The fluid migration system and gas hydrate enrichment and accumulation in southern South China Sea

WANG Xiuping; YANG Pengcheng; LIU Fangyuan

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1001-909X.2025.01.005

PDF(28098 KB)

Journal of Marine Sciences ›› 2025, Vol. 43 ›› Issue (1) : 47-56. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1001-909X.2025.01.005

The fluid migration system and gas hydrate enrichment and accumulation in southern South China Sea

Author information +

History +

Abstract

The Zengmu-Beikang Basin, located in the southern South China Sea, was formed under a complex geological background, with a large number of oil and gas reservoirs developed, and various types of fluid flow structures widely distributed. Seismic data indicate that the fluid flow system composed of gas chimneys, faults, tubular channels, mud volcanoes, and mud diapirs in the southern South China Sea may be related to the accumulation of gas hydrates. Seabed seepage and bottom simulating reflection (BSR) indicate the possible existence of gas hydrates. The formation of gas chimneys originates from hydraulic fracturing caused by deep oil-gas accumulation, which transports fluids to shallow areas. The gas chimneys are related to BSR, indicating the enrichment of gas hydrates. Faults developed in deep and were connected to potential source rocks or reservoirs, thus accumulating a large amount of shallow gas and gas hydrates around the faults. Pockmark is also an indicative structure for seabed seepage and an area where cold seepage gas hydrates are usually enriched. The formation of mud volcanoes and mud diapirs not only leads to vertical fluid migration, but also triggers the shallow strata deformation and fault development. Therefore, the development areas of mud volcanoes and mud diapirs are also potential areas for gas hydrate enrichment. In addition, this article uses the volume method to estimate the gas hydrate resources in the Zengmu-Beikang Basin in the southern South China Sea. The results show that the gas hydrate resources in the Zengmu-Beikang Basin are approximately 1.62×10¹³ m³. The Zengmu-Beikang Basin has strong potential for gas hydrate resources and is a region worthy of attention for future gas hydrate exploration activities.

Key words

southern South China Sea / Zengmu-Beikang Basin / fluid flow / gas hydrate / oil-gas exploration

Cite this article

EndNote

Ris (Procite)

Bibtex

Download Citations

WANG Xiuping , YANG Pengcheng , LIU Fangyuan. The fluid migration system and gas hydrate enrichment and accumulation in southern South China Sea[J]. Journal of Marine Sciences. 2025, 43(1): 47-56 https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1001-909X.2025.01.005

References

List( Publishing order | Descend order by publishing year | Descend order by cited within ) Chart analysis

[1]	MACELLONIA L, LUTKENB C B, GARGC S, et al. Heat-flow regimes and the hydrate stability zone of a transient, thermogenic, fault-controlled hydrate system (Woolsey Mound northern Gulf of Mexico)[J]. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 2015, 59: 491-504. Cited in this article [1]

[2]	VADAKKEPULIYAMBATTA S, HORNBACH M J, BÜNZ S, et al. Controls on gas hydrate system evolution in a region of active fluid flow in the SW Barents Sea[J]. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 2015, 66: 861-872. Cited in this article [1]

[3]	ANDRESEN K J. Fluid flow features in hydrocarbon plumbing systems: What do they tell us about the basin evolution?[J]. Marine Geology, 2012, 332-334: 89-108. Cited in this article [2]

[4]	PAGANONI M, CARTWRIGHT J A, FOSCHI M, et al. Relationship between fluid-escape pipes and hydrate distribution in offshore Sabah (NW Borneo)[J]. Marine Geology, 2018, 395: 82-103. Cited in this article [3]

[5]	KUNATH P, CRUTCHLEY G, CHI W C, et al. Episodic venting of a submarine gas seep on geological time scales: Formosa Ridge, northern South China Sea[J]. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 2022, 127(9): e2022JB024668. Cited in this article [2]

[6]	SULTAN N, BOHRMANN G, RUFFINE L, et al. Pockmark formation and evolution in deep water Nigeria: Rapid hydrate growth versus slow hydrate dissolution[J]. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 2014, 119(4): 2679-2694. Cited in this article [2]

[7]	吴能友, 张海啟, 杨胜雄, 等. 南海神狐海域天然气水合物成藏系统初探[J]. 天然气工业, 2007, 27(9): 1-6. WU N Y, ZHANG H Q, YANG S X, et al. Preliminary discussion on natural gas hydrate reservoir system of Shenhu area, North slope of South China Sea[J]. Natural Gas Industry, 2007, 27(9): 1-6. Cited in this article [1]

[8]	苏丕波, 梁金强, 张伟, 等. 南海北部神狐海域天然气水合物成藏系统[J]. 天然气工业, 2020, 40(8): 77-89. SU P B, LIANG J Q, ZHANG W, et al. Natural gas hydrate accumulation system in the Shenhu sea area of the northern South China Sea[J]. Natural Gas Industry, 2020, 40(8): 77-89. Cited in this article [1]

[9]	王秀娟, 靳佳澎, 郭依群, 等. 南海北部天然气水合物富集特征及定量评价[J]. 地球科学, 2021, 46(3):1038-1057. WANG X J, JIN J P, GUO Y Q, et al. The characteristics of gas hydrate accumulation and quantitative estimation in the north slope of South China Sea[J]. Earth Science, 2021, 46(3): 1038-1057. Cited in this article [2]

[10]

骆帅兵, 张莉, 雷振宇, 等. 陆坡盆地体系深水重力流形成机制、沉积模式及应用实例探讨[J]. 石油实验地质, 2017, 39(6): 747-754.

LUO

S B

, ZHANG

, LEI

Z Y

, et al. Formation mechanism, sedimentary model and typical example of a deep-water gravity flow in continental slope-basin systems[J]. Petroleum Geology & Experiment, 2017, 39(6): 747-754.

Cited in this article [1]

[11]	ZHANG B D, SU M, CHEN H, et al. How do fault systems and seafloor bathymetry influence the structure and distribution characteristics of gas chimneys?[J]. Basin Research, 2023, 35(5): 1718-1743. Cited in this article [3]

[12]	ZHANG W, LIANG J Q, LU J A, et al. Accumulation features and mechanisms of high saturation natural gas hydrate in Shenhu Area, northern South China Sea[J]. Petroleum Exploration and Development, 2017, 44(5): 708-719. Cited in this article [1]

[13]	LIU S, HERNÁNDEZ-MOLINA F J, LEI Z Y, et al. Fault-controlled contourite drifts in the southern South China Sea: Tectonic, oceanographic, and conceptual implications[J]. Marine Geology, 2021, 433(1):106420. Cited in this article [9]

[14]

雷振宇, 张莉, 苏明, 等. 南海南部北康盆地中中新世深水沉积体类型、特征及意义[J]. 海洋地质与第四纪地质, 2017, 37(6): 110-118.

LEI

Z Y

, ZHANG

, SU

, et al. Middle Miocene deep-water sediments in the Beikang Basin, Southern South China Sea: Types, characteristic, and implications[J]. Marine Geology & Quaternary Geology, 2017, 37(6): 110-118.

Cited in this article [2]

[15]

王建桥, 姚伯初, 万玲, 等. 南海海域新生代沉积盆地的油气资源[J]. 海洋地质与第四纪地质, 2005, 25(2): 91-100.

WANG

J Q

, YAO

B C

, WAN

, et al. Characteristics of tectonic dynamics of the Cenozoic sedimentary basins and the petroleum resources in South China Sea[J]. Marine Geology & Quaternary Geology, 2005, 25(2): 91-100.

Cited in this article [1]

[16]

鄢伟, 张光学, 张莉, 等. 南海南部北康盆地中新世碳酸盐台地地震响应及分布特征[J]. 海洋地质与第四纪地质, 2018, 38(6): 118-126.

YAN

, ZHANG

G X

, ZHANG

, et al. Seismic responses and distribution characteristics of the Miocene carbonate platforms in the Beikang Basin of Southern South China Sea[J]. Marine Geology & Quaternary Geology, 2018, 38(6): 118-126.

Cited in this article [3]

[17]	鄢伟, 张光学, 张莉, 等. 南海南部陆缘地质流体类型及其油气成藏意义[J]. 中国地质, 2018, 45(1): 39-47. YAN W, ZHANG G X, ZHANG L, et al. Focused fluid flow systems and their implications for hydrocarbon accumulations on the southern margin of South China Sea[J]. Geology in China, 2018, 45(1): 39-47. Cited in this article [6]

[18]	王宏斌, 姚伯初, 梁金强, 等. 北康盆地构造特征及其构造区划[J]. 海洋地质与第四纪地质, 2001, 21(2): 49-54. WANG H B, YAO B C, LIANG J Q, et al. Tectonic characteristics and division of the Beikang Basin[J]. Marine Geology & Quaternary Geology, 2001, 21(2): 49-54. Cited in this article [1]

[19]	BROWN A. Evaluation of possible gas microseepage mecha-nisms[J]. AAPG Bulletin, 2000, 84(11): 1775-1789. Cited in this article [1]

[20]	KARSTENS J, BERNDT C. Seismic chimneys in the Southern Viking Graben-Implications for paleo fluid migration and overpressure evolution[J]. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 2015, 412(3/4): 88-100. Cited in this article [1]

[21]

MAESTRELLI

, IACOPINI

, JIHAD

A A

, et al. Seismic and structural characterization of fluid escape pipes using 3D and partial stack seismic from the Loyal Field (Scotland, UK): A multiphase and repeated intrusive mechanism[J]. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 2017, 88: 489-510.

Cited in this article [1]

[22]	HUANG W, MENG M M, ZHANG W, et al. Geological, geophysical, and geochemical characteristics of deep-routed fluid seepage and its indication of gas hydrate occurrence in the Beikang basin, southern South China Sea[J]. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 2022, 139, 105610. Cited in this article [5]

[23]	ZHANG K, GUAN Y X, SONG H B, et al. A preliminary study on morphology and genesis of giant and mega pock-marks near Andu Seamount, Nansha Region (South China Sea)[J]. Marine Geophysical Research, 2020, 41: 2. Cited in this article [4]

[24]	MAZZINI A, ETIOPE G. Mud volcanism: An updated review[J]. Earth-Science Reviews, 2017, 168: 81-112. Cited in this article [1]

[25]	HOLBROOK W S, HOSKINS H, WOOD W T, et al. Methane hydrate and free gas on the Blake Ridge from vertical seismic profiling[J]. Science, 1996, 273: 1840-1843. Cited in this article [1]

[26]	DICKENS G R, PAULL C K, WALLACE P, et al. Direct measurement of in situ methane quantities in a large gas-hydrate reservoir[J]. Nature, 1997, 385: 426-428. Cited in this article [1]

[27]	孙鲁一, 张广旭, 王秀娟, 等. 南海神狐海域天然气水合物饱和度的数值模拟分析[J]. 海洋地质与第四纪地质, 2021, 41(2): 210-221. SUN L Y, ZHANG G X, WANG X J, et al. Numerical modeling of gas hydrate saturation for the Shenhu area, South China Sea[J]. Marine Geology & Quaternary Geology, 2021, 41(2): 210-221. Cited in this article [1]