Submarine Hydrocarbon Seepage: An integrated study by utilizing underwater vehicles/ instruments

Speaker｜Dr. Chieh-Wei Hsu 許介瑋 (Assistant Professor, Cross College Elite Tech Program, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology 高科大高瞻科技不分系學士學位學程 助理教授)
Date｜24 Sep 2024
Time｜16:00 – 17:00 (GMT+8)
Language｜中文
Register｜https://reurl.cc/6dQep5

摘要
本研究以跨領域方法，結合水下載具、各式船載儀器以及衛星影像資料，探討南墨西哥灣 Campeche-Sigsbee Salt Province 的海底碳氫化合物滲漏環境。該區域被視為油氣蘊藏豐富之北墨西哥灣的類比區域，儘管在衛星影像上顯示有廣泛的油滲漏跡象，但對於氣體排放的直接證據相對稀少。本研究旨在全面解析碳氫化合物滲漏系統，特別是氣體排放的分布特徵及其控制機制。研究地點包括 Challenger Knoll 和 Mictlan Knoll，利用聲學調查（包括船載與 AUV 的多波束測深儀）、海床視訊觀察（ROV 與拖曳載具）及氣體 (氣泡) 蒐集。研究結果顯示，大多氣體滲漏與地質結構相關，在 Sigsbee Knolls 平頂丘邊緣，可能存在碳氫化合物的遷移通道，並觀察到間歇性油滲漏的證據。在 Mictlan Knoll，氣體和油滲漏與瀝青火山活動的緊密分布，突顯了這些系統的複雜性。該綜合研究強調了墨西哥灣南部地區多樣化碳氫化合物滲漏的動態特徵及其地質控制因素。

This study focuses on submarine hydrocarbon seepage in the Campeche-Sigsbee salt province of the southern Gulf of Mexico (GoM) using an integrated approach with underwater vehicles and instruments. While the region is considered an analog to the northern GoM’s salt province, direct evidence of gas emissions has been sparse despite indications of widespread oil seeps from satellite images. This research aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the hydrocarbon seepage systems, particularly the distribution and controls of gas emissions. Investigations were conducted at Challenger Knoll and Mictlan Knoll using a multidisciplinary approach, including hydroacoustic surveys (MBES from ship-based and AUV), visual observations (ROV and towed vehicle), and gas bubble sampling. Findings reveal numerous gas emissions linked to geological structures, with hydrocarbon migration pathways suggested at flat-top knoll edges in Sigsbee Knolls and evidence of intermittent oil seepage. At Mictlan Knoll, the close proximity of gas, oil seepage, and asphalt volcanism highlights the complexity of these systems. This integrated study underscores the dynamics and geological controls of diverse hydrocarbon seepage in the southern GoM.

Host｜Dr. Hsiao-Chun Tseng 曾筱君 (Associate Professor, Institute of Marine Environment and Ecology, National Taiwan Ocean University 臺灣海洋大學海洋環境與生態研究所 副教授)

✦ Organizers /
– ECR working group, Future Earth Taipei
– Future Earth Taipei Hub
– IYBSSDXTAIWANIYBSSDXTAIWAN
– 中央研究院 永續科學中心 Center for Sustainability Science