Objective
The project is aiming at assessing the presence of gas hydrates in the sediments of Lake Baikal, to evaluate their extent and their importance, and to identify and to define gas venting sites on the lake floor. It is based on a multidisciplinary approach combined as well geological, geophysical, sedimentological as chemical investigations: - study of the theoretical stability field of gas hydrates in Lake Baikal, - establishing the presence of gas hydrates in the lake sediments and defining their distribution by the analysis of seismic reflection profiles. Attention will be paid as well to the spatial distribution of gas hydrates as to the role of fluid migration for hydrates migration, - combining the data on heat flow distribution in the lake and the presence of Bottom Simulating Reflectors in the sediments, models will be established for the distribution of gas hydrates, - bottom structures, such as mud volcanoes, related to gas escape on the lake floor, will be investigated by sidescan sonar methods, - venting sites will be investigated; gases will be collected and analysed in near bottom water and in pore waters; macrorganisms living near venting sites will be analysed for their delta 13C content.
The project is expected to result in a clear assessment of the occurence of gas hydrates in Lake Baikal by: - establishing the theoretical conditions for which gas hydrates may exist in the lake sediments considering the specific physical characteristics of the lake, - defining from the available seismic data, the distribution of gas hydrates, assessing the existence of free gas, establishing the relation between fluid migration pathways and dewatering processes, - tracing and characterising lake bottom structures which are resulting from gas venting, - giving an insight in the nature of gases which are contaminating the lake water body.
Topic(s)
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3080 Tervuren
Belgium