Geological and geophysical conditions for potential natural gas hydrate resources in southern South China Sea waters

Abstract

The water depth in Nansha (南沙) waters, which is located in the southern South China Sea, varies from 200 to 2 500 m, with a deep-water (>500 m) area of 500 000 km2. In this region, there are many depositional basins with various structural features, prone to the accumulation of organic material. The temperature and pressure conditions in the deep-water environment are suitable for the preservation of gas hydrate. At several sites, we have recognized bottom-simulating reflectors (BSRs) from seismic data. Regional geology analyses show that the Nansha waters may have abundant gas hydrate prospects, especially in localities such as the Nansha trough and other deep-water basins of the central Nansha waters.

Keywords

natural gas hydrate / BSR / geological and geophysical condition / southern South China Sea

References

[1] Deng H., Yan P., Liu H. L.. Seismic Characteristics of Gas Hydrate in the Nansha Waters. Marine Geology and Quaternary Geology, 2004, 24(4): 89-94.

[2] Hall R.. Cenozoic Geological and Plate Tectonic Evolution of SE Asia and the SW Pacific: Computer-Based Reconstructions, Model and Animations. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 2002, 20(4): 353-431.

[3] Hall R., Hattum M. W. A. V., Spakman W.. Impact of India-Asia Collision on SE Asia: The Record in Borneo. Tectonophysics, 2008, 450: 66-389.

[4] Hinz K., Ftisch J., Kempter E. H. K., . Thrust Tectonics along the North-Western Continental Margin of Sabah/Borneo. Geologische Rundschau, 1989, 78(3): 705-730.

[5] Kastner M.. Paull C. K., Dillon W. P.. Gas Hydrates in Convergent Margins: Formation, Occurrence, Geochemistry, and Global Significance. Natural Gas Hydrates Occurrence, Distribution and Detection, 2001, Washington D. C.: American Geophysical Union 67 86

[6] Liu H. L., Sun Y., Guo L. Z., . On the Kinematic Characteristics and Dynamic Process of Boundary Faults’ Nansha Ultra-Crust Layer-Block. Acta Geologica Sinica (English Edition), 1999, 73(4): 452-463.

[7] Liu H. L., Yan P., Liu Y. C., . The Pre-Cenozoic Basements of the South China Sea Area: Implication to East Tethys. Gondwana Research, 2004, 7(4): 1336-1338.

[8] Liu H. L., Yan P., Liu Y. C., . On Existence of Qiongnan Suture in Northern Margin of South China Sea. Chinese Science Bulletin, 2006, 51(Suppl.II): 107-120.

[9] Liu H. L., Yan P., Zhang B. Y., . Role of the Wanan Fault System in the Western Nansha Islands (Southern South China Sea) Waters Area. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 2004, 23(2): 221-233.

[10] Liu, Z. S., Zhao, H. T., Fan, S. Q., et al., 2002. Geology in the South China Sea. Science Press, Beijing. 19–439 (in Chinese)

[11] McDonnell S. L., Max M. D., Cherkis N. Z., . Tectono-Sedimentary Controls on the Likelihood of Gas Hydrate Occurrence near Taiwan. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 2000, 17: 929-935.

[12] Wang H. B., Zhang G. X., Yang M. Z., . Structural Circumstance of Gas Hydrate Deposition in the Continent Margin, the South China Sea. Marine Geology and Quaternary Geology, 2003, 23(1): 82-83.

[13] Wu, N. Y., Su, X., Song, H. B., et al., 2007. On Mechanism of Pooling of Natural Gas Hydrate in Northern Slope of South China Sea: Significance, Present Situation and Problems. http://www.cqvip.com (in Chinese)

[14] Yan P.. The Sedimentation and Petroleum Resources of the Cenozoic in Nansha Waters, 2000, Guangzhou: South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences 40 53

[15] Yao B. C.. Preliminary Exploration of Gas Hydrate in the Northern Margin of the South China Sea. Marine Geology and Quaternary Geology, 1998, 18(4): 11-18.

[16] Zeng W. P., Zhou D.. GIS-Aided Estimation of Gas Hydrate Resources in Southern South China Sea. Journal of Tropical Oceanography, 2003, 22(6): 35-36.

[17] Zhang G. X., Huang Y. Y., Zhu Y. H., . Prospect of Gas Hydrate Resources in the South China Sea. Marine Geology and Quaternary Geology, 2002, 22(1): 75-81.