• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.156-168
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• 2013

Drilling expedition #1 in 2007 and drilling expedition #2 in 2010 were performed for gas hydrate resources evaluation and optimal site selection of pilot test in Ulleung basin, East Sea, Korea. This study presents to build the 3D spatial distribution models using the estimated sedimentary facies, porosity, and gas hydrate saturation derived by well logs and core analysis data from UBGH1-4, UBGH1-9, UBGH1-10, UBGH1-14, UBGH2-2-1, UBGH2-2-2, UBGH2-6, UBGH2-9, UBGH2-10 and UBGH2-11. The objective of 3D spatial distribution modeling is to build a geological representation of the gas hydrate-bearing sediment that honors the heterogeneity in 3D grid scale. The facies modeling is populating sedimentary facies into a geological grid using sequential indicator simulation. The porosity and gas hydrate saturation modeling used sequential Gaussian simulation to populate properties stochastically into grid cells.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.53-62
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• 2015

To elucidate the microbial consortia responsible for the anaerobic methane oxidation in the methane hydrate bearing sediments, we compared the geochemical constituents of the sediment, the rate of sulfate reduction, and microbial biomass and diversity using an analysis of functional genes associated with the anaerobic methane oxidation and sulfate reduction between chimney site (UBGH2-3) on the continental slope and non-chimney site (UBGH2-10) on the basin of the Ulleung Basin. From the vertical profiles of geochemical constituents, sulfate and methane transition zone (SMTZ) was clearly defined between 0.5 and 1.5 mbsf (meters below seafloor) in the UBGH2-3, and between 6 and 7 mbsf at the UBGH2-10. At the UBGH2-3, the sulfate reduction rate (SRR) in the SMTZ exhibited was appeared to be $1.82nmol\;cm^{-3}d^{-1}$ at the depth of 1.15 mbsf. The SRR in the UBHG2-10 showed a highest value ($4.29nmol\;cm^{-3}d^{-1}$) at the SMTZ. The 16S rRNA gene copy numbers of total Prokaryotes, mcrA, (methyl coenzyme M reductase subunit A), and dsrA (dissimilatory sulfite reductase subunit A) showed the peaks in the SMTZ at both sites, but the maximum mcrA gene copy number of the UBGH2-10 appeared below the SMTZ (9.8 mbsf). ANME-1 was a predominant ANME (Anaerobic MEthanotroph) group in both SMTZs of the UBGH2-3 and -10. However, The sequences of ANME-2 were detected only at 2.2 mbsf of the UBGH2-3 where high methane flux was observed because of massive amount of gas hydrate at shallow depth. And Desulfosarcina-Desulfococcus (DSS) that is associated with ANME-2 was detected in 2.2 mbsf of the UBHG2-3. Overall results demonstrate that ANME-1 and ANME-2 are considered as significant archaeal groups related to methane cycle in the subsurface sediment of the East Sea, and ANME-2/DSS consortia might be more responsible for methane oxidation in the methane seeping region than in non-seeping region.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.147.1-147.1
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• 2011

지식경제부 가스 하이드레이트 개발사업의 일환으로 동해 울릉분지 가스 하이드레이트 2차 시추(Ulleung Basin Gas Hydrate Drilling Expedition: UBGH2)가 2010년 7월 8일부터 9월 30일까지 D/V Fugro Synergy를 이용하여 수행되었다. UBGH2 수행을 위해 선정된 13개 site에서 약 1개월 동안 Schlumberger사의 장비를 이용 Logging-While-Drilling/Measurement-While-Drilling(LWD/MWD) 자료를 취득하였다. LWD/MWD 자료는 선상에서 분석되었으며, 이 결과는 coring 및 borehole plan 수립을 위하여 활용되었다. Coring Phase 동안 10개 site의 18개 hole로부터 퇴적물 코어 시료를 채취하고 선상에서 퇴적학, 지구화학, 생지화학, 물리적 특성 등 각종 분석과 측정 작업을 수행하였다. 약 2개월에 걸쳐 수행된 coring phase 동안에 2개 site에서 FAOL(Fugro Alluvial Offshore Limited)사의 장비를 이용 Wireline Logging/Vertical Seismic Profile(WL/VSP) 자료도 취득하였다. LWD/MWD phase와 coring phase 동안 12개 site에서 무인잠수정(remotely operated vehicle: ROV)를 이용하여 퇴적물 시료 채취, 해저면 관찰, 용존메탄 측정 등의 작업을 수행하였으며, 선상에서 취득된 이들 자료를 분석하였다. Coring을 수행한 모든 site에서 가스 하이드레이트 부존을 확인하였으며, 다양한 산상의 가스 하이드레이트 실물을 회수하고 분석하였다.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.102-115
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• 2014

In the Ulleung basin in the East Sea of Korea, it is assumed that huge amounts of gas hydrate(GH) are buried. In 2010, drilling operation was performed at the 2nd Ulleung Basin Gas Hydrate Drilling Expedition(UBGH2) to designate a site for field production test. In this study, based on the field production test site model reflecting geological properties, GH dissociation flow interpretation is analyzed and sensitivity analysis is performed to gain understanding of production behavior properties following bottomhole pressure(BHP) variation by using the numerical simulation. The results of this study provide a basis for the preliminary analysis of field production test site.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.33-39
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• 2013

A drilling exploration in deep sea is being processed to develop new energy resource in the world. In 2007, the presence of the gas hydrate had been confirmed during the UBGH1 (Ulleung Basin Gas Hydrate Expedition 1) in the Ulleung Basin. Geotechnical properties of the deep marine sediment are important factors for assessing the safety of gas production facility and productivity from the hydrate bearing sediment. In this study, comprehensive laboratory tests are conducted to investigate the geotechnical engineering characteristics of the deep marine sediments recovered from the hydrate occurrence regions during the UBGH2 (Ulleung Basin Gas Hydrate Expedition 2) in the Ulleung Basin, East Sea, Korea. The index properties of the specimens including the specific gravity, atterberg limits, specific surface, and particle size distribution are measured, and these are compared to the results reported by previous studies. A zero-lateral strain cell, which houses bender elements, is used to determine stress-dependant characteristics and shear wave velocities with the vertical effective stresses. Furthermore, the hydraulic conductivity is calculated based on the consolidation test results.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.49-56
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• 2013

The necessity of exploration in deep sea increases to develop the natural resources. The deep marine sediments, which were recovered from the hydrate occurrence regions during the Ulleung Basin Gas Hydrate Expedition 2 (UBGH2), East Sea, Korea in 2010, are explored to obtain the geotechnical characteristics and strength parameters. The index properties of the specimens including the atterberg limits, specific surface, and particle size distribution are measured and compared with the previous studies. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, and X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy are conducted to analyze the clay mineralogy, chemical composition, and microstructure of the sediments. Strength parameters and shear wave velocities are measured with the axial strain by using an instrumented triaxial device. The strength parameters estimated by empirical equations are compared with the experimental results.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.397-406
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• 2012

During the 2nd Ulleung Basin Gas Hydrate Drilling Expedition (UBGH2) in 2010, gas-hydrate-bearing sediment cores were recovered at 10 drill sites. Base, on Infrared (IR) thermal image and grain-size analysis of the cores, three distinct types of gas hydrate are classified: Type I (fracture-filling in mud layers), Type II (disseminated in mud layers), and Type III (pore-filling in sand layers). Types I and II gas hydrates occur in mud as discrete veins, nodules or disseminated particles. Type III fills the pore spaces of the sand layers encased in mud layers. In this case, the sand content of hosting sediments shows a general linear relationship with gas hydrate saturation. The degrees of temperature anomalies (${\Delta}T$) from IR images generally increase with gas hydrate saturation regardless of gas hydrate occurrence types. Type I is dominantly found in the sites where seismic profiles delineate chimney structures, whereas Type II where the drill cores are composed almost of mud layers. Type III was mainly recovered from the sites where hemipelagic muds are frequently intercalated with turbidite sand layers. Our results indicate that gas hydrate occurrence is closely related to sedimentological characteristic of gas hydrate-bearing sediments, that is, grain size distribution.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.191-200
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• 2014

Gas hydrates play a significant role in the global carbon cycle and climate change because methane, a greenhouse gas, can be released from the dissociation of gas hydrate. Anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) is an important process that consumes more than 90% of the methane released into the hydrosphere and atmosphere. In this study, the microbial community associated with the methane gas hydrate sediment in the Ulleung basin, East Sea of Korea (UBGH) was analyzed by phylogenetic analysis of the mcrA and 16S rRNA gene libraries. A vertical stratification of the dominating anaerobic methane oxidizer (ANME)-1 group was observed at the surface and the sulfate methane transition zone (SMTZ). The ANME-2c group was found to be dominant in the high methane layer. The archaea of marine benthic group B, which is commonly observed in the AOM region, accounted for more than 50% of the identifications in all sediments. Nitrate reducing bacteria were predominant at SMTZ (Halomonas: 56.5%) and high methane layer (Achromobacter: 52.6%), while sulfate reducing bacteria were not found in UBGH sediments. These results suggest that the AOM process may be carried out by a syntrophic consortium of ANME and nitrate reducing bacteria in the gas hydrates of the Ulleung Basin of the East Sea.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.216-230
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• 2014

Based on the interpretation of 3D seismic profiles acquired in the northwestern area of the Ulleung Basin, East Sea, the shallow sediments consist of five seismic units separated by regional reflectors. An anticline is present in the study area that documents activity of many faults. Bottom simulating reflectors are characterized by high RMS amplitude. Acoustic blanking with low RMS amplitude is distinctively recognized in the gas hydrate stability zone. Seismic attribute analysis shows that if gas hydrates are underlain by free gas, the high reflection strength and the low instantaneous frequency are displayed below the boundary between them. Whereas, if not, the reflection strength is low and instantaneous frequency is high continuously below the gas hydrate zone. Based on the spectral decomposition of the bottom simulating reflector, the high envelope at the specific high frequency range indicates the generation of the tuning effect due to the lower free gas content. Four models for the occurrence of the gas hydrate are suggested considering the slope of sedimentary layers as well as the presence of gas hydrate or free gas.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.06a
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• pp.676-679
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• 2009

The bottom-simulating reflector (BSR) is the most commonly observed seismic indicator of gas hydrate in the Ulleung Basin, East Sea. We processed ten representative seismic reflection profiles, selected from a large data set, for amplitude variation with offset (AVO) analysis of the BSR to estimate gas-hydrate concentrations. First, BSRs were divided into five groups based on their seismic amplitudes and associated sediment types: (1) very high-amplitude BSRs in turbidite/hemipelagic sediments, (2) high-amplitude BSRs in debris-flow deposits, (3) moderate-amplitude BSRs in turbidite/hemipelagic sediments, (4) very low-amplitude BSRs in debris-flow deposits, and (5) very low-amplitude BSRs in seismic chimneys. The AVO responses of the group 1 and 3 BSRs are characterized by a rapid decrease and a relatively slow decrease in magnitude with offset, respectively. The AVO response of the group 2 BSR is characterized by a relatively slow increase in magnitude with offset. The AVO responses of the groups 4 and 5 BSRs are characterized by a flat AVO with very small zero-offset amplitude. Theoretical AVO curves, based on the three-phase Biot theory, suggest that the group 1 and 3 BSRs may be related to high (> 40%) concentrations of gas hydrate whereas the group 2 BSRs may indicate low (< 20%) concentrations of gas hydrate. The AVO responses of the group 4 and 5 BSRs cannot be compared with the theoretical models because of their very small zero-offset amplitudes. The comparison of the AVO response of the BSR at the UBGH-04 well with theoretical models suggests about 10% gas-hydrate concentration above the gas-hydrate stability zone.