Natural gas hydrates in the eastern deep-water Ulleung Basin

동부 심해 울릉분지의 천연가스 하이드레이트

Piston cores retrieved from the eastern part of the deep-water Ulleung Basin were analyzed to access the potential of hydrocarbon gas generation and natural gas hydrate (NGH) formation. Seismic data acquired in the study area were also analyzed to determine the presence of hydrocarbon gas and/or NGH, and to map their distribution. Core analyses revealed high total organic carbon (TOC) contents which favor hydrocarbon generation. The cores recovered from the southern study area showed the sufficient residual hydrocarbon gas concentrations for the formation of significant NGH. These cores also showed the cracks developed parallel to the bedding that suggest significant gas content in situ. A number of seismic blanking zones were observed on seismic data. They are identified as vertical to sub-vertical chimneys caused by the upward migration of pore fluid or gas, and containing of free gas and/or NGH. Often, they are associated with velocity pull-up structures that are interpreted to be the result of high-velocity NGH. The seismic data also showed several bottom-simulating reflectors (BSRs) that are associated with overlying NGH and underlying free gas. The distribution of blanking zones and BSRs would be impacted by the lateral differences of upward methane fluxes.