• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.146-162
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• 2017

Multibeam and seismic data in the northwestern part of the Ulleung Basin were analyzed to study stratigraphy and evolutionary history of submarine canyon. A detailed analysis reveals that the sedimentary sequences in this area consist of four stratigraphic units separated by erosional unconformities. On the continental slope, these units are dominated by well-stratified facies with some slope failures, whereas these units show well-stratified and chaotic facies toward the basin floor. Generally, the sediment thickness is relatively thin on the slope, whereas thick sediment accumulation occurs on the base of slope and basin floor. Based on seismic characteristics and distribution, the deposition of each units are well correlated with the evolutionary history of the submarine canyon. Unit 1 directly overlying the acoustic basement has thin sediment layer on the slope, whereas its thickness gradually increase toward the basin floor. Compared to other units, Unit 2 is relatively thick accumulations on the slope and contains some slope failures related to faults systems. The mass transport sediments due to slope failures, mainly deposited on the base of slope as a submarine fan. The width and depth of submarine canyon increase due to dominant of the erosional process rather than the sediment deposition. Unit 3 is thin accumulation on the slope around the submarine canyon. Toward the basin floor, its thickness gradually increases. Unit 4 is characterized by thin layers including slides and slumps on the slope, whereas it formed thick accumulations at the base of slope as a submarine fan. The increase in the width and depth of submarine canyon results from the dominant of the erosional process and slope failures around the submarine canyon. Consequently, the formation of sedimentary units combined with the development of submarine canyon in this area is largely controlled by the amounts of sediment supply originated from slope failures, regional tectonic effects and sea-level fluctuations.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.93-96
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• 2008

We analyze a precise seabed feature around the Hupo Bank by using Multi-beam echosounder. Multi-beam echosounder system can observe the topography undulation according to the navigation of the survey ship by shooting wide beam. It is possible to embody a precision seabed feature because it can be make high density of incompletion depth sounding between survey lines. Through this survey, there is the Hupo Bank which is 84 km long, 1-15 km wide, 5.3-160 m deep in the center, at the west is moat, at the east is scarp and submarine canyon. The top of the Hupo Bank is the Wangdol reef that has 5.3 m in depth of water at least. Moat in survey area is 30 m long, and 30-40 m wide and has a depressed channel. The gap of depth of water in scarp is approximately 60 m and shows a characteristic of cuttig plane. Submarine canyon is 3.5 - 13.5 km wide.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.301-312
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• 2015

A commercial gas field was found in the southwestern continental shelf of the Ulleung Basin, East Sea in the late 1990s. To develop additional gas field, an exploration well was drilled through the coarse infill of submarine canyon near the gas field, but it was uneconomic to develop hydrocarbons. Using newly acquired deep seismic reflection and previous well data, we have identified additional geological structure which has hydrocarbon potentials below submarine canyons in the southwestern margin of the basin. Based on the interpretation of the deep seismic reflection and well data, the sequences of the study area can be classified into the syn-rift megasequence(MS1), post-rift megasequence(MS2), syn-compressional megasequence(MS3), and post-compressional megasequence(MS4) in relation to the tectonic events. MS1, deposited simultaneously with the basin formation before the middle Miocene, is characterized by chaotic seismic facies with low- to moderate-amplitude and low frequency reflections. MS2 comprises laterally continuous, low- to moderate-amplitude reflections, showing progradational stacking patterns due to high rates of sediment supply during basin expansion in the middle Miocene. MS3 is mainly composed of continuous reflections with high amplitude and moderate- to high-frequency which are interpreted as coarse-grained sediments. The coarse-grained sediments of MS3 sequence is widely truncated by several submarine canyons which filled with fine-grained sediment of MS4 to form a stratigraphic trap of hydrocarbon. Therefore, the reservoir and seal of the hydrocarbon trap in the study area are coarse-grained sediment of MS3 and submarine canyon filled with fine-grained sediment of MS4, respectively. A flat-spot seismic anomaly, which may indicate the presence of hydrocarbon, is observed within the stratigraphic trap.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.39-53
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• 2015

Analysis of multi-channel seismic reflection profiles acquired from the southwestern margin of Ulleung Basin reveals that the cut and fill structures, which show U-shaped or V-shaped morphology, occur on variable size. The cut and fill structure mostly consists of fine-grained sediments on the well data and is characterized by transparent or semitransparent seismic facies on the seismic section. Such cut and fill structures dominantly occur in the syn-compressional megasequence (MSQ3), which was deposited during basin deformation of late Miocene, among the four megasequences of the study area. These cut and fill structures can be divided into three groups based on their size and formation time. The cut and fill structures of Group I were formed when Dolgorae structure was active, and occurred on a small scale. The cut and fill structures of group II were formed when both Dolgorae structure and Gorae V structure were active, and the number and size of those increased compared with group I. The cut and fill structures of group III were formed when Dolgorae structure was weaken gradually but Gorae V structure kept active, and the number and size of those decreased in comparison with group II. Consequently the cut and fill structures in the southwestern margin of Ulleung basin are interpreted as submarine canyon based on spatial distribution, size and fill sediment. They were controlled by the tectonic movement in response to basin closure and tectonic-induced sediment supply variation.