Extensive faulting is observed in sediments containing high concentrations of methane hydrate off the southeastern coast of the United States. Faults that break the sea floor show evidence of both extension and shortening; mud diapirs are also present. The zone of recent faulting apparently extends from the ocean floor down to the base of gas-hydrate stability. We infer that the faulting resulted from excess pore pressure in gas trapped beneath the gas hydrate-beating layer and/or weakening and mobilization of sediments in the region just below the gas-hydrate stability zone. In addition to the zone of surface faults, we identified two buried zones of faulting, that may have similar origins. Subsurface faulted zones appear to act as gas traps.
Additional publication details
Faulting of gas-hydrate-bearing marine sediments - contribution to permeability
Offshore Technol Conf
Richardson, TX, United States
Larger Work Title:
Proceedings of the Annual Offshore Technology Conference
Proceedings of the 1997 29th Annual Offshore Technology Conference, OTC. Part 2 (of 4)