subducting Pacific plate associated with former Mesozoic subduction beneath Gondwana and the modern Pacific‐Australian plate boundary. This trend is enhanced by increased advection of thermogenic gas through permeable layers in the subducting plate and focused migration into the Neogene basin fill above Cretaceous‐Paleogene structures. The third trend (III) follows the northern margin of the Hikurangi Channel and is related to the presence of buried strata of the Hikurangi Channel system. The predicted trends are consistent with pronounced seismic reflection anomalies related to free gas in the pore space and strength of the bottom‐simulating reflection. However, only trend I is also associated with clear and widespread seismic indications of concentrated gas hydrate. Total predicted hydrate masses at the southern Hikurangi Margin are between 52,800 and 69,800 Mt. This equates to 3.4–4.5 Mt hydrate/km2, containing 6.33 × 108–8.38 × 108 m3/km2 of methane.

show abstract

Section: Methodssupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

A 3‐D Model of Gas Generation, Migration, and Gas Hydrate Formation at a Young Convergent Margin (Hikurangi Margin, New Zealand)

Kroeger

Crutchley

Kellett

et al. 2019

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Short‐range, overpressure‐driven methane migration in coarse‐grained gas hydrate reservoirs

Nole

Daigle

Cook

et al. 2016

Geophysical Research Letters

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Two methane migration mechanisms have been proposed for coarse‐grained gas hydrate reservoirs: short‐range diffusive gas migration and long‐range advective fluid transport from depth. Herein, we demonstrate that short‐range fluid flow due to overpressure in marine sediments is a significant additional methane transport mechanism that allows hydrate to precipitate in large quantities in thick, coarse‐grained hydrate reservoirs. Two‐dimensional simulations demonstrate that this migration mechanism, short‐range advective transport, can supply significant amounts of dissolved gas and is unencumbered by limitations of the other two end‐member mechanisms. Short‐range advective migration can increase the amount of methane delivered to sands as compared to the slow process of diffusion, yet it is not necessarily limited by effective porosity reduction as is typical of updip advection from a deep source.

show abstract

3‐D basin‐scale reconstruction of natural gas hydrate system of the Green Canyon, Gulf of Mexico

Burwicz

Reichel

Wallmann

et al. 2017

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Our study presents a basin‐scale 3‐D modeling solution, quantifying and exploring gas hydrate accumulations in the marine environment around the Green Canyon (GC955) area, Gulf of Mexico. It is the first modeling study that considers the full complexity of gas hydrate formation in a natural geological system. Overall, it comprises a comprehensive basin reconstruction, accounting for depositional and transient thermal history of the basin, source rock maturation, petroleum components generation, expulsion and migration, salt tectonics, and associated multistage fault development. The resulting 3‐D gas hydrate distribution in the Green Canyon area is consistent with independent borehole observations. An important mechanism identified in this study and leading to high gas hydrate saturation (>80 vol %) at the base of the gas hydrate stability zone (GHSZ) is the recycling of gas hydrate and free gas enhanced by high Neogene sedimentation rates in the region. Our model predicts the rapid development of secondary intrasalt minibasins situated on top of the allochthonous salt deposits which leads to significant sediment subsidence and an ensuing dislocation of the lower GHSZ boundary. Consequently, large amounts of gas hydrates located in the deepest parts of the basin dissociate and the released free methane gas migrates upward to recharge the GHSZ. In total, we have predicted the gas hydrate budget for the Green Canyon area that amounts to ∼3256 Mt of gas hydrate, which is equivalent to ∼340 Mt of carbon (∼7 × 1011 m3 of CH4 at STP conditions), and consists mostly of biogenic hydrates.

show abstract

Thermal evolution of the New Zealand Hikurangi subduction margin: Impact on natural gas generation and methane hydrate formation – A model study

Cited by 65 publications

References 103 publications

A 3‐D Model of Gas Generation, Migration, and Gas Hydrate Formation at a Young Convergent Margin (Hikurangi Margin, New Zealand)

A 3‐D Model of Gas Generation, Migration, and Gas Hydrate Formation at a Young Convergent Margin (Hikurangi Margin, New Zealand)

Short‐range, overpressure‐driven methane migration in coarse‐grained gas hydrate reservoirs

3‐D basin‐scale reconstruction of natural gas hydrate system of the Green Canyon, Gulf of Mexico

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About